Paraschistura kermanensis, Sayyadzadeh, Teimori & Esmaeili, 2019

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 561

Paraschistura kermanensis

Common name. Kerman loach.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Paraschistura in West Asia by: ○ dorsal origin situated above, or very slightly behind vertical of pelvic origin / ○ lateral line incomplete / ○ caudal peduncle covered by scales, no scales on predorsal back and middle and anterior part of flank / ○ suborbital flap or groove absent in male / ○ very variable colour pattern of 4–21 irregularly shaped and set, often faded bars and blotches on flank / ○ a bold black spot at base of first dorsal rays / ○ an irregularly shaped black bar at caudal base in some populations / ○ no dorsal adipose crest / ○ caudal emarginate / ○ 7½ branched dorsal rays / ○ snout blunt / ○ predorsal distance 53–56 % SL / ○ caudal– peduncle depth 1.1–1.4 times longer than deep. Size up to 68 mm SL.

Distribution . Iran: Bidkhoon in Kerman basin.

Habitat. High altitude (about 2400 m), clear, fast to slow-flowing streams with gravel substrate.

Biology. No data.

Conservation status. CR; known only from a small population in a very small area. Desiccation of rivers is a major threat, and it may be at the edge of extinction.

Remarks. This species is superficially similar to P. abdolii , and both occur nearby.

Further reading. Sayyadzadeh et al. 2019b (description).

Figures

Paraschistura kermanensis

Distribution