Mystus pelusius (Solander, 1794)

Saad, Adib, Çiçek, Erdoğan, Esmaeili, Hamid Reza, Fricke, Ronald, Sungur, Sevil & Eagderi, Soheil, 2023, Freshwater fishes of Syria: a revised and updated annotated checklist- 2023, Zootaxa 5350 (1), pp. 1-62 : 33

Mystus pelusius (Solander, 1794) [N]—Zigzag catfish; None

Taxonomy. Original description: Silurus pelusius Solander in Russell, 1794: 210, pl. 7, fig. 1 [Qweik River, Aleppo, Syria; syntype: BMNH 1955.6.25.1 (1)].—Syrian synonyms: Bagrus halepensis Valenciennes, 1840 ; Macrones colvillii Günther, 1874 ; Mystus colvillii ( Günther, 1874) ; Mystus halepensis (Valenciennes, 1840) ; Macrones aleppensis (Valenciennes, 1840) .—Revisions: Roberts (1994:243); Esmaeili et al. (2022b).—Illustration: Hamilton (1822: pl. 3, fig. 61) as Pimelodus tengara, Esmaeili et al. (2022b:338 , fig. 10, syntype BMNH 1955.6.25.1).

Status in Syria. Recorded from Syria in original description by Solander in Russell (1794: 210); subsequently reported by Beckman (1962: 46); Ali (2003); Taha (2005).—Syrian material: BMNH, MCZ, MNHN, MSL.

Distribution and habitat. Distribution in Syria: Euphrates and Tigris River basins.—Distribution in River Basin: 1-Dajleh & Khabour, 2-Euphrates & Aleppo.—General distribution: Asia Minor and Middle East: Euphrates and Tigris River basins ( Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran).—Distribution in Ecoregion: 441-Lower Tigris & Euphrates, 442-Upper Tigris & Euphrates.—Habitat: This species lives in large rivers and reservoirs. It feeds on invertebrates and small fish. Freshwater.

Economic importance. Commercially important.

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