Cobitis linea (Heckel, 1847)

Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash, Ghanavi, Hamid Reza & Doadrio, Ignacio, 2020, Fig. 4 in Fig. 4 in Fig. 3 in Fig. 21. Sesarmops mora n in Paralbunea dayriti, Zoological Studies 59 (21), pp. 1-303 : 157-159

Cobitis linea (Heckel, 1847) – Endemic ( Fig. 287 )

Acanthopsis linea Heckel [J. J.] 1847: 267; Type locality: Creeks at Persepolis, Iran. Syntypes: NMW 48560 or 48450 (7).

Common name: Pr: Roftegar mahi Line, En: Line’s spined loach, Kor spined loach.

Diagnosis: Reduced blotch on Z4, males with two Canestrini’s scales at the upper bases of the unbranched and first branched pectoral fin rays, suborbital spine is reduced or absent and 14 branched caudal fin rays.

Meristic characters: D: II 6–7, A: II–III 5–6, P: 7–9, V: 5–6, Z4: merged blotches forming a dark-black stripe, TV: 41.

Distribution: Kor basins ( Fig. 288). Reported from Ghadamgah and Beyza springs, but now only found in low number in Beyza spring.

Taxonomy.

Conservation: IUCN: Not Evaluated, PC: Critically Endangered B2b(i,ii,iii,iv)c(i,ii). Now C. linea has a highly restricted range being limited to a single spring (extent of occurrence (EOO) <100 km 2, and area of occupancy (AOO) <10 km 2). A variety of threats affects this species, such as water extraction for agricultural and human consumption, domestic and agricultural pollution, severe drought, an intensive aquaculture industry which added a high nutrient load, the presence of seven non-native fish species ( Cyprinus carpio , Hypophthalmichthys molitrix , Ctenopharyngodon idella , Carassius auratus , Pseudorasbora parva , Oncorhynchus mykiss , Gambusia holbrooki ), and intensive aquaculture ( Esmaeili et al. 2008). No conservation actions have been taken although a report on the unsuitable conditions of Ghadamgah spring-stream system was submitted to the Department of the Environment with recommendations for habitat protection ( Esmaeili et al. 2008). High reduction in population size is observed in the recent years. Therefore, we classified it as Critically Endangered.

Cobitis saniae Eagderi, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Jalili, Sayyadzadeh and Esmaeili, 2017 – Native ( Fig. 289)

Cobitis saniae Eagderi [S.], Jouladeh-Roudbar [A.], Jalili [P.], Sayyadzadeh [G.] & Esmaeili [H. R.] 2017: 51; Type locality: Bara Goor River a tributary of Sefid River, near Emamzadeh Hashem, Caspian Sea basin, Guilan province, Iran, 37°00'11"N, 49°37'49"E. Holotype: IMNRF-UT 1091–1, Paratypes: IMNRF-UT 1091(9).

Common name: Pr: Roftegar mahi Caspian, En: Caspian spined loach.

Diagnosis: A single lamina circularis on pectoral fin in males, a large and almost roundish or oval black spot on upper caudal fin base, Z4 consisting of 13–23 dark brown large blotches larger than eye diameter subdorsal scales with a small focal zone.

Meristic characters: D: II 5–7 (6), A: II 5, P: 7–9, V: 5–7, Z4: 13–23, TV: 39–40.

Distribution: Caspian Sea and Urmia Lake basin ( Fig. 290). Found in several stream and rivers from Sefidrud to Aras Rivers in southwest and western Caspian Sea ( Eagderi et al. 2017c).

Taxonomy.

Conservation: IUCN: Not Evaluated, PC: Least Concern. Populations of this species occur in high number and they are widespread with no known major threat across their distribution range. Therefore, we classified it as Least Concern.

Figures

Fig. 287. Cobitis linea. Photograph from Kor River, Kor basin (Photographed by H. R. Esmaeili).