Paraschistura alepidota (Mirza & Bănărescu, 1970)

[N] — Scaleless loach

Taxonomy. Original description: Nemacheilus rupecola alepidotus Mirza & Bănărescu in Mirza, Bănărescu & Nalbant 1970: 55, fig. 10 (Madyan River, Swat drainage, Pakistan; holotype: IBTS 1356).— Afghanistan synonyms: Nemacheilus alepidotus Mirza & Bănărescu, 1970; Noemacheilus alepidotus Mirza & Bănărescu, 1970; Schistura alepidota (Mirza & Bănărescu, 1970) .—Revisions: Bănărescu & Nalbant (1995: 441) as Schistura alepidota, Prokofiev (2009: 892) .—Illustration: Mirza & Bănărescu in Mirza, Bănărescu & Nalbant (1970: 55, fig. 10)

Status in Afghanistan. First record from Afghanistan by Moravec and Amin (1978); confirmed by Coad (1981: 12) as Noemacheilus alepidotus .—Afghanistan materials: None.

Distribution and habitat. Distribution in Afghanistan: Kabul basin.—General distribution: eastern Afghanistan and western Pakistan.—Habitat: This species occurs in streams with moderately to fast flowing freshwater in both mountainous and lowlands. Freshwater.

Economic importance. No commercial importance.

Conservation. Conservation status in Afghanistan: Unknown.—IUCN: VU (Rafique et al. 2021a).—Threats: ABS, CON, COM, HAB.—High sensitivity to human activities.—Keystone species.—Decline status: Decreasing.— High priority for conservation action.