Freshwater fishes of Iraq: a revised and updated annotated checklist- 2023 Author Çiçek, Erdoğan Department of Biology, Faculty of Art and Sciences, Nevşehir Hacı BektaşVeli University, Nevşehir, Türkiye Author Jawad, Laith School of Environmental and Animal Sciences, Unitec Institute of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand Author Eagderi, Soheil Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran Author Esmaeili, Hamid Reza Ichthyology and Molecular Systematics Research Laboratory, Zoology Section, Department of Biology, School of Science, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran Author Mouludi-Saleh, Atta Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran Author Sungur, Sevil Health Services Vocational School, Nevşehir Hacı BektaşVeli University, Nevşehir, Türkiye Author Fricke, Ronald Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde in Stuttgart, Rosenstein 1, 70191 Stuttgart, Germany text Zootaxa 2023 2023-10-17 5357 1 1 49 http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5357.1.1 journal article 273375 10.11646/zootaxa.5357.1.1 6073f32b-c27e-4504-b32f-d3a171422a77 1175-5326 10012543 7CDE221A-1E73-416D-A984-23E64D9451A6 Squalius berak Heckel, 1843 [N]—Mesopotamian chub Taxonomy. Original description: Squalius berak Heckel, 1843: 1078 [88] [ Aleppo , Syria ; holotype : syntypes : NMW 48915 (6), SMF 469 [ex NMW] (3)].— Iraq synonyms: Squalius orientalis Heckel, 1847 .—Revisions: Khaefi et al . (2016); Esmaeili et al . (2016b: 119) .—Illustration: Heckel (1843 : pl. 10, fig. 1); Esmaeili et al . (2016b: 120–123 , figs. 1–5). Status in Iraq . First record from Iraq by Heckel (1843) .—Iraq materials: None. Distribution and habitat. Distribution in Iraq : Euphrates and Tigris River basins.—General distribution: Middle East: Euphrates and Tigris River basin ( Turkey , Syria , Iraq , and Iran ).—Habitat: This species occurs in small to medium-sized streams, mostly in mountains and hilly areas. Freshwater. Economic importance. Locally commercially important. Conservation. Conservation Status in Iraq : Unknown.—IUCN: LC (IUCN 2023).—Threats: There are many threats in the area, but none is serious enough to significant impact this species.—Low sensitivity to human activities.—Not considered as a keystone species.—Decline status: Unknown.—Low priority for conservation action.