Int. J. Aquat. Biol. (2016) 4(1): 51-56 E-ISSN: 2322-5270; P-ISSN: 2383-0956 Journal homepage: www.ij-aquaticbiology.com © 2016 Iranian Society of Ichthyology Original Article Threatened fishes of the world: Paracobitis vignai Nalbant and Bianco, 1998 (Nemacheilidae) Hamed Mousavi-Sabet*1, Keyvan Abbasi2, Saber Vatandoust3, Soheil Eagderi4 1Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Guilan, Sowmeh Sara, P.O. Box 1144, Guilan, Iran. 2Iranian Fisheries Sciences research, Inland Waters Aquaculture Research Center, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Bandar Anzali, Iran. 3Department of Fisheries, Babol Branch, Islamic Azad University, Babol, Iran. 4Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Alborz Province, Iran. Article history: Received 1 December 2015 Accepted 30 January 2016 Available online 2 5 February 2016 Abstract: Paracobitis vignai is a Nemacheilid loach endemic to the Sistan basin. It occurs in the Helmand River and its related reservoirs in Sistan-va-Baluchistan Province in southeastern Iran and probably in Afghanistan. This species is currently endangered due to habitat loss or degradation, damming and droughts. Therefore, this paper reviews the available data on taxonomy and distribution of P. vignai, provides its morphometric features, and recommends actions for its conservation. Keywords: Endemic species, Sistan basin, Conservation, Iran. Introduction The loaches with a high dorsal dermal-crest have been placed in the genus Paracobitis Bleeker, 1863 for many years, specifically those from Central Asia (Banarescu and Nalbant, 1964), Vietnam (Nguyen, 2005), the Middle East (Prokofiev, 2009) and China (Min et al., 2010). The genus Paracobitis was appointed by Bleeker (1863) for Cobitis malapterura. This genus is restricted to Near East and Middle Asia, and the species of Paracobitis from China should be assigned to the genera Homatula and Schistura (Nalbant and Bianco, 1998). The species of the genus Paracobitis are comparatively large- sized loaches inhabiting freshwaters of western Asia (Bănărescu and Nalbant, 1995; Nalbant and Bianco, 1998). There are thirteen valid species of the genus Paracobitis in the world, which eleven of them are reported from Iran (Kottelat, 2012; Coad, 2016; Mousavi-Sabet et al., 2014; Freyhof et al., 2014; Jouladeh-Roudbar et al., 2015). According to Freyhof et al. (2014), Mousavi-Sabet et al. (2015), and Jouladeh-Roudbar et al. (2015b), the valid * Corresponding author: Hamed Mousavi-Sabet DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7508/ijab.2016.01.007 E-mail address: mousavi-sabet@guilan.ac.ir Paracobitis species in Iran comprise P. atrakensis Esmaeili, Mousavi-Sabet, Sayyadzadeh, Vatandoust & Freyhof, 2014, P. basharensis Freyhof, Esmaeili, Sayyadzadeh & Geiger, 2014, P. hircanica Mousavi- Sabet, Sayyadzadeh, Esmaeili, Eagderi, Patimar & Freyhof, 2015, P. iranica Nalbant and Bianco, 1998, P. longicauda Kessler, 1872, P. malapterura (Valenciennes, 1846), P. molavii Freyhof, Esmaeili, Sayyadzadeh & Geiger, 2014, P. persa Freyhof, Esmaeili, Sayyadzadeh & Geiger, 2014, P. rhadinaea (Regan, 1906), P. smithi (Greenwood, 1976), and P. vignai Nalbant and Bianco, 1998. However, Freyhof et al. (2014) believe that P. iranica is a synonym of P. malapterura. Since there is little information available about various biological and taxonomical aspects of P. vignai, a nemacheilid loach endemic to the Sistan basin, this paper reviews the available data on its taxonomy and distribution, provides its morphometric features (along with those of its sympatric species i.e. P. rhadinaea that is superficially similar to P. vignai), and recommends 52 Mousavi-Sabet et al./ Threatened fishes of the world: Paracobitis vignai actions for its conservation. Materials and Methods A total of 15 specimens of P. vignai and 14 specimens of P. rhadinaea were collected from Chahnimeh Reservoirs, near Zahak Town, Sistan- va-Baluchestan Province, in September 2014 by gill- net (Fig. 1). After anesthesia with 1% clove solution, the specimens were fixed in 10% buffered formaldehyde and transferred to the laboratory for further processing. Morphometric characters were measured by a caliper to the nearest 