Osteological description of Barbus lacerta Heckel, 1843 (Cyprinidae) from Tigris basin of Iran

Abstract

The present study was conducted to provide a detailed descriptive osteology of Barbus lacerta from Tigris basin of Iran and comparing it with those of B. cyri from the Caspian Sea basin. For this purpose, twelve specimens of B. lacerta were collected from Hamill River and then, the specimens were cleared and stained with alcian blue and alizarin red for osteological examination. A detailed description of the osteological features of B. lacerta was provided. Based on the results, B. lacerta can be distinguished from B. cyri by having 2 pharyngobranchial (ver. 3 B. cyri), 7-8 supraneural (ver. 9 of B. cyri), two long neural spines of the second centrum of the caudal skeleton (ver. consumptive one of B. cyri), and lacking neural prezygapophyses of the fourth vertebra.