Reproduction of Capoeta damascina (Valenciennes, 1842), a cyprinid fish, in Zayandeh-Roud River, Iran

Abstract

Summary Reproductive characteristics of siahmahi, Capoeta damascina (Valenciennes, 1842), a native cyprinid in the Zayandeh‐Roud River, were investigated by monthly sampling from March 2007 to April 2008. Among 689 specimens captured, the overall sex ratio was 1 : 1.57 (males : females). Males matured at age 2+. Females matured between ages 4 and 6, with 100% maturity at age 7+. Based on the gonadosomatic index (GSI), the reproductive period peaked between May and June. Histological and macroscopic characteristics of the gonad indicated the species to be group‐synchronous. Absolute fecundity varied greatly with female size, ranging 2520 to 72 650 (mean 24 800 ± 17 800) eggs for females 25.5–54.2 cm TL and weighing 320–2340 g. Fecundity increased with fish age, averages being 9446 ± 8028 for 4+ old females and 54 503 ± 13 803 eggs in mature 8+ year old females.

Reproductive characteristics of Siahmahi, Capoeta damascina (family: Cyprinidae) in Beheshtabad river, Tigris basin

“…Age of first sexual maturity in this study was ˂ 2 + for males and 3 + years for females. Age at sexual maturity of C. damascina living in Iranian waters was reported as 2 + and 4 + for males and females (Soofiani and Asadollah 2010;Asadollah et al 2011). In the present study, the smallest mature male and female fish were 11.5 and 18.5 cm, respectively.…”

“…Stoumboudi et al (1993) in Jordan River reported similar results. This ratio for C. damascina in other areas were in favour of females (Mazaheri 2007;Soofiani and Asadollah 2010;Asadollah et al 2011). Differences in sex ratio might be related to the interspecific differences in adapted population of a species to different ecological conditions, different in the date and time of capture, fishing gear, location, different growth rates and different mortalities in males and females, migration of mature fishes from the region and different behavior pattern in male and female fish (Qasim 1966;Fishelson et al 1996;Keivany and Soofiani 2004;Soofiani et al 2006;Asadollah et al 2011;Keivany et al 2012;Abaszadeh et al 2013;Tabatabaei et al 2014;Keivany and Daneshvar 2015).…”

“…Stoumboudi et al (1993) also found that males in Lake Tiberias mature between 16 and 25 cm and females between 20 and 25 cm total length. Soofiani and Asadollah (2010) and Asadollah et al (2011) reported the size at first maturity as 13.5 cm for males and 24-25 cm for females. Females, generally, attained maturity at an older age than males and generally, many other cyprinids fish males reach maturity at smaller sizes than females.…”

“…The reproduction period of this species was in March-June (Figure 1). In previous studies, it was recorded as May (Asadollah et al 2011), May-June (Soofiani and Asadollah 2010) and April-June (Gharache 2008;Mazaheri 2007) (Table 5). Khalaf (1987) recorded that in Lebanese rivers the spawning of this species began in May and ended in June.…”

“…Like salmons, C. damascina is a strong counter-current swimmer, capable of jumping very strongly and rapidly (Fishelson et al 1996). Although morphometrics, parasites, scale structure, age, growth and reproduction characteristics of the mesopotamian barb in the Middle East waters have been studied extensively (Khalaf 1987;Stoumboudi et al 1993;Fishelson et al 1996;Abdoli & Mostafavi 2009;Soofiani & Asadollah 2010;Asadollah et al 2011;Jalali & Miar 2011;Samaee & Patzner 2011;Marammazi et al 2014;Razavipour et al 2015a, b;Asadollah et al 2017), little is known on reproduction of this fish in Karun River basin such as Beheshtabad River, where Mesopotamian barb is mainly caught for consumption.…”