Identified fishes of Kol River in Hormuzgan Province

Abstract

Kol River drains into the Persian Gulf and its watershed encompasses areas in Hormozgan, Kerman and Fars provinces. Identification of fish species of the river was conducted seasonally from summer to winter 2005. We selected 8 sampling stations based on the height of sea level from branches of Kol River near estuary. Totally, 160 specimens were caught with gillnet, cast net and hook. We identified 12 species, 12 genera, 7 families and 5 orders. The most diverse family was Cyprinidae represented by 5 species and 5 genera. In this family, Cyprinion watsoni was caught in 6 sampling stations and Cyprinus carpio species in only one station. Close to estuary, we found marine fish species such as mudskipper of Gobiidae, milk fish of Chanidae, ladyfish of Elopidae, and two species of Mugilidae families. The latter two species of Mugilidae were not seen in other stations. Of the identified species, Iranocichla hormuzensis, Garra persica and Schistura sargadensis were endemic and Cyprinus carpio was considered exotic.