Sasanidus, a new generic name for Noemacheilus kermanshahensis Bănărescu & Nalbant, with discussion of Ilamnemacheilus and Schistura (Teleostei; Nemacheilidae)

Turcinoemacheilus ekmekciae, a new dwarf loach from upper Tigris and Euphrates (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae)

Turcinoemacheilus ekmekciae, new species, from upper Euphrates and Tigris drainages is distinguished from other species of Turcinoemacheilus in Western Asia by having a dark stripe broader than the eye diameter along the lateral line, rarely possessing roundish blotches, 5-6 mandibular pores in mandibular canal, a comperatvely smaller head, a deeper body, and a greater pre-pelvic distance. Our specimens collected from the upper Great Zab, near the type locality of Turcinoemacheilus kosswigi, showed notable genetic divergence (a minimum K2P of 3.3%) from sequences reported as T. kosswigi in previous studies. Despite morphological similarities, this molecular difference suggests that the populations analysed in previous studies may represent a potential new species of Turcinoemacheilus, which we tentatively named as Turcinoemacheius cf. kosswigi. Molecular data also suggest that T. ekmekciae is characterized by a minimum K2P distance of 3.5% from Turcinoemacheilus minimus and T. cf. kosswigi. The three methods for species delimitation (assemble species by automatic partitioning [ASAP], Poisson tree processes [PTP], and multi-rate PTP [mPTP]) that were utilized for testing species assignments consistently identified our test group as a distinct species.

Revision of the Schistura cincticauda species group (Teleostei, Nemacheilidae) using molecular and morphological markers

To approach the taxonomy of large and complex animal groups it is of advantage to focus on species groups with shared derived character state. We investigate the composition, morphological characteristics and relationships of and within the Schistura cincticauda species group, whose members are small freshwater fishes that inhabit streams and rivers in eastern Myanmar and western and southern Thailand. A phylogenetic analysis using molecular genetic markers demonstrated the monophyly of this group; a combined genetic and morphological analysis revealed the inclusion of at least twelve species. They share the presence of a pair of black marks on the lower lip, one on each side of the median interruption (these marks may be reduced to few melanophores or even missing in some individuals). Additionally, all species share a small body size (max. 60 mm SL), an incomplete lateral line reaching at most to vertical through anal-fin base, and the absence of sexual dimorphism. Each of the 12 species is diagnosed by a unique combination of character states in fin ray numbers, anus position, presence/absence of an axillary pelvic lobe, and colour pattern. The distribution areas of several species overlap and five cases of syntopic occurrence are known. Five unnamed species are described herein.

Atlantor, a new generic name for Barbus reinii Günther, 1874 from Morocco(Teleostei: Cyprinidae)

Atlantor, new genus, is proposed for Barbus reinii from the Atlantic basin in Morocco. The sole species of the genus is clearly separated from related genera based on its phylogenetic position, and from Carasobarbus, Mesopotamichthys and Pterocapoeta in its morphological characters. Atlantor was previously included in Labeobarbus, making this genus paraphyletic with respect to several genera from Western Asia and North Africa. With the description of Atlantor, all these genera become monophyletic. Within Torinae, Atlantor can be diagnosed by having 5½ branched anal-fin rays, modally 8½ branched dorsal-fin rays, two pairs of long barbels, and by its distinct phylogenetic position.

Triplophysadaryoae, a new nemacheilid loach species (Teleostei, Nemacheilidae) from the Syr Darya River basin, Central Asia

Triplophysadaryoae, new species, is described from the Sokh River, a former tributary of Syr Darya that today fails to reach the river, in the Sokh District, an exclave of Uzbekistan, surrounded by Kyrgyzstan. Triplophysadaryoae is distinguished from other species of Triplophysa in Central Asia by a truncate caudal fin with 13 or 14 branched rays, body without obvious mottling, dorsal-fin origin opposite to pelvic-fin insertion, and absence of the posterior chamber of the air bladder. Molecular data suggest that Triplophysadaryoae is closely related to T.ferganaensis from the Shakhimardan stream, a small tributary of Syr Darya in the Yordon village, another exclave of Uzbekistan in Kyrgyzstan. The two species were separated by a Kimura 2-parameter genetic distance of 2.8% in the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit I barcode region; they are also distinguished morphologically. A key to the species of Triplophysa in the Syr Darya basin and adjacent regions is provided.

