Capoeta trutta

Common name. Spotted scraper.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Capoeta in Qweiq, Euphrates, and Tigris drainages by: ● last unbranched dorsal ray very strong, longer than head, strongly serrated / ○ one pair of barbels / ○ flank silvery with many small black spots, spots often only on back in large individuals, rarely without spots / ○ 68–90 total lateral-line scales / ○ 15–17 scale rows between lateral line and dorsal origin / ○ 9–12 scale rows between lateral line and anal origin / ○ 24–29 gill rakers / ○ usually 8½ branched dorsal rays. Size up to 450 mm SL.

Distribution . Qweiq, Euphrates, Tigris, and Karun drainages.

Habitat . Moderately fast-flowing to standing waters, from mid-sized mountain streams to large lowland rivers. Often abundant in reservoirs and lakes, from where they migrate to inflowing streams and rivers to spawn.

Biology. Lives up to 10 years. First spawns at 2 (males) and 3 (females) years. Spawns March−July in Tigris in Iraq and May−June in Tigris in Türkiye. Feeds on epilithic algae and detritus. Often grazes top mud layers in reservoirs.

Conservation status. LC; extirpated from Qweiq.

Remarks . Fish with the last unbranched dorsal ray shorter than the head are often identified as C. barroisi, a species endemic to the Orontes drainage.

Further reading. Coad 2010a (description, biology); Kaya 2019 (distribution); Jouladeh-Roudbar et al. 2020 (distribution); Coad 2021a (biology, morphology).