The glory to the God who gave life to the Earth by means of water and made the wetlands, rivers, lakes and seas as habitats and refuges for variety of living organisms. Thanks to the God who beautified our country by creating mountains, plains, rivers, deserts and a starry sky to send the message of life. The presence of some 163 species of freshwater fishes from north to south, and from east to west on this land is the manifestation of such a magnificent diversity. Sturgeons like pearls of the Caspian Sea, the cave fishes and killifishes, along with other valuable species, are among those endemic species which are not received to us as inheritances, but are given in trust from our ancestors to be preserved and passed over to our descendants.
The present work is the outcome of efforts of the many researchers, experts and nature and wildlife lovers of Iran whose hard work led to recording and photographing the inland water fishes of Iran to catch a glimpse of the rich biodiversity of this country. Hopefully, Iran Department of Environment will continue to publish such a books to enhance the knowledge and the culture of Iran environmental protection.