0.1 mm (Table 1). All measurements are made point to point according to Kottelat and Freyhof (2007). The percentage ratios of morphometric characters in relations to standard length (SL) and head length (HL) were calculated. Meristic characteristics of the specimens were counted using a stereomicroscope. The last two branched rays articulating on a single pterygiophore in the dorsal and anal fins are noted as “1½”. Results and Discussion Paracobitis vignai Nalbant and Bianco, 1998 (Fig. 2) Common names: Sagmahi-ye Sistan (Persian); Sistan’s Loach (English). The species is endemic to Sistan basin and named for Professor Augusto Vigna Taglianti, La Sapienza University, Rome. The holotype collected from "Nahr Taheri, Zabol, Seistan" by A. Vigna (Nalbant and Bianco, 1998). Morphology: According to original digenesis by Nalbant and Bianco (1998), Paracobitis vignai is characterized by a completely scaleless body and large brown blotches in the middle of flanks. The lateral line extends to the base of the caudal fin. Additionally, caudal fin is deeply emarginate or slightly furcate and posterior nare opening is slit- shaped (Freyhof et al., 2014). Paracobitis vignai is superficially similar to P. rhadinaea from which it is distinguished by a completely naked body (vs. presence of scales in P. rhadinaea) and deeply emarginate or slightly forked caudal fin (vs. moderately or slightly emarginate in P. rhadinaea). Morphometric characters of P. vignai and P. rhadinaea are provided in Table 1. For general appearance of P. vignai see Figure 2. Meristic values for the studied specimens caught from Iranian parts of the Sistan basin are: dorsal fin unbranched rays 3, dorsal fin branched rays 7½, anal fin unbranched ray 2, anal fin branched ray 5½, pectoral fin branched rays 9, pelvic fin branched rays 7, and caudal branched rays 9+8. In addition, Coad (2016) reported 6-8 branched rays of dorsal-fin, 5-6 anal-fin, 8-10 pectoral-fin rays and 6-7 pelvic-fin for P. vignai. The body is slender and compressed, particularly posteriorly. The head is long and the eyes are small. The dorsal adipose crest or keel on the caudal peduncle is well-developed. A slightly developed axillary lobe at the ventral-fin base. Mouth well arched, surrounded by three pairs of short barbels. Maxillary barbels not reaching to the eye origin. Outer mandibular barbels reaching to the nostrils origin. Inner mandibular barbels reaching to maxillary barbels origin. Dark pigmentations at the base and on the mandibular barbels (inner and outher). Lips are well-furrowed and interrupted in their middle. Mental lobes are enlarged. Mental lobes has dark grey pigmentations. The processus dentiformis is slightly developed. Lateral line is Figure 1. Map of sampling station (Δ, Chahnimeh Reservoirs) in the Sistan basin. 53 Int. J. Aquat. Biol. (2016) 4(1): 51-56 complete, reaching to base of caudal-fin, with 118- 121 pores. Cephalic lateral line system bears 9 supraorbital, 4+15 infraorbital, 13 preoperculo- mandibular and 3 supratemporal pores. Nostril is slit-shape and flap does not covers the nostril. Coloration: In preserved specimens, the body is pale brown to cream with a row of dark-grey blotchs on middle of the back and on the mid-sides of the body may be occasionally fused (Fig. 2). In live specimens the flanks are pale olivaceous with 9-14 dark grey blotches on dorsal and lateral, which are connected together by a row of pale grey small blotches. The blotches extend onto the adipose crest. Blotches are line up in flank row anteriorly and posteriorly. All over the head, opercula and snout covered by dark grey blotches. The caudal fin base has a distinct dark bar. The belly is whitish. No distinct dark stripe from eye to snout. All fins are orange (in live specimens) or hyaline (in preserved specimens); dorsal, pectoral and caudal fins with dark spots on rays; pelvic and Character Paracobitis rhadinaea Paracobitis vignai Range Mean ± SD Range Mean ± SD Total length mm 147.15 - 193.85 108.69 - 117.99 Standard length mm 126.97 - 168.38 92.48 - 101.11 In % Standard length Head length 22.49 - 25.64 24.36 ± 1.05 18.07 - 21.11 19.89 ± 0.87 Head depth 9.23 - 11.60 10.79 ± 0.75 10.48 - 11.23 10.66 ± 0.45 