Acipenser nudiventris Lovetsky, 1828 [N]—Fringebarbel sturgeon

Taxonomy. Original description: Acipenser nudiventris Lovetsky, 1828: 78, pl. 6, fig. 2 [Aral Sea; no types known; original description reproduced in Berg (1905: 2, footnote)].— Afghanistan synonyms: None.—Revisions: Berg (1948: 66).—Illustration: Berg (1948: 68, figs. 55–56).

Status in Afghanistan. First record from Afghanistan by Berg (1948: 69); confirmed by Coad (1981: 8; 2014: 108; 2015: 227).—Afghanistan materials: None.

Distribution and habitat. Distribution in Afghanistan: Panj River (Amu Darya River system, into Aral Sea).— General distribution: Eastern Atlantic, Europe and Middle East: Basins of Black, Azov, Caspian and Aral seas and Sea of Marmara.—Habitat: This species is anadromous: juveniles move to the ocean or inland seas; mature specimens migrate back into rivers for spawning, which takes place in strong-current habitats in the main courses of large and deep rivers on stone or gravel bottoms. Freshwater, transitional water, marine.

Economic importance. Commercially important.

Conservation. Conservation status in Afghanistan: RE (Berg 1948).—IUCN: Critically endangered (CR) (Freyhof et al. 2022a).—Threats: FIT, HAB, CON.—High sensitivity to human activities.—Keystone species.—Decline status: Regionally exterminated.—High priority for conservation action.