Oxynoemacheilus cilicicus

Common name. Cilician loach.

Diagnosis . Distinguished from other species of Oxynoemacheilus in Cilicia and northern Levant by: ○ caudal deeply emarginate, middle caudal ray 1.2–1.4 times in length of longest ray of upper caudal lobe / ○ lateral line with 13–23 pores terminating anterior to dorsal origin or slightly behind dorsal base / ○ infraorbital canal with 8–10 pores / ○ suborbital groove absent in male / ○ flank and back behind dorsal base covered by scales / ○ caudal–peduncle depth 1.0–1.4 times in its length / ○ body depth at dorsal origin 1.0–1.2 times in HL / ○ body depth at dorsal origin 20–24 % SL / ○ head length 22–25 % SL / ○ flank pattern mottled or with many, very narrow, irregularly shaped and set, pale-brown bars, usually flank-bars separated from middorsal saddles and not meeting contralateral. Size up to 58 mm SL.

Distribution . Türkiye: Lower Göksu east to Ceyhan drainage.

Habitat. Small streams to larger rivers. In slow or moderately fast-flowing stretches, usually along banks. Also along banks of reservoirs and in irrigation canals.

Biology. No data.

Conservation status. LC.

Remarks. Distribution of this species and superficially similar O. ceyhanensis from upper Ceyhan needs to be better explored.

Further reading. Kaya et al. 2020b (description).