First record of saw-belly (Hemiculter leucisculus Basilewsky, 1855) from Zarinehrud River, Urmia Lake basin and its some biological characteristics

This study aimed to the first report of Saw-belly, Hemiculter leucisculus from the Zarinehrud River and investigation of its morphometric and meristic characteristics, length-weight and length-length relationships. A total of 77 saw-belly specimens were caught on September 2013 from the Zarinehrud River. Twenty-one morphometric and 10 meristic characters were examined. The total length and weight ranges were 66-142 mm and 1.7-30.27 g, respectively. The parameter b of 3, indicating its isometric growth pattern. Regarding the observed species diversity and presence of 6 other exotic fish species in this River, the saw-belly has probably introduced to this river with commercially cyprinid species from the Caspian Sea basin.