The Fish Fauna of North and East Regions of Khorasan-e-Razavi Province, Iran

Abstract

Khorasan-e-Razavi province in the northeast of Iran possesses varied climatic and geographical conditions that lead to a rich biodiversity. An investigation on the status of the fish fauna was carried out from March to October 2013. A total of 401 specimens was collected and identified, from 30 localities among seven counties in this province. Sampling was performed using hand net, cast net and electrofishing equipment. The collected specimens represented two families, seven genera and nine species including Cyprinidae (Capoeta capoeta, Capoeta fusca, Schizothorax pelzami, Alburnoides eichwaldii, Squalius cephalus, Garra rossica, Pseudorasbora parva) and Nemacheilidae (Paraschistura cristata and Paraschistura turcmenica). The Cyprinidae with seven species, showed the highest diversity among the families represented here.