Copper-oxide nanoparticles effects on goldfish (Carassius auratus): Lethal toxicity, haematological, and biochemical effects.

The advancement of nanotechnology and the widespread use of nanoparticles (NPs) in various industries have highlighted the importance of studying the potential harmful effects of nanomaterials on organisms. This study aimed to evaluate the lethal toxicity thresholds of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles (CuO-NPs). The investigation focused on examining the sub-lethal toxicity effects of CuO-NPs on blood parameters, as well as their influence on the gill tissue and liver of goldfish (Carassius auratus). Goldfish were exposed to varying concentrations of CuO-NPs (10, 20, 30, 40, 60, 80, and 100 mg/L) for 96 h. The Probit software was employed to determine the LC50 (lethal concentration causing 50% fish mortality) by monitoring and documenting fish deaths at 24, 48, 72, and 96-hour intervals. Subsequently, sub-lethal concentrations of 5% LC50 (T1), 10% LC50 (T2), and 15% LC50 (T3) of CuO-NPs were administered based on the LC50 level to investigate their effects on haematological parameters, encompassing the number of red blood cells and white blood cells, hematocrit and haemoglobin levels, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration. Additionally, histopathological examinations were conducted on the gill and liver tissues of the studied fish. Results indicated concentration-response of fish mortalities. In general, changes in the blood biochemical parameters of fish exposed to sub-lethal concentrations of CuO-NPs included a significant decrease in leukocyte count and glucose level and an increase in protein and triglyceride levels. Furthermore, an escalation in tissue damage such as gill apical and basal hyperplasia, lamellae attachment, squamous cell swelling, blood cell infiltration, and cellular oedema in gills tissue. and bleeding, increased sinusoidal space, necrosis, lateralization of the nucleus, cell swelling, and water retention in the liver. The findings showed dose-dependent increasing toxicity in goldfish specimens exposed to CuO-NPs.

Morphological characteristics of otoliths for Dussumieria acuta and Dussumieria elopsoides (Pisces: Clupeidae) from the Northern Oman Sea.

Otolith shape were investigated to identify two species of genus Dussumieria inhabiting the northern Oman Sea, south of Iran. The main aim of the investigation was to analyze otolith shape differences between these species. The sagittal otoliths of the rainbow sardine Dussumieria acuta Valenciennes, 1847, and the slender rainbow sardine Dussumieria elopsoides Bleeker, 1849, belonging to different length groups were described. The results showed two groups of special characteristics of the sagittal otoliths in D. acuta, and D. elopsoides. The first group is the characteristics that are useful to separate these species from other clupeid species, however these characteristics are closely related to one another in these species of Dussumieria genus. The second group comprises characteristics that vary due to genetically guided mechanisms and biological factors, but that may be useful to define species and are species-specific.

Garra rezai, a new species from two widely disjunct areas in the Tigris drainage (Teleostei: Cyprinidae).

Garra rezai, new species, is described from the Chooman, a tributary of the Lesser Zab in Iran, and from headwaters of the Yanarsu, a tributary of the upper Tigris in Turkey. It is distinguished from its congeners in the Garra variabilis species group by having two pairs of barbels, a well-developed mental disc, 35-40 total scales along the lateral line, 15-19 scales along the predorsal midline, and 15-18 circumpeduncular scales. It is further characterised by having ten diagnostic nucleotide substitutions and the K2P genetic distances with the closest species i.e. G. klatti, G. kemali and G. variabilis as 11.9, 12.0, and 13.7%, respectively in the mtDNA COI barcode region.

Mystus cyrusi, a new species of bagrid catfish (Teleostei: Bagridae) from Middle East.

Mystus cyrusi, new species, is described from the Kol River drainage which flows to the Straits of Hormuz in southern Iran. It is distinguished from its closest relative, Mystus pelusius from the Tigris-Euphrates River system by a combination of characters: The maxillary barbel short, not reaching to beyond pelvic fin (vs. extends as far as anal fin in some female M. pelusius), shorter adipose fin (30.837.4% SL) and with a steeper sloping at its origin vs. longer (37.645.6% SL) and with a more gently sloping in M. pelusius), greater head depth (16.6421.9% SL vs. 12.616.59% SL in M. pelusius), greater caudal-peduncle depth (10.312.5% SL vs. 8.710.5% SL in M. pelusius) and fewer total gill rakers (1214, mode 12) vs. (1417 in M. pelusius). Mystus cyrusi is also well distinguished by molecular characters. Genetically, M. cyrusi shows the lowest genetic distance with M. pelusius (4.6%), and then with M. singaringan (11.6%), M. wolffii (13.1%), and M. bleekeri (13.4%) among the 21 studied species in their mtDNA sequences. Mystus cyrusi shows the highest genetic distance with M. montanus (26.5%).

