Cobitis amphilekta

Freyhof, Jörg, Bayçelebi, Esra & Geiger, Matthias, 2018, Review of the genus Cobitis in the Middle East, with the description of eight new species (Teleostei: Cobitidae), Zootaxa 4535 (1), pp. 1-75 : 10

Cobitis amphilekta Vasil'eva & Vasil'ev, 2012

( Fig. 3 )

Cobitis amphilekta Vasil’eva & Vasil’ev, 2012: 177, figs. 2–3 (type locality: Azerbaijan: Caspian Sea near Port Il'icha between old bed of Kumbashi River and state farm).

Material examined. None.

Material used in molecular genetic analysis. None.

Diagnosis. Cobitis amphilekta is distinguished from the other two Cobitis species in the Asian part of the Caspian Sea basin by having a large focal zone in the sub-dorsal scales (about ½ of the maximum scale diameter vs. focal zone small, about or less than 1/10 of the maximum scale diameter in C. faridpaki and C. saniae ).

Distribution. Cobitis amphilekta is known from coastal habitats in the Caspian Sea basin. It has been found in the Kyzylagach Bay south of the estuary of the Kura River and in the lower Kumbashi River, approximately 150 m from the coast of Azerbaijan as well as from the desalinated area of the Caspian Sea off Durnev Island and the Prorva (Vasil'eva & Vasil'ev 2012).

Remarks. Vasil'eva & Vasil'ev (2012) suspect that Cobitis amphilekta could be extinct, as it has not been found since 1937.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Cobitis amphilekta, ZMMU P-22794, holotype, male, 41.2 mm SL; Azerbaijan: Caspian Sea near Port Il’icha. Photo: Ekaterina Vasil'eva