Alburnoides tabarestanensis

Common name. Tabarestan spirlin.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Alburnoides in Caspian basin and Hari drainage by: ○ horizontal eye diameter equal or smaller than interorbital distance / ○ 11−13, usually 12, predorsal vertebrae / ○ body depth at dorsal origin usually greater than head length / ○ ventral keel usually scaleless, sometimes completely covered by scales / ○ snout slightly pointed / ○ mouth terminal, upper and lower lips equally projecting / ○ tip of mouth cleft situated at a horizontal line with middle of eye to lower margin of pupil / ○ 47−52+2−3 lateral-line scales / ○ 4 pharyngeal teeth in long row on right 5 th ceratobranchial / ○ 11−14½, usually 12−13½, branched anal rays / ○ 7−10, usually 8−9, gill rakers. Size up to 95 mm SL.

Distribution . Iran: Khey to Gorgan drainages in southern and south-eastern Caspian basin.

Habitat. Streams and small rivers with moderate to fast-flowing water and gravel substrate.

Biology. No data.

Conservation status. LC.

Remarks. Spirlins from rivers between Tajan and west to Sefid and east to Atrak have yet to be identified.

Further reading. Mousavi-Sabet et al. 2015b (description); Mousavi-Sabet et al. 2015c (review); Eagderi et al. 2019a (phylogeny).