Abbas J. Al-Faisal <

A Case Of Vertebral Coalescence In Luciobarbus Xanthopterus (Heckel, 1843) (Pisces: Cyprinidae) Obtained From The Lower Reaches Of Mesopotamia

Abstract A severe coalescence involving 11 thoracic and 11 caudal vertebrae was noticed in the posterior part of the thoracic and anterior part of the caudal regions of the vertebral column of the abnormal specimen of Luciobarbus xanthopterus collected from Al-Huwaza Marsh, Maisan Province, South of Iraq. Also, other minor anomalies were noticed in the specimen in question. Probably, genetic and epigenetic causes may be implicated in this anomaly.

Dotted Grouper, Epinephelus epistictus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1842) (Osteichthyes: Serranidae), recorded from the marine waters of Iraq

Most members of the family Serranidae are large, piscivorous fishes associated with coral reefs or rocky bottoms and other inshore environments of tropical seas (HEEMSTRA & RANDALL 1993). At present, this family comprises approximately 450 species in 64 genera; among these is the large genus Epinephelus, commonly known as Groupers, with about 98 species (CRAIG et al. 2001, FROESE & PAULY 2010) and distributed in tropical and subtropical latitudes of all oceans (HEEMSTRA & RANDALL 1993). Epinephelus epistictus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1842) is known from the Arabian Sea coasts of Oman, the Sea of Oman and the Iranian coats of the Sea of Oman (ASSADI & DEHGANI 1997). In the Arabian Gulf area, it has been reported from the waters around Bahrain (AL-BAHARNA 1986), the coasts of Saudi Arabia at Dammam City (KRUPP et al. 2000) and the Iranian coasts of the Arabian Gulf at Kharg Island (GBIF 2010). We report here three records from the Arabian Gulf representing its northernmost distribution. No previous records of this species have been found in the northern part of the Arabian Gulf. The present study represents the first record of the Dotted Grouper in the Iraqi marine waters.

Atractosteus spatula (Actinopterygii: Lepisosteiformes: Lepisosteidae): A deliberate aquarium trade introduction incidence in the Shatt al-Arab River, Basrah, Iraq

The first record of a single specimen of alligator gar, Atractosteus spatula (Lacepède, 1803), native to North America, is reported from the inland waters of Iraq. The specimen was caught from southern reaches of the Shatt al-Arab River at Om-al-Rasas Island, Basrah, Iraq during an ichthyologic survey in September 2016 using gillnets with mesh size of 40 mm. The capture of a sub-adult specimen, 900 mm in total length, marks the first record of a member of the family Lepisosteidae in the freshwater system of Iraq. Aquarium trade pathway is the suspected factor for the presence of this species in the Iraqi freshwater area.

On the record of vertebral deformities in Mastacembelus mastacembelus collected from the lower reaches of Euphrates River, Iraq

Severe deformity such as coalescence of vertebrae, compact vertebrae, loss of vertebral parts, and different levels of deformed vertebral centra and minor deformities such as undulation of the haemal spines of the vertebrae are reported in six specimens of Mastacembelus mastacembelus (Family: Mastacembelidae) collected from the lower reaches of Euphrates River, at Nasiria marsh area, Iraq. Several abdominal and caudal vertebrae are involved in this anomaly. Possible causes such as genetic and epigenetic factors may be implicated in this anomaly.

Relato de deformidades vertebrais de Mastacembelus mastacembelus coletados no Rio Euphrates, Iraque

Severe deformity such as coalescence of vertebrae, compact vertebrae, loss of vertebral parts, and different levels of deformed vertebral centra and minor deformities such as undulation of the haemal spines of the vertebrae are reported in six specimens of Mastacembelus mastacembelus (Family: Mastacembelidae) collected from the lower reaches of Euphrates River, at Nasiria marsh area, Iraq. Several abdominal and caudal vertebrae are involved in this anomaly. Possible causes such as genetic and epigenetic factors may be implicated in this anomaly.

New Record of Neobythites steatiticus Alcock, 1894 (Actinopterygii: Ophidiidae) from the Marine Waters of Iraq

The first record of Neobythites steatiticus in the Iraqi waters of the Arabian Gulf is reported based on a single specimen 370 mm in total length, obtained from south of Faw City Peninsula, Basrah, Iraq, Arabian Gulf. This account represents the northernmost range extension of this species in the north of the Indian Ocean region. The specimen is larger than the type specimen of the species and larger than other specimen obtained from other locations and it is considered a record size for this species.