title: Molecular systematics and distribution review of the endemic cyprinid species, Persian chub,Acanthobrama persidis(Coad, 1981) in Southern Iran (Teleostei: Cyprinidae).
abstract: The Iranian Persian chub is an endemic species of the family Cyprinidae known only from few localities in drainages of Southern Iran. It was originally described in the genusPseudophoxinusas (Pseudophoxinus persidis) and thenPetroleuciscus(asPetroleuciscus persidis). In this study, we examined phylogenetic relationships of the Iranian Persian chub with other relatives in the family Cyprinidae based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene to estimate the phylogenetic (and taxonomic) position of the species. Our molecular phylogenies show that new fish sequences from the drainages in southern Iran are clustered with sequences of the genusAcanthobramafrom GenBank while the sequences from two other genera (PseudophoxinusandPetroleuciscus) are in distinct clade. Therefore, we conclude that the populations of Persian Chub in drainages of southern Iran (i.e., Kol, Kor, Maharlu and Persis) belong to the genusAcanthobramaand speciesAcanthobrama persidis.The predicted geographic distributions for the species showed a large area of suitable climate forA. persidisacross south and west of Iran especially in the Kor River basin. Some other parts in the Persis and Tigris are also might have been suitable habitats for this cyprinid species showing possible dispersal route ofAcanthobramafrom Tigris to the Persis, Kor and Kol basins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran.
authors.forename: Azad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Teimori
authors.affiliation: Ichthyology Research laboratory, Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid Reza
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Esmaeili
authors.affiliation: Ichthyology Research laboratory, Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Golnaz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sayyadzadeh
authors.affiliation: Ichthyology Research laboratory, Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Neda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zarei
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gholamhosseini
keywords: Iranian drainages; Persian Chub; Petroleuciscus; Pseudophoxinus; mt-DNA