Salmo oxianus Kessler, 1874

[N]—Amu Darya trout

Taxonomy. Original description: Salmo oxianus Kessler, 1874: 35, pl. 5, fig. 21 [Darmut stream, tributary of Kizil-Su River, Upper Amu Darya River basin, Afghanistan; lectotype: ZMMU P-833; lectotype selected by Salmanov & Dorofeyeva (1991: 818)].— Afghanistan synonyms: None.—Revisions: Berg (1948: 258) as Salmo trutta oxianus; Scĥffmann (2021: 226); Segherloo et al. (2021: 10).—Illustration: Kessler (1874: pl. 5, fig. 21).

Status in Afghanistan. First record from Afghanistan by Hora (1933 b); confirmed by Hora (1935: 787) as Salmo trutta aralensis oxianus, Berg (1948: 258) as Salmo trutta oxianus, Balon and Hensel (1970), Maksunov (1971), Moravec and Amin (1978) and Coad (1981: 8; 2014: 304; 2015: 229).—Afghanistan materials: BMNH, CMN, ZMUC.

Distribution and habitat. Distribution in Afghanistan: Amu Darya, Panj and Bamian Rivers drainages, Sorkh Ab, Kowkchek (Kokcha) River, Sanglish River, North Salang Brook of Andarab River.—General distribution: North Asia: Amu Darya River basin (Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan).—HabitatThis species lives in cold streams, rivers, and lakes. Spawns in rivers and streams with swift water. Freshwater, brackish, marine.

Economic importance. Commercially important.

Conservation. Conservation status in Afghanistan: Unknown.—IUCN: NE (2023).—Threats: FIT, HAB, CON, EUT, ABS.—Low sensitivity to human activities.—Keystone species.—Decline status: Unknown.—Low priority for conservation action.