Turcinoemacheilus bahaii, Esmaeili, Sayyadzadeh, Ozulug, Geiger & Freyhof, 2014

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 578

Turcinoemacheilus bahaii

Common name. Zayandeh dwarf loach.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Turcinoemacheilus in West Asia by: ● usually a dark-brown blotch on side of anal base / ○ anus situated behind middle between pelvic and anal origins / ○ mottled colour pattern or an irregular-shaped dark-brown stripe along lateral midline disconnected from dark-brown blotches on back. Size up to 54 mm SL.

Distribution . Iran: Headwaters in Zayandeh drainage.

Habitat. Fast-flowing sections of small rivers and streams, usually in rapids and riffles with coarse gravel or rocks.

Biology. Mature at 1 year and lives up to 4 (males) and 5 (females) years. Feeds on invertebrates.

Conservation status. EN; appears to be declining within its very small range.

Remarks. This species was described based on individuals with a dark-brown blotch on side of anal base. New data show that this condition is not present in all individuals and that morphological characters may need to be revised. It is well distinguished from other species by molecular characters.

Further reading. Esmaeili et al. 2014c (description); Borhani et al. 2017 (biology); Ebrahimi et al. 2017 (biology); Jouladeh-Roudbar et al. 2023c (phylogeny).

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Turcinoemacheilus bahaii

Distribution