Silurus triostegus Heckel, 1843 [N]—Mesopotamian catfish; Sallour

Taxonomy. Original description: Silurus triostegus Heckel, 1843a: 1090 [100] [Tigris River, near Mosul, Iraq; syntypes: (4) NMW, SMF 2623 (1, dry)].—Syrian synonyms: None.—Revisions: Kobayakawa (1989: 174).—Illustration: Heckel (1843b: pl. 13, fig. 1); Esmaeili (2021: 309, fig. 17.12).

Status in Syria. First record from Syria by Beckman (1962: 176); confirmed by Krupp & Schneider (1991b: 73); Ali (2003); Saad et al. (2009).—Syrian material: MSL.

Distribution and habitat. Distribution in Syria: Tigris and Euphrates River basins.—Distribution in River Basin: 1-Dajleh & Khabour, 2-Euphrates & Aleppo.—General distribution: Asia Minor and Middle East: Iraq, Iran, and Turkey.—Distribution in Ecoregion: 441-Lower Tigris & Euphrates, 442-Upper Tigris & Euphrates.— Habitat: This species inhabits large rivers, marshes, lakes, and reservoirs. Freshwater.

Economic importance. Commercially important.

Conservation. Conservation status in Syria: Unknown.—IUCN: LC (IUCN 2023).—Threats: There are many threats in the area affection this species, but none seem to be strong enough to let the species decline so fast, that it qualifies for a threat category.—Low sensitivity to human activities.—Keystone species.—Decline status: Decreasing.—Low priority for conservation action.