Phylogeny, identification key, distribution and conservation status of Chondrostoma Agassiz, 1832 (Actinopterygii؛ Leuciscidae) in Iran

Chondrostoma is a genus of the family Leuciscidae. Members of this genus have not been studied in Iran. During the years 2013-2021, Chondrostoma samples were obtained from the Caspian, Tigris, Isfahan and Kor basins using electrofisher and gill net. ArcMap 10.7 were used to create distribution map of this genus. IUCN Red List criteria v. 3.1 and GeoCAT software were used to assess the conservation status. The Cytb gene of the samples was amplified using a thermocycler and sequenced after purification. The phylogeny tree of the studied samples were drawn by Mrbayes and RaxML. In 87 stations of Tigris, Isfahan and Caspian basins, members of the Chondrostoma genus were found. According to the IUCN Red List, C. cyri and C. regium were the Least Concern and C. esmaeilii and C. orientale were placed as Critically Endangered. The highest genetic distance of 4.74 were calculated between C. esmaeilii and C. cyri and the lowest genetic distance of 1.40 was calculated between the two populations of C. regium in Asi and Tigris River drainage. According to the results of phylogenetic tree, monophyly in the genus Chondrostoma were not proven. Due to the absence of Squalius berak and Alburnus sellal at the type locality of C. esmaeilii and its haplotypes next to other species of the genus Chondrostoma in the phylogenetic tree, the hybrid hypothesis is not approved.