Aphanius vladykovi, a new species of tooth-carp from the Zagros Mountains of Iran (Osteichthyes: Cyprinodontidae)

Abstract

A new species of tooth-carp, Aphanius vladykovi, is described from the Zagros Mountains of Iran. The new species is uniquely characterised by a high count of lateral line scales and by different pigmentation patterns from its closest, putative relative A. sophiae. It also possesses several meristic and morphometric differences with topotypic A. sophiae. It became separated from a common ancestor with A. sophiae by orogenic events which led to the formation of the Zagros Mountains and the isolation of the upper reaches of the Karun River basin by the development of tangs, narrow passes through the mountains with high water flow and steep gradient which prevent gene flow between lowland and mountain populations of these small fishes.