The Danube Sturgeon Acipenser gueldenstaedtii Brandt & Ratzeburg, 1833 (Actinopterygii, Acipenseridae) in the Euphrates River, Iraq

Abstract

Acipenser gueldenstaedtii is recorded for the first time from the Euphrates River, west of Iraq. The species has not previously been mentioned as introduced to the Tigris-Euphrates River basin. There are two possibilities for this occurrence, first, the natural dispersal from adjacent Turkey and second, the aquaculture introduction. Both possibilities were discussed. Confirmation for the origin of the sporadic appearance of individuals of this species will wait for the appearance of more specimens in the inland waters of Iraq.