Glyptothorax pallens, Mousavi-Sabet, Eagderi, Vatandoust & Freyhof, 2021

Freyhof, Jörg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, GmbH, Berlin / Boston: De Gruyter : 611-612

Glyptothorax pallens

Common name. Pale torrent catfish.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Glyptothorax in West Asia by: ○ head and body pale-brown without brown or black spots / ○ head and flank with roundish or elongate warts, without tubercles / ○ thoracic adhesive apparatus strongly elevated, 1.0–1.2 times longer than wide, usually extending from isthmus to base of last pectoral ray or to posterior limit of pectoral base / ○ medial pit narrow and spear-blade shaped, without striae / ○ striae restricted to elevated apparatus / ○ anteromedial striae absent or very short / ○ caudal-peduncle 1.1–1.3 times in its length / ○ caudal lobes pointed / ○ caudal deeply forked, shortest middle caudal ray 47–53 % of longest ray of upper caudal lobe / ○ head depth 53–57 % HL / ○ maximum head width 73–80 % HL / ○ maxillary barbel 90–95 % HL / ○ inner mandibular barbel 38–42 % HL / ○ outer mandibular barbel 52–59 % HL, reaching pectoral origin / ○ 10–11 serrae on pectoral spine / ○ upper head, back and flank without brown or black spots or blotches / ○ all fins with a distinct, distal yellow tip / ○ adipose short, its length 0.5–0.8 times larger than distance between base of last dorsal ray and adipose origin. Size up to 69 mm SL, likely to grow larger.

Distribution . Iran: Sirvan drainage, including Goleyn, Alvand, Zemkan, and Sirvan.

Habitat. Fast-flowing water in mountain streams, rapids, and riffles on rocky or gravelly bottoms.

Biology. Nocturnal, hiding under rocks during day. Feeds on benthic invertebrates.

Conservation status. VU; appears to be declining within its small range.

Remarks. As the Sirvan flows into Iraq to join Tigris, this species is expected to occur there.

Further reading. Mousavi - Sabet et al. 2021 (description).

Figures

Glyptothorax pallens

Distribution