Abramis brama (Linnaeus, 1758)

[N]—Freshwater bream

Taxonomy. Original description: Cyprinus brama Linnaeus, 1758: 326 [European lakes. Syntypes: BMNH 1853.11.12.147 (1, skin)].— Afghanistan synonyms: Abramis melaenus Agassiz, 1835; Abramis vetula Heckel, 1836; Abramis media Koch, 1840; Abramis argyreus Valenciennes, 1844; Abramis microlepidotus Valenciennes, 1844; Abramis vulgaris Mauduyt, 1849; Abramis gehini Blanchard, 1866; Abramis brama var. sinegorensis Lukasch, 1933; Abramis brama bergi Grib & Vernidub, 1935; Abramis brama orientalis Berg, 1949; Abramis brama danubii Pavlov, 1956 .—Revisions: Berg (1949: 768).—Illustration: Berg (1949: 770, fig. 531).

Status in Afghanistan. First indication from Afghanistan by Banarescu (1964); listed by Coad (1981: 8) because of occurrence in contiguous drainages of Amu Darya basin.—Afghanistan materials: None.

Distribution and habitat. Distribution in Afghanistan: Higher reach of Amu Darya basin.—General distribution: Eurasia: central and eastern Europe and Caspian Sea basin. Introduced elsewhere.—Habitat: This species occurs in a wide variety of lakes and large to medium-sized rivers. Most abundant are backwaters, the lower reaches of slow-flowing rivers, brackish estuaries, and warm, shallow lakes. Semi-anadromous individuals enter freshened parts of the sea to forage. Usually spawns in densely vegetated backwaters, floodplains, or lake shores. Nearly all surfaces can be used for spawning. Freshwater, brackish.

Economic importance. Commercially important.

Conservation. Conservation status in Afghanistan: Unknown.—IUCN: LC (Freyhof & Kottelat 2008c).—Threats: No major threats known.—Low sensitivity to human activities.—Not considered as a keystone species.— Decline status: Unknown.—Low priority for conservation action.