Osteologicl study of Iran cave barb (Iranocypris typhlops Brun and Kaiser, 1944)

Iran cave barb (Iranocypris typhlops) is an endemic cyprinid fish inhabiting in anatural outlet of a subterranean system in the Zagros Mountains at the Ab-e Serumvalley in Lorestan Province. This species is on the IUCN red list of threatenedanimals. Osteological structure of fishes is important biological feature due toproviding valuable biological and ecological information. Since there is no data isavailable about osteology of Iran cave barb, hence this study was conducted todescribe its osteological characteristics. For this purpose two specimens weresampled from the Bagh-e Loveh cave and fixed into 96% alcohol. To study theosteological structures, the specimens were cleared and stained and their bonestructures were examined and described in detail including cephalic region, postcranialskeleton and fins skeleton. The results showed that this species have variousosteological differences compared to its sister specie i.e. Garra rufa. The observeddifferences in the shape of vomer, lateral ethmoid, orbitosphenoid, ptersphenoi,sphenotic bones and absence of lacrimal bone may be related to reduction of orbitdue to losing eye. In addition, changes in lower jaw, suspensorium, and hyoid archbony elements along with reduction of ventral masticatory plate can be as result ofadaptation to new feeding condition in new habitat.

کلیدواژه ها:

Skeleton ، Neurocranium ، Iran cave barb ، Garra rufa