Paracobitis rhadinaea (Regan, 1906)

[N]—Sistan loach

Taxonomy. Original description: Nemacheilus rhadinaeus Regan, 1906: 8 [Helmand River basin, Seistan; syntypes: BMNH 1905.11.29.28–29 (2); ZSI F1240/1 (1)].— Afghanistan synonyms: Nemacheilus rhadinaeus Regan, 1906; Paracobitis rhadinaeus (Regan, 1906); Paracobitis vignai Nalbant & Bianco, 1998; Nemachilus macmahoni Chaudhuri, 1910 .—Revisions: Bănărescu & Nalbant 1995:443 as Paracobitis rhadinaeus, Freyhof et al. (2014: 21) .—Illustration: Freyhof et al. (2014: 22, fig. 10).

Status in Afghanistan. First record from Afghanistan by Banarescu and Nalbant (1966); confirmed by Coad (1981: 15 as Noemacheilus (Paracobitis) rhadineus; 2014: 255 as Paracobitis vignai; 2015: 229).—Afghanistan materials: BMNH, ZMUC, ZSI.

Economic importance. No commercial importance.

Distribution and habitat. Distribution in Afghanistan: Sistan, Helmand, Tedzhen and Murgab Rivers.—General distribution: Middle East and South Asia: Helmand River, Sistan basin (Iran, Afghanistan).—Habitat: This species occurs in streams with moderately to fast flowing freshwater in both mountainous and lowlands. Freshwater.

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