Capoeta damascina (Valenciennes, 1842) [N]—Mesopotamian barb

Taxonomy. Original description: Gobio damascinus Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1842: 314, Pl. 482 [Damascus, Syria; lectotype: MNHN 0000-4494. Type catalog: Bertin & Estève 1948: 43].— Iraq synonyms: Scaphiodon fratercula Heckel, 1843; Scaphiodon socialis Heckel, 1843; Scaphiodon peregrinorum Heckel, 1843; Capoeta syriaca (Valenciennes, 1844); Capoeta kosswigi Karaman, 1969 .—Revisions: Alwan et al. (2016: 17).—Illustration: Krupp & Schneider (1989: 366. fig. 17).

Status in Iraq. First record from Iraq by Coad (2010); confirmed by Agha et al. (2023).—Iraq materials: None.

Distribution and habitat. Distribution in Iraq: Euphrates River drainage.—General distribution: Asia Minor and Middle East: Levant, Mesopotamia, and southeastern Anatolia (Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Israel, and Jordan).— Habitat: This species inhabits a wide range of all kinds of permanent waterbodies at least seasonally with gravel or running water. Freshwater.

Economic importance. Locally commercially important.

Conservation. Conservation Status in Iraq: Unknown.—IUCN: LC (IUCN 2023).—Threats: ABS, CLI, CON, EUT, HAB.—Low sensitivity to human activities.—Not considered a keystone species.—Decline status: Decreasing.—Low priority for conservation action.