The Ichthyofauna of Anzali Lagoon

The present study on the Ichthyofauna of Anzali Lagoon carried out from 1992-94 revealed that 13 families, 36 genera and 42 species and sub-species of fish inhabit the lagoon and its connected rivers their whole life, part of it or immigrate to these waterbodies for reproduction purposes. The Cyprinidae family composes 59.5% of the lagoon's ichthyofauna (21 genera and 25 species and sub-species). Species such as Cyprinus carpio and Esox lucius are the native species of the Anzali Lagoon, while other species, e.g. Rutilus frisii kutum, immigrate to the lagoon from the Caspian Sea. Carassius auratus and Hemiculter leucisculus have been introduced to this aquatic ecosystem unintentionally together with Pseudorasbora parva. A number of the observed species in the Anzali Lagoon have been introduced to this aquatic ecosystem for certain reasons, i.e. cambating Anopheles mosquito Gambusia holbrooki, reducing the aquatic plant Ctenopharyngodon idella, increasing the stocks (Silver carp and Big....