Acanthobrama centisquama Heckel, 1843 [N]—Orontes bream; Besbasi

Taxonomy. Original description: Acanthobrama centisquama Heckel, 1843a: 1074 [84] [Damascus, Syria (in error, was Asi River and Amik Lake); holotype: NMW 55339].—Syrian synonyms: None.—Revisions: Goren et al. (1973: 296); Coad (1984: 275).—Illustration: Heckel (1843b: pl. 9, fig. 1).

Status in Syria. Recorded from Syria in original description by Heckel (1843a: 1074); subsequently reported by Gruvel (1931); Beckman (1962: 82); Goren et al. (1973); Coad (1984: 275); Taha (2005).—Syrian material: MNHN, NMW, MSL.

Distribution and habitat. Distribution in Syria: Orontes River basin.—Distribution in River Basin: 4-Orontes.— General distribution: Asia Minor and Middle East: Orontes River basin (Turkey and Syria).—Distribution in Ecoregion: 437-Orontes.—Habitat: This species is a lacustrine species restricted to shallow and marshy lakes. Freshwater, brackish.

Economic importance. Locally consumed, but of no commercial importance.

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

Remarks. This species was present in Al-Ghab Lake and Al-Amiq Lake (Orontes River basin), but due to the drying up of these two lakes since the beginning of the sixties of the last century, the presence of this species was not recorded in the Orontes River basin or anywhere else in Syria. Needs to be reconfirmed by field specimens.