Paraschistura cristata (Berg, 1898)

[N] — Crested loach

Taxonomy. Original description: Nemacheilus cristatus Berg 1898: 19 [5], fig. [Tedzhen River near Ashgabat (Askhabad), Turkmenistan; syntypes: ISBR 996 (2), ZIN 11055 (1), ZMMU P-2555 (59)].— Afghanistan synonyms: Synonym: Nemacheilus cristatus Berg, 1898; Noemacheilus cristatus Berg, 1898; Schistura cristata (Berg, 1898); Metaschistura cristata (Berg, 1898) .—Revisions: Berg (1949: 886) as Nemachilus cristatus . Prokofiev (2009: 893) as Metaschistura cristata, Freyhof et al. (2015: 10) .—Illustration: Berg (1949: 886, fig. 36) as Nemachilus cristatus, Freyhof et al. (2015: figs. 6–8).

Status in Afghanistan. First record from Afghanistan by Berg (1948 – 1949) as Nemacheilus (Paracobitis) cristatus; Banarescu and Nalbant (1966); confirmed by Coad (1981: 14; 2014: 246 as Metaschistura cristata; 2015: 229).—Afghanistan materials: ZMUC.

Distribution and habitat. Distribution in Afghanistan: Tedzhen River, Murgab River, Harirud and Helmand River drainages.—General distribution: Middle East, North Asia and South Asia: Hari River basin (Iran, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan).—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: NE (2023).—Threats: Unknown.— Moderate sensitivity to human activities.—Keystone species.—Decline status: Unknown.—Moderate priority for conservation action.