The discovery of a microbialite-associated freshwater fish in the world’s largest saline soda lake, Lake Van (Turkey)

Lake Van is the largest saline soda lake in the world and one of the world’s few endorheic lakes of greater than 3,000 km2 surface area. Despite its huge size, no fish species have so far been known to permanently occur in this lake due to its extreme environmental conditions. Here, we report the discovery of a fish population that permanently inhabits some of the unique microbialites of the lake, at a maximum depth of 13 m and about 500 m offshore. We tested whether this is an undescribed species or a new occurrence of a known species. A molecular and morphological examination showed that the newly discovered fish represents an isolated population of Oxynoemacheilus ercisianus, the only nemacheilid loach native to the freshwater tributaries of the Lake Van endorheic basin. Our further hypotheses on the prediction that (a) stream fishes would have a more anterior placement of fins than lake fishes were supported; but, that (b) stream fishes would be more slender bodied than their lake conspecifics was not supported. The lake dwelling population also shows very small sequence divergence (0.5% K2P distance) to its stream dwelling conspecific in the mtDNA-COI barcode region. The notable morphological difference with minute molecular divergence implies that the newly discovered population might have lost its link to freshwater during desiccation and transgressional phases of the Lake Van, and has adapted to a life on the microbialites.

Ichthyofauna From Iranian Freshwater: Annotated Checklist, Diagnosis, Taxonomy, Distribution and Conservation Assessment

This is an annotated checklist of all the recognized and named taxa of freshwater fishes in Iran. It documents recent changes and controversies in the nomenclature and includes primary synonyms updated from the Jouladeh-Roudbar et al. (2015b) checklist. We provide an updated comprehensive listing of taxonomy, diagnostic and meristic characters, names, and conservation status, including detailed distribution maps. We strive to record the most recent justified taxonomic assignment in a hierarchical framework, providing annotations, including alternative possible arrangements, for some proposed changes. We provide common English and Persian names, and detail distributional data for all taxa, listing occurrence by basins, including indications of native, endemic, and translocated populations. We used the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria for classifying species at high risk of global extinction. This checklist consists of 274 recognized species in 100 genera, 33 families, 20 orders and 3 classes. We also report and confirm for the first time the presence of seven species from Iran's basins: Aphanius kruppi, Capoeta kaput, Luciobarbus conocephalus, Oxynoemacheilus veyselorum, O. gyndes, O. hanae and Squalius latus. The confirmed freshwater fishes of Iran comprise 264 species in 97 genera, 33 families, 20 orders and 3 classes. The 241 endemic and native fish species can be divided into the following conservation statuses: 1 Extinct in the Wild (EW), 17 Critically Endangered (CR), 12 Endangered (EN), 15 Vulnerable (VU), 9 Near Threatened (NT), 148 Least Concern (LC) and 39 Data Deficient (DD). Forty-four fish species (18.3% of the 241 species listed) are officially regarded as globally Threatened (Critically Endangered [CR], Endangered [EN], or Vulnerable [VU]). These numbers and percentages of Threatened species have increased since the last checklist.

Phylogeny of the hillstream loach genus Mesonoemacheilus reveals widespread diversification through ancient drainage connections in the Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot

Rivers draining the Western Ghats (WG) mountain ranges in peninsular India harbor an exceptionally diverse, unique and evolutionarily distinct assemblage of lower vertebrates with high levels of endemism, attributed to their evolution and potentially long history of isolation during the Late Cretaceous or Early Tertiary. A molecular phylogeny of hillstream loaches of the genus Mesonoemacheilus endemic to the WG revealed the presence of four clades which we designate as 'species groups'. A consensus of various species delimitation methods indicates the likelihood of 'at least' seven more undescribed species within Mesonoemacheilus. Molecular clock analysis dates the basal clade around 38 mya in the Paleogene, and subsequent diversification in the Neogene and Quaternary periods resulting in the current genetic diversity. Biogeographic analysis suggests that vicariance events which separated the rivers on either side of the two geological barriers/gaps, the Palghat and Shencottah, in the Neogene, as well as range contractions and cladogenetic events contributed to the current patterns of diversity and distribution of this genus. Our results also provide preliminary indications on the interconnections and faunal exchange between historical river drainages in the WG region.