Oxynoemacheilus phasicus

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 529

Oxynoemacheilus phasicus

Common name. Rioni loach.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other adjacent Oxynoemacheilus species by: ○ flank mottled, marbled, or with bars / ○ a moderately emarginate caudal / ○ caudal peduncle deep / ○ no median incision in upper lip / ○ pelvic not reaching to origin of genital papillae / ○ pelvic origin below first branched dorsal ray / ○ a wide, bold band at middle

Oxynoemacheilus sarus ; lower Seyhan drainage, Türkiye; 47 mm SL.

or posterior half of caudal / ○ suborbital groove present in male. Size up to 77 mm SL.

Distribution. Georgia: Rioni and Inguri drainages.

Habitat. Moderate or fast-flowing waters in springs, streams, and rivers with gravel substrate.

Biology. No data.

Conservation status. LC.

Further reading. Freyhof et al. 2021b (description).