Paraschistura susiani

Common name. Khuzestan banded loach.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Paraschistura in West Asia by: ○ suborbital present in male, short, blunt, and roundish / ○ back and flank fully covered by scales / ○ snout blunt / ○ no dorsal adipose crest / ○ lateral line incomplete / ○ caudal emarginate / ○ pelvic origin below first or second branched dorsal ray / ○ pelvic reaching to about 0.5–1 eye diameters in front of anus / ○ 7½ branched dorsal rays / ○ body depth at dorsal origin 14–16 % SL / ○ 7–10, usually regularly set and shaped, dark-or pale- brown or grey bars, wider than interspaces, absent or very faint on flank in front of dorsal origin / ○ black or brown bar at caudal base / ○ a bold or very faint dark-grey spot at base of first dorsal rays / ○ caudal peduncle 1.4–1.6 times longer than deep. Size up to 50 mm SL.

Distribution . Iran: Ab-e Ala and Zard in Jarahi drainage and Shur in Karun drainage.

Habitat. Fast to slow-flowing streams and springs with gravel substrate.

Biology. No data.

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

Further reading. Freyhof et al. 2015 (description).