Ilamnemacheilus

Freyhof, Jörg, Geiger, Matthias F., Golzarianpour, Kiavash & Patimar, Rahman, 2016, Sasanidus, a new generic name for Noemacheilus kermanshahensis Bănărescu & Nalbant, with discussion of Ilamnemacheilus and Schistura (Teleostei; Nemacheilidae), Zootaxa 4107 (1), pp. 65-80 : 76

Ilamnemacheilus , a junior synonym of Oxynoemacheilus

Material examined. CMNFI 1979-0366, holotype, 36.0 mm SL; Iran: Meymeh River, 17 kilometers west of Dehloran, about 21 kilometers east of Iraqi border, 32°45'30"N, 47°05'30"E. — CMNFI 1979-0367, 1, 41.3 mm SL; Iran: Khuzestan prov.: Meymeh River 11 km north of Dehloran, 32º44'30"N 47º09'30"E. — CMNFI 1979- 0 365, 5, 32.0– 40.5 mm SL; Iran: Khuzestan prov.: stream in Doveyrich drainage, 32º25"N 47º36'30"E.

To demonstrate that Sasanidus kermanshahensis does not belong to Ilamnemacheilus , we revisited this genus. Coad & Nalbant (2005) described Ilamnemacheilus longipinnis based on a single individual ( Fig. 8 ) from the Meymeh River, which is a tributary of the lower Tigris in Iran. Already in the description of the genus and species, Coad & Nalbant (2005) showed that the holotype is malformed with strong vertebral abnormalities. The vertebral abnormalities account for the unusual body form of the holotype ( Fig. 8 ). It is not surprizing, that such malformed fishes were never found again in the area and Abdoli et al. (2011) even speculated that the species might be extinct, at least at the type locality. JF had the opportunity to examine loaches from CMNFI ( Fig. 9 ) and found eight individuals of a species being superficially similar to I. longipinnis in the head shape, the shape of the caudal fin, with the colour pattern consisting of a midlateral series of large brown blotches. All these fishes had been collected on the same day in a relatively small area in the Meymeh River drainage close to the type locality of I. longipinnis . These fishes are more elongated than the holotype of I. longipinnis and have 8½ branched dorsal-fin rays (vs. 10½ in the type of I. longipinnis ). All differences between the holotype and the other materials seem to be related to the malformation of the holotype. Therefore, we identify the other individuals from the Meymeh River drainage too, as I. longipinnis . Already in the key of the genera of Middle East nemacheilids, Freyhof et al. (2011) found no clear character to distinguish Ilamnemacheilus (based on the description of the genus) from Oxynoemacheilus . Coad & Nalbant (2005) too, did not distinguish Ilamnemacheilus from other nemacheilid genera but provided only a description. Having examined the additional materials, we find no diagnostic character state or combination thereof to distinguishing Ilamnemacheilus from Oxynoemacheilus and therefore synonymize Ilamnemacheilus with Oxynoemacheilus .

Figures

FIGURE 8. Oxynoemacheilus longipinnis, CMNFI 1979 - 0366, holotype, 36 mm SL; Iran: Meymeh River. Photo: Zdeněk Lajbner.

FIGURE 9. Oxynoemacheilus longipinnis, CMNFI 1979 - 0365, a, 40.5 mm SL; b, 38 mm SL; c, 32 mm SL; Iran: stream in Doveyrich drainage.