The Caspian Sea, with its brackish water, high species diversity, and exclusive species, hosts a wide range of native and non-native fish in its ecosystem. The present study was conducted to investigate and identify a new species of fish observed in the commercial catch of the cooperative beach seine fisheries in Golestan Province in 2024. In this research, considering the morphological similarity of the new species to the mullet family of the Caspian Sea, 16 specimens of this species were collected along with several Chelon auratusand Chelon saliens from the fish market in Bandar Torkaman, Golestan Province. The morphological characteristics of the new species were examined using identification keys, and dissection was performed to observe the pyloric caeca and compare it with mullet species of the Caspian Sea (Chelon auratus and Chelon saliens). The results indicated that the new species, possessing the main characteristics of mullet fish, particularly the two completely separate dorsal fins (with the first dorsal fin having only 4 spines) and the absence of a lateral line, belongs to the mullet family. However, it is distinguished from the Chelon auratus and Chelon saliens (which have 7-9 pyloric caeca) by having 4 pyloric caeca that are nearly the same size (homogeneous). Based on the results obtained in this study, it appears that the new species of fish observed in the commercial catch of the cooperative beach seine fisheries in Golestan Province is the Biah, Planiliza abu belongs to the Mugilidae.
yahyaei M, rezaei shirazi A, pakravan S, golpour A, atashzadeh N, khademi kord J A et al . "Identification of a new fish species in the commercial catch of purse seine companies in Golestan Province during the fishing season of 1403.". JAIR 2025; 13 (3) :11-20 URL: http://jair.gonbad.ac.ir/article-1-913-en.html