Cyprinion muscatense (Boulenger, 1888)

Cyprinion muscatense View Figure

Common name. Hajar lotak.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Cyprinion in Arabian Peninsula by: ● last unbranched dorsal ray short, thin, and serrated along only proximal third of ray in large individuals / ● 14−16 circumpeduncular scales / ○ 37−41 total lateral-line scales / ○ 6−7 scales between lateral line and dorsal origin. Size up to 134 mm SL.

Distribution View Figure . Oman and United Arab Emirates: Wadis of Hajar mountains.

Habitat. Wadis with large seasonal variations in flow. Adults occupy larger pools than juveniles. Spawns in flowing water on gravel beds.

Biology. First spawns at 8−13 months. Fractional spawner, individual females spawn several times in a season. Sur- vives more than 20 years in captivity; no data available from wild, but life expectancy in wild is likely to be much shorter. Fast-moving, active, mid-water dweller, usually found in small schools. In isolated pools, adults are generally very wary of human presence and initially remain hidden or in deeper areas close to hiding places;this may be an adaptation to predation by piscivorous birds. During spawning season, adults develop a distinctive pale blue colouration on anterior part of body, particularly lips and pectoral fins. Colour changes from mottled golden juveniles to silvery-grey adults. Juveniles are also proportionally thinner, i.e., body is less deep. Feeds on periphyton, opportunistically on aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates,and occasionally on plant material.

Conservation status. LC.

Remarks. This species is widespread in Hajar mountains. While the sympatric Garra are separated into different species, all populations of C. muscatense are very closely related.

Further reading. Alkahem & Behnke 1983; Krupp 1983 (description);Freyhof et al. 2020 (distribution,identification).