Iran. J. Ichthyol. (March 2020), 7(1): 1-67 Received: September 23, 2019 © 2020 Iranian Society of Ichthyology Accepted: December 28, 2019 P-ISSN: 2383-1561; E-ISSN: 2383-0964 doi: 10.22034/iji.v7i1.451 http://www.ijichthyol.org Review Article Review of the East Asian minnows of Iran (Family Xenocyprididae) Brian W. COAD * Beaty Centre for Species Discovery, Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 6P4 Canada. *Email: [email protected] Abstract: The systematics, morphology, distribution, biology and economic importance of the East Asian minnows of Iran are described, the species are illustrated, and a bibliography on these fishes in Iran is provided. There are five species, all exotics, in the genera Ctenopharyngodon (1 species), Hemiculter (1), Hypophthalmichthys (2) and Mylopharyngodon (1), variably introduced throughout Iran for fish farming and, in the case of Hemiculter, accidentally. Keywords: Morphology, Exotics, Ctenopharyngodon, Hemiculter, Hypophthalmichthys, Mylopharyngodon. Citation: Coad B.W. 2020. Review of the East Asian minnows of Iran (Family Xenocyprididae). Iranian Journal of Ichthyology 7(1): 1-67. Introduction There is a wide trophic variation in this family The freshwater ichthyofauna of Iran comprises a which includes piscivores (not in Iran), omnivores diverse set of about 297 species in 109 genera, 30 (Hemiculter leucisculus), phytoplanktivores families, 24 orders and 3 classes (Esmaeili et al. (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), zooplanktivores 2018). These form important elements of the aquatic (H. nobilis), macrophytic grazers (Cteno- ecosystem and a number of species are of pharyngodon idella), and durophagous molluscivores commercial or other significance. The literature on (Mylopharyngodon piceus) (Tang et al. 2013). These these fishes is widely scattered, both in time and are small to very large fishes (2m, over 70kg). The place. Summaries of the morphology and biology of “Chinese major carps” (all except H. leucisculus) are these species were given in a website (www.brian stocked in Iran and other countries for aquaculture coad.com) which is updated here for one family, and often associated species are introduced while the relevant section of that website is now accidently, such as Hemiculter. They often escape closed down. Other families will also be addressed in from farms and can become invasive where a similar fashion. reproductive conditions are suitable. They are sold in various forms in Iran including, for example, Family Xenocyprididae processed into fish fingers (Iranian Fisheries The distribution of the East Asian minnows is Research Organization Newsletter 25: 1, 2000). indicated by the family name. There are about 154 The Chinese carps (Cyprinus carpio or common species (Catalog of Fishes, downloaded 5 October carp (family Cyprinidae, also native to Iran), C. idella 2018). These fishes have a variety of external and or grass carp, H. molitrix or silver carp, and to a lesser internal morphologies summarized below in the keys extent H. nobilis or bighead carp) are the main and species descriptions without an obvious unifying species used in warmwater culture in almost all the external morphological character. provinces of Iran. Danesh-e-Khoshashi (1998) 1 Iran. J. Ichthyol. (March 2020), 7(1): 1-67 Table 1. Total carp production from 1990-2000. Species/Year 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2000 % growth 1990-2000 C. carpio 5,502 4,206 6,561 5,435 4,600 7,000 27 H. nobilis 983 1,052 1,269 1,360 1,150 1,500 53 H. molitrix 10,019 12,619 15,228 16,310 13,800 17,000 70 C. idella 3,143 3,155 3,942 4,078 3,450 2,000 -36 Total 19,647 21,032 27,000 27,138 23,000 27,500 40 described facilities and methods used for spawning 6,000kg/ha/yr) or, for intensive monoculture of Chinese carps in Guilan Province. The production of common carp, high protein pellets (30-40%). Chinese carp fingerlings has been relinquished to the Fingerlings are stocked in March-April at a density private sector in Iran. The silver carp catch increased of 2,000-6,000 per hectare and sold between from none in 1989 to 24,720t in 1994 (Food and November and February. Production is 1.6- Agriculture Organization, Fisheries Department 5.5tonnes/ha. Cultivated carps are susceptible to 1996). Chinese carp production peaked in 2006 at fungal infections as detailed by Ebrahimzadeh more than 77,000t according to Salehi (2009) who Mousavi et al. (2000) for the Sefid River Fish Farm also reviewed carp farming costs. Chinese carp Centre where 31 species of fungi were isolated and fingerling production was 22.7 million in 1996 Firouzbakhsh et al. (2005) where 39 fungal species (Bartley & Rana 1998). Stakei (1999) studied were identified from gill lesions in common, silver nutrients, BOD (biological oxygen demand) and and grass carp on five fish farms in Mazandaran. COD (chemical oxygen demand) in manured Carp culture is the