Descriptive osteology of Barbus cyri (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) from southern Caspian Sea basin

The present study was conducted to provide a detailed descriptive osteology of Barbus cyri from Southern Caspian Sea for the first time and comparing it with those of B. lacerta from the Tigris and Urmia lake basins. For this purpose, twelve specimens of B. cyri were collected from Safidrud River using electrofishing device and fixed in 10% buffered formalin. Then, the specimens were cleared and stained with alcian blue and alizarin red for osteological examination. A detailed description of the osteological features of B. cyri was provided. Based on the results, several differences were observed between the two species. Barbus cyri can be distinguished from B. lacerta by having three pharyngobranchial, a consumptive neural spine of second centrum and having 3rd and 4th vertebra with posterior position of neural spines.