Planiliza macrolepis (Smith, 1846) [N]—Largescale mullet

Taxonomy. Original description: Mugil macrolepis Smith, 1846: no pagination, Pl. 28 (fig. 2) [Rivers and freshwater lakes, South Africa; holotype (unique): BMNH 1859.5.7.56 (dry)].— Iraq synonyms: Liza macrolepis (Smith, 1846); Chelon macrolepis (Smith, 1846) .—Revisions:Thomson (1997:524) as Liza macrolepis .—Illustration: Harrison & Senou (1999: 2088, fig.) as Liza macrolepis; Esmaeili et al. (2022b: 486, fig. 42).

Status in Iraq. First record from Iraq by Al-Hassan & Hussain (1985).—Iraq materials: None.

Distribution and habitat. Distribution in Iraq: Shatt al-Arab River.—General distribution: Indo-West Pacific: Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa), East Africa, Persian Gulf, Socotra (Yemen), Seychelles, Madagascar, and eastern Mascarenes (Rodrigues) east to Tuamotu Archipelago and Marquesas Islands (French Polynesia), north to southern Korea and Osumi Islands (southern Japan), south to New Caledonia, Aitutaki (Cook Islands) and Austral Islands (French Polynesia).—Habitat: This species occurs in shallow coastal waters and in brackish and freshwater regions of rivers. Freshwater, brackish, marine.

Economic importance. Commercially important.

Conservation. Conservation status in Iraq: Unknown.—IUCN: LC (IUCN 2023).—Threats: There are no known major threats to this species.—Low sensitivity to human activities.—Not considered a keystone species.— Decline status: Stable.—Low priority for conservation action.