Native fish biodiversity in Afghanistan

Abstract

The land-locked country of Afghanistan has a restricted but relatively diverse ichthyofauna comprising 85 species in 10 families. The fauna is dominated by Cyprinidae (50 species) and other Ostariophysans (28 species). Eight species are endemics to Afghanistan within its political boundaries. There are three principal drainage basins: the endorheic Amu Darya draining to the Aral Sea with 29 species, the endorheic Helmand River basin draining to the Sistan terminal lakes on the Iranian border with 22 species, and the Kabul River basin draining to the Indus River with 44 species.