Oxynoemacheilus shehabi

Common name. Syrian sportive loach.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Oxynoemacheilus in Cilicia and northern Levant by: ● flank with 5–7 dark-brown bars, much narrower than interspaces, irregularly shaped and set, extending to middorsal saddles and meeting contralateral / ○ a bold, black blotch or spot at upper and lower caudal base / ○ caudal with dark-brown bands of elongated blotches / ○ lateral line complete terminating at caudal base / ○ caudal deeply emarginate / ○ flank covered by scales, sparsely set on anterior, densely set on posterior flank / ○ no dorsal crest on caudal peduncle / ○ no or a very short incision in upper lip / ○ suborbital groove present in male / ○ pelvic axillary lobe well developed, fully attached to body / ○ two, usually indistinct, black blotches or spots at caudal base / ○ caudal–peduncle depth 1.8–2.4 in its length. Size up to 48 mm SL, likely to grow larger.

Distribution . Syria: Upper Orontes drainage upriver of Lake Qattinah.

Habitat. From small streams to larger rivers. In fast-flowing stretches.

Biology. No data.

Conservation status. EN; appears to be declining within its very small range.

Further reading. Freyhof & Geiger 2021 (description).