FIRST RECORD OF BLACK CARP, MYLOPHARYNGODON PICEUS FROM SOUTHERN CASPIAN SEA (IRAN)

In October 2000, a fish with body weight of 7500g and total lenght of 970mm was caught by a beach seine near Bandar Anzali coastal waters in the southern Caspian Sea, then in March 2001, a similar fish with 4800g weight and 800mm total lenght was caught by another beach seine in this area for the second time. Study on morphological characteristic (morphometric, meristic and anatomic) indicated that these specimens have 41 and 42 scales on lateral line, 7 branched rays in dorsal fin and 8 in anal fin. There are 17 and 19 rakers on first gill arch, respectively. These 2 samples have sub-terminal mouth, black colour, cycloid scales with a few thick, ones sharp snout, some starry plates on upper head and pharyngeal teeth in one series with unserrated, smooth and grinding surface (4-5 and 5-5, respectively). Also, ventral fins inserted vertically after dorsal fin origin.
In according to ichthyoloy resources, these specimens were distinguished a commercial cyprinid species, Black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus). Review of present literature on Caspian Sea basin and whole Iranian waters indicate that there is no previous report on presence of this fish in natural ecosystems of Iran.