Oxynoemacheilus insignis (Heckel, 1843) [N] — Syrian loach; Lahhas alsakhr

Taxonomy. Original description: Cobitis insignis Heckel, 1843a: 1087 (97) [Damascus, Syria; syntypes: NMW (4, not found), SMF 166 (2, poor condition)].—Syrian synonyms: Nemacheilus insignis (Heckel, 1843); Noemacheilus angorae jordanicus Bănărescu & Nalbant 1966; Noemacheilus angorae tortonesei Bănărescu & Nalbant 1966; Orthrias dori Goren & Bănărescu, 1982; Nemacheilus dori Goren & Bănărescu, 1982; Orthrias israeliticus Goren & Nalbant 1982; Oxynoemacheilus pantheroides (Goren & Nalbant 1982); Orthrias pantheroides Goren & Nalbant 1982 .—Revisions: Prokofiev (2009:880) with subspecies.— Illustration: Heckel (1843b: pl. 12, fig. 3).

Status in Syria. Recorded from Syria in original description by Heckel (1843a: 1088) as Cobitis insignis; subsequently reported by Beckman (1962: 76) as Nemachilus insignis .—Syrian material: BMNH, MNHN, NMW, SMF, FSJF.

Distribution and habitat. Distribution in Syria: Lake Al-ʿUtaybah drainage.—Distribution in River Basin: 3- Desert, 4-Orontes, 5-Barada & Awaj, 7-Al-Yarmouk.—General distribution: Asia Minor and Middle East: Turkey, Syria, Israel and Jordan.—Distribution in Ecoregion: 437-Orontes, 438- Jordan River, 440-Arabian Interior.—Habitat: This species lives in moderately fast-flowing streams and rivers with a mud or gravel substrate and low pollution levels. Freshwater.

Economic importance. No commercial importance.

Conservation. Conservation status in Syria: Unknown.—IUCN: NT (IUCN 2023).—Threats: ABS, CON, HAB, CLI, EUT.—Moderate sensitivity to human activities.—Keystone species.—Decline status: Decreasing.— Moderate priority for conservation action.

Remarks. Oxynoemacheilus insignis had been first recorded in 1962 by Beckman, after Lake Al-Otaiba had dried up; however, the species was not found in recent surveys of Syrian inland waters. This species is probably extinct in Syria. For this reason, this situation should be revealed by detailed field studies.