Squalius namak, Khaefi, Esmaeili, Sayyadzadeh, Geiger & Freyhof, 2016

Freyhof, Jörg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 414

Squalius namak

Common name. Namak chub.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Squalius in adjacent Caspian and Persian Gulf basins by: ● symphysial knob on lower jaw wide and thick / ○ a bold, grey or brown, roundish or crescent shaped blotch at tip of flank scales in preserved individuals / ○ scale pockets on flank above lateral line poorly pigmented / ○ 39–43+1–3 lateral-line scales (39–45 total) / ○ posterior anal margin convex / ○ mouth subterminal / ○ anal height 7–13% SL / ○ anal with few or without black pigments in preserved individuals / ○ 9–12 gill rakers / ○ caudal, anal and pelvic rays orange / ○ head blunt / ○ caudal peduncle length 14–20 % SL. Size up to 450 mm SL, likely to grow larger.

Distribution . Iran: Qom and Qareh Chai drainages in Lake Namak basin. Hable and Nam drainages in Western Kavir basin.

Habitat. Springs and small rivers.

Biology. No data.

Conservation status. LC.

Remarks. Individuals analysed from Cheshmeh Ali have the mtDNA of S. turcicus . This population could be identified as S. turcicus or could consist of hybrids between S. namak and S. turcicus .

Further reading. Khaefi et al. 2016 (description).

Figures

Squalius namak

Distribution