Oxynoemacheilus sarus, Freyhof, Yogurtcuoglu & Kaya, 2021

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 530-531

Oxynoemacheilus sarus

Common name. Sarus loach.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other Oxynoemacheilus species in Cilicia (including Göksu, Seyhan, and Ceyhan drainages) by: ○ a series of irregularly shaped midlateral blotches or bars disconnected from saddles on back / ○ a bold, black blotch or spot at upper and lower caudal base / ○ 3–5 dark-brown bands on caudal / ○ lateral line complete, terminating at anterior part of hypural complex / ○ caudal forked (shortest middle caudal ray is 56–70 % of longest ray of upper caudal lobe) / ○ caudal peduncle 1.4–1.8

Oxynoemacheilus seyhanensis ; Kızılırmak drainage, Türkiye; 68 mm SL. Oxynoemacheilus seyhanensis ; Kızılırmak drainage, Türkiye; ~ 75 mm SL.

times longer than deep, without dorsal crest / ○ a suborbital groove in male / ○ pre-dorsal length 45–52 % SL / ○ prepelvic length 48–53 % SL / ○ distance between pectoral- and pelvic origin 25–29 % SL. Size up to 54 mm SL.

Distribution. Türkiye: Ceyhan, and lower Seyhan drainages.

Habitat. Moderately fast-flowing water in streams and rivers with stones and gravel bottoms.

Biology. No data.

Conservation status. LC.

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

Oxynoemacheilus seyhanensis ; Zamantı, Seyhan drainage, Türkiye; ~ 65 mm SL.