Cobitis anabelae Freyhof, Bayçelebi & Geiger, 2018 [N]—Spined loach; Tinia

Taxonomy. Original description: Cobitis anabelae Freyhof, Bayçelebi & Geiger, 2018: 48, figs. 36-38 [Karasu River about 4 km south of Kýrýkhan, Hatay province, Turkey; holotype: ZFMK ICH-98633].—Syrian synonyms: None.—Revisions: None.—Illustration: Freyhof et al. (2018: figs. 36-38) .

Status in Syria. Recorded from Syria in the original description by Freyhof et al. (2018: 48). Previously Cobitis taenia was reported from the Orontes River by Beckman (1962: 69) and (Saad et al., 2006; 2009) most likely, these records refer to C. anabelae .—Syrian material: BMNH, ZFMK ICH, FSJF, MSL.

Distribution and habitat. Distribution in Syria: Orontes River drainage.—Distribution in River Basin: 4-Orontes.— General distribution: Asia Minor: lower reaches of the Orontes River drainage.—Distribution in Ecoregion: 437-Orontes.—Habitat: This species lives in streams and lakes with clear water and bottoms with sand or fine gravel. Freshwater.

Economic importance. No commercial importance.

Conservation. Conservation status in Syria: Unknown.—IUCN: NE (2023).—Threats:Unknown.—High sensitivity to human activities.—Keystone species.—Decline status: Unknown.—High priority for conservation action.