Occurrence of population of Photopectoralis bindus (Valenciennes, 1835) in Shatt al-Arab River, Basrah, Iraq

Abstract

The first record of a Photopectoralis bindus with a maintainable population from Shatt al-Arab River, Basra, Iraq is reported. The specimens were caught from the middle reaches of Shatt al-Arab River at the City of Basrah, Iraq in November 2015. The capture of adult specimens ( n = 30), marks the establishment of P. bindus in a new freshwater environment different to its original habitat. Changes in abundance of phyto and zooplankton and other environmental factors in Shatt al-Arab recently might be responsible for such an establishment.