Five new species of the sisorid catfish genus Glyptothorax from Iran (Teleostei: Sisoridae).

Five new species of Glyptothorax are described from Iran. Glyptothorax alidaeii, new species, from the Seimare in the Karkheh drainage, G. galaxias, new species, from the upper Karun drainage, G. hosseinpanahii, new species, from the Zohreh drainage, G. pallens, new species, from the Sirvan drainage, and G. shapuri, new species, from Shapur in the Helleh drainage. Glyptothorax silviae from the Jarrahi drainage is re-diagnosed. All six species are morphologically distinguishable by the structure of the thoracic adhesive apparatus, as well as morphometric characters and details in the colour pattern. They form distinct mitochondrial clades between 1.2% and 4.1% minimum K2P distance based on the mitochondrial DNA barcode region.

In vitro effects of silver nanoparticles on gills morphology of female Guppy (Poecilia reticulate) after a short-term exposure.

The application of nanoparticles in various industries has grown significantly in recent years. The aims of this study were evaluation effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on survival rate and tissues (Gills) of Guppy (Poecilia reticulate) as a model of the freshwater organism. For this purpose, 90 mature fish were exposed to a different level of AgNPs for 96 hr. Data analyzed showed there was a significant correlation between fish mortality rate and AgNPs concentrations. Histological assays showed some typical tissue damages such as hyperplasia, hypertrophy, hyperemia, hemorrhage, and necrosis. Moreover, fish exposed to a lethal concentration of AgNPs showed some clinical signs, such as increasing operculum movement, swimming near the water surface, anxiety, and death with open mouth. The results of the present study showed that AgNPs can have toxicity effects on Guppy, also to sub-lethal concentrations, leading to several tissue damages and reduced survival rate of fish.

Rhodeus caspius, a new bitterling from Iran (Teleostei: Cypriniformes: Acheilognathidae).

A new bitterling from the Rhodeus amarus group is described based on morphological and molecular data. Rhodeus caspius sp. nov. from the Caspian Sea, Urmia Lake and the upper Tigris River drainages in Iran, is distinguished from its closest congeners (R. amarus and R. colchicus) by having short post-dorsal distance and caudal peduncle length and long head length. It is also characterized by one fixed diagnostic nucleotide substitutions and a K2P nearest neighbor distance of 1% to R. amarus and R. colchicus in the mtDNA COI barcode region.

Paraschistura makranensis, a new loach from the Jegin River drainage in southern Iran with comments on P. ilamensis and P. pasatigris (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae).

Paraschistura makranensis, new species, is described from the Jegin River drainage in southern Iran. It is distinguished from its congeners in Iran by having a plain brown or slightly mottled colour pattern on the flanks, a very slender body with a relatively short head, a complete lateral line extending almost to the caudal-fin base, the caudal peduncle covered by scales, and a suborbital flap in males. Paraschistura makranensis is distinguished from P. bampurensis and P. hormuzensis, its closest relatives in our dataset, by an uncorrected-pairwise distance based on the COI data of 4.0 and 5.4%, respectively. We treat Paraschistura pasatigris as a synonym of P. ilamensis.

Paracobitis abrishamchiani, a new crested loach from the southern Caspian Sea basin (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae).

Paracobitis abrishamchiani, new species, is described from the southern Caspian Sea basin, where it is found in the Babol, Haraz, Siah, Tajan, Talar and Kashpal River drainages. It is distinguished from P. hircanica and P. atrakensis, the two other Paracobitis species known from the Caspian Sea basin, by having scales on the flank posterior to the dorsal-fin origin and from its congeners in the Middle East by the position of its dorsal-fin origin, having a roundish posterior narial opening, and a colour pattern consisting of many widely spaced brown spots and blotches. It is further characterized by six diagnostic nucleotide substitutions and a minimum K2P distance of 4.3% to P. persa and 4.6% to P. malapterura in the mtDNA COI barcode region.

Garra roseae, a new species from the Makran region in southern Iran (Teleostei: Cyprinidae).

