Glyptothorax, Blyth, 1860

Mousavi-Sabet, Hamed, Eagderi, Soheil, Vatandoust, Saber & Freyhof, Jörg, 2021, Five new species of the sisorid catfish genus Glyptothorax from Iran (Teleostei: Sisoridae), Zootaxa 5067 (4), pp. 451-484 : 455

Key to species of Glyptothorax in the Persian Gulf basin (expanded from Freyhof et al. 2001)

1a Adipose-fin length 1.5–3.0 times longer than distance between base of last dorsal-fin ray and adipose-fin origin; 13–17 serrae on pectoral-fin spine, medial pit of thoracic adhesive apparatus with striae............................. G. steindachneri

1b Adipose-fin length 0.6–1.2 times of distance between base of last dorsal-fin ray and adipose-fin origin; 7–14 serrae on pectoralfin spine; medial pit of thoracic adhesive apparatus without striae................................................ 2

2a Head and flank with tubercles (rarely absent in some individuals)................................................ 3

2b Head and flank without tubercles, with roundish or elongate warts.............................................. 4

3a Thoracic adhesive apparatus longer than wide, well delineated at its posterior margin, situated completely on a horse-shoe shaped elevation; head, back and flank with many minute tubercles and few roundish warts................ G. armeniacus

3b Thoracic adhesive apparatus as wide as long, poorly delineated at its posterior margin, only partly situated on shallow, horseshoe shaped elevation, elevation absent in many adult individuals; head, back and flank usually with large, bony, striated and elongated tubercles (absent in some individuals). ....................................................... G. cous

4a Upper head, back and flank without brown or black spots or blotches...................................... G. pallens

4b Upper head, back and flank with few or many, dark-brown spots and, or blotches (potentially faded in poorly-preserved individuals)............................................................................................. 5

5a Thoracic adhesive apparatus wider than long, as wide as long in juveniles (0.7 – 0.9 times longer than wide)...................................................................................................... G. kurdistanicus

5b Thoracic adhesive apparatus as wide as long or longer, 1.0–1.6 times longer than wide............................... 6

6a Anteromedial striae in thoracic adhesive apparatus long and numerous........................................... 7

6b Anteromedial striae in thoracic adhesive apparatus short or absent............................................... 9

7a Caudal-peduncle depth 1.1–1.6 times in its length; shortest middle caudal-fin ray 42–49% of longest ray of upper caudal-fin lobe; caudal fin with pointed lobes; maxillary barbel as long as head (95–108% HL).................... G. hosseinpanahii

7b Caudal-peduncle depth 1.6–2.5 times in its length; shortest middle caudal-fin ray 58–65% of longest ray of upper caudal-fin lobe; caudal fin with rounded lobes; maxillary barbel shorter than head (72–91% HL)............................... 8

8a Fins with a distinct yellow tip; thoracic adhesive apparatus 1.3–1.5 times as long as wide; adipose-fin length 0.5–0.8 of distance between base of last dorsal-fin ray and adipose-fin origin.............................................. G. galaxias

8b Fins without or with a very indistinct yellow tip; thoracic adhesive apparatus 1.1–1.3 times as long as wide; adipose-fin length 0.7–1.1 of distance between base of last dorsal-fin ray and adipose-fin origin.............................. G. daemon

9a Maxillary barbel as long as head (90–110% HL); inner mandibular barbel 45–48% HL; outer mandibular barbel 67–74% HL............................................................................................. G. silviae

9b Maxillary barbel shorter than head (76–89% HL); inner mandibular barbel 19–33% HL; outer mandibular barbel 42–49% HL................................................................................................ 10

10a Shortest middle caudal-fin ray 57–65% of longest ray of upper caudal-fin lobe; caudal-peduncle depth 1.3–1.6 times in its length........................................................................................ G. alidaeii

10b Shortest middle caudal-fin ray 46–49% of longest ray of upper caudal-fin lobe; caudal-peduncle depth 1.1–1.3 times in its length........................................................................................ G. shapuri