Leuciscus aspius (Linnaeus, 1758)

[N]—Asp

Taxonomy. Original description: Cyprinus aspius Linnaeus, 1758: 325 [Swedish lakes; no types known]— Afghanistan synonyms: Aspius aspius (Linnaeus, 1758) .—Revisions: Berg (1949: 603) as Aspius aspius .— Illustration: Berg (1949: 604, figs. 357–359) as Aspius aspius .

Status in Afghanistan. First record from Afghanistan by Berg (1949: 605) as Aspius aspius; confirmed by Coad (1981: 9 as Aspius aspius; 2014: 179; 2015: 228).—Afghanistan materials: None.

Distribution and habitat. Distribution in Afghanistan: Amu Darya.—General distribution: Asia: Distribution: Europe to western Asia.—Habitat: This species is found in open water in large and mid-sized lowland rivers and large lakes. Spawns on gravel or submerged vegetation in fast-flowing water. Lake populations migrate to tributaries. Freshwater, brackish.

Economic importance. Commercially important.

Conservation. Conservation status in Afghanistan: Unknown.—IUCN: LC (Freyhof & Kottelat 2018).—Threats: CON, ABS, HAB.—Low sensitivity to human activities.—Keystone species.—Decline status: Unknown.— Low priority for conservation action.