Garra roseae, new species, is described from the stream Tang-e-Sarhe in the Iranian Makran region. It is distinguished from its congeners in the Middle East by lacking barbels, having a small mental disc, 42-58 total scales along the lateral line, 24-30 scales along the predorsal midline, and 20-24 circumpeduncular scales. It is further characterised by having five diagnostic nucleotide substitutions and a minimum K2P distance of 5.39% to G. rossica and 5.49% to G. nudiventris in the mtDNA COI barcode region. Garra phryne from eastern Iran is considered to be a synonym of G. nudiventris.

Contribution to the molecular systematics of the genus Capoeta from the south Caspian Sea basin using mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences (Teleostei: Cyprinidae).

Traditionally, Capoeta populations from the southern Caspian Sea basin have been considered as Capoeta capoeta gracilis. Study on the phylogenetic relationship of Capoeta species using mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequences show that Capoeta population from the southern Caspian Sea basin is distinct species and receive well support (posterior probability of 100%). Based on the tree topologies obtained from Bayesian and Maximum Likelihood methods, three main groups for the studied Capoeta were detected: Clade I) Capoeta trutta group (the Mesopotamian Capoeta group) including closely related taxa (e.g. trutta, turani, barroisi) characterized by having numerous irregular black spots on the dorsal half of the body. This clade was the sister group to all other Capoeta species and its separation occurred very early in evolution possess, so we considered it as O ld Evolutionary Group. Clade II) comprises highly diversified and widespread group, Capoeta damascina complex group (small scale capoeta group), the Anatolian-Iranian group (e.g. banarescui, buhsei, damascina, saadii), characterized by small scales and plain body (absence of irregular black spots on the dorsal half of the body, except in some juveniles) with significantly later speciation event so called Young Evolutionary Group. Clade III) Capoeta capoeta complex group (large scale capoeta group, the Aralo-Caspian group) comprises very closely related taxa characterized by large scales and plain body (absence of irregular black spots on the dorsal half of the body) distributed in Aralo-Caspian water bodies (capoeta, ekmekciae, heratensis, gracilis, sevangi) that has been recently diverged and could be considered as Very Young Evolutionary Group.

Redescription of Gobio nigrescens from the Hari River drainage (Teleostei: Cyprinidae).

Gobio nigrescens, from the Hari River drainage, is redescribed. It represents a valid species distinguished from congeners in the adjacent Caspian and Aral Sea basins by a combination of characters: a naked breast, 16 circumpeduncular scales and 6-7 irregularly shaped, black or brown blotches on back behind dorsal-fin base.

Cobitis avicennae, a new species of spined loach from the Tigris River drainage (Teleostei: Cobitidae).

Cobitis avicennae, new species, from the Karkheh and Karun sub-drainages in the Tigris catchment is distinguished from other Cobitis species in the Persian Gulf, Kor and the southern Caspian Sea basins by having a single lamina circularis in males, a small comma-shaped black spot on the upper caudal-fin base, 5½ branched anal-fin rays, 5-6 rows of dark spots on the dorsal and caudal fins, scales below the dorsal-fin base with a small focal zone and pigmentation zone Z4 with 12-17 large, partly fused blotches. It is also distinguished from other Cobitis species in the comparison group by six fixed, diagnostic nucleotide substitutions in the mtDNA COI barcode region.

Morphometric variation of the endangered Caspian lamprey, Caspiomyzon wagneri (Pisces: Petromyzontidae), from migrating stocks of two rivers along the southern Caspian Sea.

BACKGROUND: Morphological studies on fishes are important from various viewpoints. Studies carried out on the Caspian Sea fishes show that many species possess speciation and population formation microprocess running. Morphologicalcharacteristics of the native endangered Caspian lamprey, Caspiomyzonwagneri Kessler1870, from migrating stocks of two major rivers in the southern Caspian Sea were analyzed to investigate the hypothesis population structure and morphologic sexual dimorphism. RESULTS: Univariate analysis of variance of 180 adult specimens showed significant differences between the means of the two studied groups for 15 standardized morphometric measurements out of 31 (P < 0.05). In morphometric trait linear discriminant function analysis, the overall assignments of individuals into their original groups in male and female specimens were 77.1 and 84.0 %, respectively. The discriminant analysis showed a morphological segregation of the studied populations based on the characters predorsal length, interdorsal, interorbital distance, tail length, and first dorsal fin length. The principal component analysis, scatter plot of individual component score between PC1 and PC2, showed the specimens grouped into two areas but with high and moderate overlap between two localities in males and females, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicated that there are at least two types of morphological forms of Caspian lamprey that had high morphometric differentiation in the rivers across the southern Caspian Sea, which can be considered in conservational policy of this valuable species.