most important fisheries polyculture ponds with Chinese carps in Iran. A subsector according to Salehi (1999, 2004). Chinese review of world cyprinoid culture, with special major carps are reared in hatcheries and, at about reference to the Chinese carps, was given by Billard eight days of age, they are transferred to nursery (1995). ponds. At about 10g in weight, they are transplanted Rana & Bartley (1998) gave details of carp into water bodies or grown out to market size (1kg) aquaculture in Iran. They noted that silver carp in farm ponds (Saheli 1999). Salehi's (1999) gave an production increased 11% per year between 1991 and economic, marketing and consumer study of carp 1996 and bighead carp 7%. Most carp production culture in Iran in the 1990s, concentrating on occurs in the provinces of Guilan, Mazandaran and C. carpio. He mapped fish culture facilities and Khuzestan as a private sector enterprise. Carp hatcheries, gave production of carps by species and broodstock is selected based on head size, colour and by provinces, and also gave an overview of Caspian gill structure (surface and shape). Adults are replaced fisheries apart from carps. However, carp culture is after 3-4 years. Circular concrete tanks are used for more generally used in the sense of the Chinese major spawning and have egg collecting and incubation carps (C. carpio, H. molitrix, C. idella and devices which reduce handling to the minimum. The H. nobilis), often reared in polyculture. These species young carp are grown to market size in ponds or are of similar nutritious value (Jorjani et al. 2013). complex fish farms. In 1994, there were 2,583 C. idella commands the highest price followed by registered farms with a water surface area of about H. molitrix with C. carpio the cheapest. Polyculture 8,000ha. Organic and inorganic fertilisers are used stocking in natural and artificial water bodies is along with supplementary foods. Fertilisers include usually 28-32% C. carpio, 40-50% H. molitrix, 5- urea (135-1,500kg/ha/yr), ammonium phosphate (80- 10% H. nobilis and the rest C. idella. Average yields 575kg/ha/yr) and manure (3-10tonnes/ha/yr). varied from 43kg/ha in 1993, to 40kg/ha in 1994 to Supplementary diets include a variety of grains (100- 49kg/ha in 1995. Higher yields are cited by Salehi 2 Coad - Review of the East Asian minnows of Iran Fig.1. Parabramis pekinensis, after Berg (1948-1949). (2004) at 1,540kg/ha in 2001 but this may be for This family was formerly included within the growth in summer months and special conditions. family Cyprinidae senso lato but has been separated Total carp production was 54,000t in 2001 (but see on molecular evidence and some osteological below after FAO, also from Salehi) (Table 1) characters (Stout et al. 2016; Betancour-R et al. 2017; As an example of reservoir farming of these and Tan & Armbruster 2018). It has appeared under other other carps, Abbasi et al. (2017) noted that, over a names, e.g., Cultrinae, Oxygastrinae (see Tang et al. period of 10 years, an annual average of 180,000 2013). young fish have been released into the Zayandeh There is evidently a strong possibility of exotic River Dam by the Esfahan Fisheries Department. species from Turkmenistan entering Iranian waters. Annually, 300t (later 500t) of fish are taken from the Fishes, including exotics, are farmed along the basin dam by 250 professional fishermen. The fishing of the Karakum Canal, a 1,372km long diversion season is from August to the end of winter to allow from the Amu Darya. Some of these exotics can be for spring and early summer spawning. The species expected to enter the Hari River basin of Iran via its involved are C. carpio (47.2% of the catch in this delta and eventually the Caspian Sea basin via the survey using gill nets from September to March, Atrak River through runoff and collector canals released young being 30% of the various species), (Sal'nikov 1995, 1998). A potential exotic is the H. molitrix (14.0%, young 60%), H. nobilis, white Amur bream (Parabramis pekinensis C. idella, Capoeta damascina (sic) (35.81%) and (Basilewsky, 1855)) (Fig. 1). Carassius carassius (sic, probably C. auratus). The commercial importance of C. idella and the Key to Xenocyprididae in Iran two Hypophthalmichthys species has generated a 1a. Branchiostegal membranes not attached to large amount of literature world-wide on parasites, isthmus; gill rakers fused together; eyes low on side on contamination with heavy metals, herbicides and of head, below midline; suprabranchial organ present insecticides, on aquaculture, and on food processing. …………………………………………….….……2 A summary of articles carried out on these fishes in 1b. Branchiostegal membranes attached to isthmus; Iran is given in the relevant sections below as an entry gill rakers not fused; eyes at or above midline of to this extensive literature, without being completely head; suprabranchial organ absent ……….………..3 exhaustive.