Triplophysa marmorata ( Heckel, 1838 )

Çiçek, Erdoğan, Fricke, Ronald, Eagderi, Soheil, Sungur, Sevil, Coad, Brian W & Hamdard, Mohammad Hamid, 2023, Fishes of Afghanistan; a revised and updated annotated checklist, Zootaxa 5305 (1), pp. 1-69 : 16

Triplophysa marmorata ( Heckel, 1838)

[N]—Kashmir stone loach

Taxonomy. Original description: Cobitis marmorata Heckel, 1838: 76 , pl. 12 [Kashmir lakes; syntypes: NMW 48561 (3)].— Afghanistan synonyms: Cobitis vittata Heckel, 1838 ; Nemachilus griffithii afghana Hora, 1935 .— Revisions: Prokofiev (2010: 908); Kottelat (2012: 128); Bashir et al. (2016: 479).—Illustration: Heckel (1838: pl. 12) as Cobitis marmorata .

Status in Afghanistan. First record from Afghanistan by Hora (1935); confirmed by Coad (1981: 8).—Afghanistan materials: BMNH, ZSI.

Distribution and habitat. Distribution in Afghanistan: Chahiltran Stream, tributary of Kabul River, West Kabul City, Afghanistan.—General distribution: Afghanistan and Pakistan.—Habitat: This species occurs in cold streams and rivers that are slow- or fast-running. This species feeds on detritus and plant coatings on stones and rocks, as well as the associated invertebrate fauna. It grows slowly and attains maturity at two years, where it inhabits rivers and streams in hilly areas with rock beds. It is not thought to be migratory. Freshwater.

Economic importance. No commercial importance.

Conservation. Conservation status in Afghanistan: Unknown.—IUCN: LC ( Rafique et al. 2021d).—Threats: ABS, CON, CLI, HAB, COM.—High sensitivity to human activities.—Keystone species.—Decline status: Decreasing.—Moderate priority for conservation action.

Remarks. Nemachilus griffithii var. afghana Hora, 1935 identified from Chahiltran Stream, tributary of Kabul River Hora (1935) and synonymized with Triplophysa marmorata ( Heckel, 1838) . This is uncertain. It may be valid as Triplophysa afghana . This issue should be clarified.