Mesopotamian barb
📖 Overview
Occurs in lakes, streams with fast and slow-moving water currents and in clear and muddy water. Bottom fish that feeds on aufwuchs which it scrapes from the substrate with the horny sheet of the lower lip. Its diet consists of algae, aquatic invertebrates, and detritus . It spawns between January and March in small streams where it deposits its eggs on gravel. Tasteless fish, and the spawn is toxic (Andrey Marlin, pers. comm., 2003).
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 4; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8. : fusiform / normal.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Mesopotamian barb is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Mesopotamian barb is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Subtropical; 15°C - 26°C
🌿 Ecology
aufwuchs which it scrapes from the substrate with the horny sheet of the lower lip
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barbus belayewi | Menon | 1960 | Synonym |
| Capoeta capoeta damascinus | Valenciennes | 1842 | Synonym |
| Capoeta capoeta intermedia | Bianco & Bănărescu | 1982 | Heterotypic |
| Capoeta fratercula | Heckel | 1843 | Synonym |
| Capoeta socialis | Heckel | 1843 | Synonym |
| Capoeta syriaca | Valenciennes | 1844 | Synonym |
| Chondrostoma syriacum | Valenciennes | 1844 | Synonym |
| Gobio damascinus | Valenciennes | 1842 | Synonym |
| Scaphiodon amir | Heckel, 1846-49 | - | Synonym |
| Scaphiodon chebisiensis | Keyserling | 1861 | Synonym |
| Scaphiodon fratercula | Heckel | 1843 | Synonym |
| Scaphiodon niger | Heckel, 1846-49 | - | Synonym |
| Scaphiodon peregrinorum | Heckel | 1843 | Synonym |
| Scaphiodon rostratus | Keyserling | 1861 | Synonym |
| Scaphiodon socialis | Heckel | 1843 | Synonym |
| Varicorhinus damascinus | Valenciennes | 1842 | Synonym |
| Varicorhinus fratercula | Heckel | 1843 | Synonym |
| Varicorhinus socialis | Heckel | 1843 | Synonym |
| Varicorhinus syriacus | Valenciennes | 1844 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 3 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
No observations yet - be the first to log one!
View all observations for Mesopotamian barb ↗Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.
Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.