KARUN RIVER FISH FAUNA ELEMENTS

This study investigated the fish fauna in the Karun River in 2018. 35 sampling sites were studied: Mavarz, Kaj, Behesht Abad, Bagh Rostam, Joneghan, Tang Panj, Spid Dasht, Abshar Bisheh, Cham Chit, Tireh, Marboreh, Dareh takht, Kakolestan, Cheshme naz, Ab Malakh, Keta, Dar shahi, Botari, Pataveh, Gahkadeh, Atashgah, Do polan, Entehaye kaj, Dasht sosan, Dasht sosan 2, Masjed soleiman, Gotvand, Shoshtar, Darkhoein, Arab asad, Molasani, Ahvaz, Dezful, Ojeyroud, Shoush. Fish sampling was done using the backpack electro fisher (Model: Samus 1000). The results revealed 34 fish species: Capoeta coadi, Capoeta aculeate, Capoeta trutta, Carassius gibelio, Arabibarbus grypus, Cyprinus carpio, Chondrostoma regium, Squalius berak, Acanthobrama marmid, Barbus lacerta, Barbus karunensis, Luciobarbus barbulus, Carasobarbus luteus, Carasobarbus kosswigi, Alburnus sellal, Alburnus caeruleus, Alburnoides idignensis, Alburnus doriae, Cyprinion macrostomum, Hemiculter leucisculus, Garra rufa, Barilius mesopotamicus, Sasanidus kermanshahensis, Turcinoemacheilus saadii, Turcinoemacheilus hafezi, Oxynoemacheilus freyhofi, Glyptothorax silviae, Planiliza abu, Aphanius vladykovi, Coptodon zillii, Oreochromis aureus, Mastacembelus mastacembelus, Oncorhynchus mykiss, Rhinogobius similis. The sampled fish species belong to nine families, including Cyprinidae (64.71%), Nemacheilidae (11.76), Cichlidae (5.88%), Sisoridae, Mugilidae, Cyprinodontidae, Mastacembelidae, Salmonidae and Oxudercidae (2.94%) that 22 of them belong to Cyprinidae. Carassius gibelio, Coptodon zillii, Oreochromis aureus and Rhinogobius similis were exotic species unintentionally introduced to the Karun River. Capoeta coadi was the most abundant species in most studied sites. A table will be presented showing the list of fish species identified in Karun River. The natural characteristics of Karun River have been influenced lately by different human activities which impact the shape of the local fish fauna structure, in a decreasing qualitative and quantitative way.