The shabout (Arabibarbus grypus) is a species of cyprinid fish also called in English, Persian or Arabic by the alternate common names shirbot and variations shabut, shabboot or shabbout, and in local languages by several other common names. It is a large freshwater carp found in Western Asia, where it inhabits the Tigris-Euphrates Basin, as well as Iranian rivers that flow into the Persian Gulf. This species can grow to a length of up to and a weight of , although there are unconfirmed reports of individuals up to and , perhaps caused by confusion with the mangar (Luciobarbus esocinus). The shabout supports important fisheries, but has declined because of habitat loss (mostly due to dams, water extraction, drought and pollution) and overfishing. Habitat and behavior The shabout inhabits rivers from upstream tributaries to river mouths. However, it is rather adaptable and can also be found in more stagnant waters like marshes and reservoirs, although this strong swimmer prefers slow to moderately flowing waters and it has relatively high oxygen requirements. Adults prefer relatively cool waters (optimum ), and migrate upstream in the summer when the lower reaches of rivers become warm, but smaller individuals stay in the lower parts year-round. Nevertheless, the species has a wide temperature tolerance with wild individuals living in rivers that range at least from , and individuals kept in aquaculture at between . This is a freshwater fish, but it does tolerate slightly brackish waters in estuaries; however, their growth significantly decreases under such conditions. Shabout breed in the spring and summer. They breed in upstream parts of rivers, generally in places with relatively cool and fast-flowing waters, a depth of no more than and a gravel bottom. A female reaches maturity when at least three years old and can lay up to 235,764 eggs, placed among gravel or plants. The species is mostly herbivorous, feeding on a wide range of plant material from algae and macrophytes to fruits and grain. They also feed at lower levels on invertebrates and small fish, with one study suggesting that individuals become more predatory as they reach a large size. Fishing It is a commercially fished species. It was proposed that this "shabut" was identical to the fish called shibuta (Jewish Babylonian Aramaic: ) in the Talmud. The latter's brain is famous for being touted as the kosher equivalent, taste-wise, of the otherwise forbidden and even taboo