Maximum body depth 13.87 - 16.92 14.97 ± 1.03 13.82-15.40 14.61±1.11 Predorsal length 47.73 - 50.88 48.16 ± 1.35 44.48 - 49.83 46.66 ± 1.29 Postdorsal length 39.91 - 43.53 41.11 ± 1.20 41.82-45.40 43.61±1.11 Pre anal length 73.30 - 77.51 75.05 ± 1.33 72.54 - 75.80 74.17 ± 1.18 Caudal peduncle depth 7.53 - 9.24 8.64 ± 0.45 8.56 - 9.85 9.21 ± 0.49 Caudal peduncle length 17.30 – 23.59 19.57 ± 2.23 17.00 – 20.11 18.50 ± 2.15 Caudal fin length 12.59 - 15.63 13.89 ± 1.15 13.35 - 14.72 13.54 ± 0.75 Dorsal fin length 13.73 - 16.05 14.80 ± 0.62 13.01 - 15.95 14.13 ± 0.79 Dorsal fin base 9.20 - 11.98 10.62 ± 0.81 9.72 - 10.94 9.91 ± 0.77 Anal fin length 7.90 - 10.08 9.09 ± 0.65 8.76 - 10.07 9.47 ± 0.39 Anal fin base 8.07 - 9.82 9.12 ± 0.62 7.59 - 9.68 8.21 ± 1.01 Pectoral fin length 12.79 - 15.51 14.86 ± 1.15 12.88 - 15.42 14.55 ± 0.79 Ventral fin length 11.72 - 13.41 12.43 ± 0.63 11.64 - 14.24 12.31 ± 1.23 Pecto-ventral distance 26.86 - 32.07 28.79 ± 2.56 27.73 - 32.13 31.93 ± 1.27 Ventral-anal distance 20.87 - 23.92 21.97 ± 1.03 21.82 - 24.40 23.61 ± 1.11 Pecto-anal distance 49.49 - 52.94 51.48 ± 1.28 48.09 - 53.44 52.77 ± 1.45 Crest length 25.26 - 32.06 28.11 ± 3.85 30.69 - 32.45 31.07 ± 0.83 Head length % Snout length 38.15 - 41.19 39.87 ± 1.04 34.95 - 37.17 35.56 ± 0.86 Eye diameter 7.67 - 10.58 9.57 ± 0.88 9.15 - 12.42 11.21 ± 0.89 Head depth 44.07 - 49.51 47.28 ± 1.91 47.41 - 54.36 52.89 ± 2.08 Post orbital distance 44.29 - 54.67 49.10 ± 3.43 46.29 - 54.92 51.11 ± 3.98 Inter orbital length 20.99 - 25.38 22.56 ± 1.35 22.38 - 25.72 23.55 ± 1.23 Inter nasal length 17.68 - 22.81 18.87 ± 1.90 17.61 ± 22.41 19.01 ± 1.56 Table 1. Morphometric characters of Paracobitis rhadinaea (n = 10) and Paracobitis vignai (n = 10). Figure 2. Paracobitis vignai, about 25 cm in TL, Sistan basin, Iran. 54 Mousavi-Sabet et al./ Threatened fishes of the world: Paracobitis vignai anal fins without dark pigmentation. When touching the dorsal margin of the crest, the reticulations make the crest there dark, otherwise the crest is light cream along the margin. The lateral line is light, sometimes in marked contrast to the rest of the flank. The rostral barbels and their bases are strongly dark pigmented, but the maxillary pair is almost immaculate (slightly pigmented in some specimens). Size: The maximum size of the recent caught materials is about 25 cm in TL. Distribution: This endemic species is restricted to the Sistan basin of Iran and presumably Afghanistan. The species was distributed in the Hirmand (Helmand) River, the Hamoun Wetland and its related reserviours (in southeast of Iran and probabely southwest of Afghanistan). Conservation status: IUCN Red List: not evaluated; Iran: unknown. Abundance: Low. Habitat and ecology: The species typically prefers sandy or gravel bottoms in the Chahnimeh Reservoirs and related streams. We caught some of specimens from the Hirmand (Helmand) River, at its entrance to the Chahnimeh Reservoirs, a shallow and narrow (up to 10 m wide; and 30-70 cm depth at the sampling time) river with diverse structures (pools, muddy shore, etc.), at 493 m altitude, and the water was unclear and muddy with slow current at the time of sampling. Details of its ecology, reproduction and feeding are unknown. Co-existing species: Fish species of the Iranian part of the Sistan Basin comprised 24 species in 19 genera, 4 families, and 3 orders. They comprises 4 endemic species, including Paraschistura alta (Nalbant & Bianco 1998), Schizothorax zarudnyi (Nikol'skii, 1897), Paracobitis rhadinaea (Regan, 1906) along with P. vignai, 11 exotic species, including Alburnus hohenackeri Kessler, 1877, Carassius auratus (Linnaeus, 1758), C. gibelio (Bloch, 1782), Ctenopharyngodon idella (Valenciennes, 1844), Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758, Hemiculter leucisculus (Basilewsky, 1855), Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Valenciennes, 1844), H. nobilis (Richardson, 1844), Pseudorasbora parva (Temminck and Schlegel, 1846), Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum, 1792) and Gambusia holbrooki Girard, 1859, and 9 native species, including Cyprinion watsoni (Day, 1872), Garra rossica (Nikol'skii, 1900), Gonorhynchus adiscus (Annandale, 1919), Schizocypris alitidorsalis Bianco and Bănărescu, 1982, Schizothorax intermedius McClelland, 1842, S. zarudnyi (Nikol'skii, 1897), Schizopygopsis stoliczkai Steindachner, 1866, Paraschistura kessleri (Günther, 1889), and Triplophysa stoliczkai (Steindachner, 1866) that co- exists with P. vignai. Threats: Above mentioned 11 co-existing exotics species with P. vignai could may have major effects on the population of this endemic species through competition, habitat changes and introduction of parasites. Furthermore, water pollution due to agricultural and industrial activities and hydrological alterations such as dam construction (about 10 main earth and concrete dams on the Helmand River in Afghanistan) and pumping water from this river which feeds the Hamoun Wetland have effected P. vignai populations. Since the construction of dams on the Helmand River in Afghanistan, the Hamoun Wetland was dried during the last decade and the fishes has only survived in related reservoirs (three main water reservoirs naming as Chahnimeh 1 to 3). Natural drought in recent decades is the most important natural disturbance of freshwater fishes of Iran (Esmaeil and Valavi, 2016; Jouladeh-Roudbar et al., 2015a). Due to severe drought, many rivers of the Iranian part of the Sistan Basin dried out causing the habitat loss of P. vignai populations. Unintended poaching is another main treat for this endemic species. Local people do not eat the fish, therefore it is not economically or nutritionally important but its population is damaged as incidental catch or by- catch in fishing from the Chahnimeh Reservoirs. Conservation action: Not protected in Iran and Afghanistan. Conservation recommendations: Urgent habitat protection is suggested. The ecological right of water of the Hamun Wetland and the related reservoirs should be respected (which is ignored by the 55 Int. J. Aquat. Biol. (2016) 4(1): 51-56 damming) to prevent drought. Education of local fishermen should be initiated. Fishing programs should be forbidden or at least should be limited in the habitat of P. vignai, especially during its reproduction season. Also fishing equipment and methods should be edited according to minimum bycatch (Mousavi-Sabet et al., 2013). Finally, developing a conservation strategy for the species, habitat monitoring, conducting ecological and biological studies, and captive breeding could conserve this endemic crested loach having their future generations. Acknowledgements We are pleased to thank J. Freyhof and H.R. Esmaeili for their help and helpful comments on the Paracobitis research project, and the University of Guilan for financial support. Many thanks to A. Juladeh-Roudbar for helping with fish collection. Also thanks to Environment Departments of Sistan- va-Baluchistan Province for supporting field surveys. References Bănărescu P., Nalbant T. (1964). Süßwasserfische der Türkei. 2. Teil Cobitidae. Mitteilungen aus dem hamburgischen Zoologischen Museum und Institut, 61: 159-201. Bănărescu P., Nalbant T. (1995). 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(2016) 4(1): 51-56 E-ISSN: 2322-5270; P-ISSN: 2383-0956 Journal homepage: www.ij-aquaticbiology.com © 2016 Iranian Society of Ichthyology چکیده فارسی Paracobitis vignai Nalbant and Bianco, 1998 (Nemacheilidae) ماهیان در معرض تهدید دنیا: 4ایگدری سهیل، 3دوست، صابر وطن2کیوان عباسی ،1*ثابت موسوی حامد سید سرا، ایران.صومعه گیالن، طبیعی، دانشگاه منابع دانشکده، شیالت گروه1 .ایران، انزلی بندر ،کشاورزی آموزش و تحقیقات سازمان، داخلی هایآب پروریآبزی تحقیقات مرکز، کشور شیالتی علوم تحقیقات موسسه2 ایران ،بابل ،اسالمی آزاد دانشگاه ،بابل واحد ،شیالت گروه3 دانشگاه تهران، کرج، ایران. طبیعی، منابع دانشکده، شیالت گروه4 چکیده: Paracobitis vignai آن در استان سیستانبا در رودخانه هلمند و منابع آبی مرتبط که آبریز سیستان است حوضه بومی یجویبار ماهیسگ کی سالی سدسازی و خشکواسطه تخریب و ازدست دادن زیستگاه، شود. این گونه اخیراً بهو بلوچستان در جنوب شرق ایران و احتماالً افغانستان یافت می های ویژگیو کند، را مرور می P. vignaiشناسی و پراکنش در مورد آرایه های در دسترسدر معرض تهدید قرار گرفته است. بنابراین این مقاله داده نماید.ارائه می ای برای حفاظت آن را هسنجی آن و اقدامات توصیریخت .ایران ،حفاظت ،سیستان آبریزگونه بومی، حوضه :کلمات کلیدی