Turcinoemacheilus ansari, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Vatandoust, Doadrio & Ghanavi, 2023

3.2.1. Turcinoemacheilus ansari , New Species

( Figures 4–6 View Figure 4 View Figure 5 View Figure 6 )

Holotype. BIAUBM 3-H, 43.8 mm SL; Iran: Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad prov., Beshar River, Allah Abad village, Karun drainage, 30.45029, 51.75346 GoogleMaps .

Paratypes. AJRPC 1779–1780, 2, MZLU L021/00004-L021/00006 ( AJRPC-DNA 1782- 1784), 3, MNCN-ICTIO 297.327–297.328 ( AJRPC-DNA 1785-1786), 2, 33–50 mm SL; same data as holotype .

Diagnosis. Turcinoemacheilus ansari is distinguished from any of the species of the T. kosswigi group ( T. ekmekciae , T. kosswigi , T. minimus , T. moghbeli , T. saadii , Turcinoemacheilus sp. ) by the anus situated behind the middle, between the pelvic and anal origins (vs. front middle).

Turcinoemacheilus ansari is similar to T. bahaii but can be distinguished by no dark blotch at the anal-fin base (vs. an elongated, irregularly shaped blotch on the sides of the anal-fin base) and a shorter anal-fin base length (5–8 vs. 9–12% SL). Turcinoemacheilus ansari can be distinguished from T. christofferi by its incomplete lateral line, reaching anterior to or under the dorsal-fin base (vs. complete, reaching to the anterior part of the caudal fin), and a shorter anal-fin base length (5–8 vs. 8–10% SL). It is distinguished from T. hafezi by a shorter body depth (10–13 vs. 13–15% SL).

Description. See Figures 4–6 View Figure 4 View Figure 5 View Figure 6 for general appearance and Table 3 View Table 3 for morphometric data. Small, slender, and round-bodied species with short head. Body deepest at tip of pelvic fin, depth slightly decreasing towards caudal-fin base. No hump at nape. Body almost equally wide until dorsal fin origin. Section head round, flattened ventrally. Caudal peduncle compressed laterally, 1.3–2.9 (mean 2.2) times longer than deep. Pelvic axillary lobe absent or present; if present, oval, its tip attached to body. Pelvic-fin origin distinctly in front of dorsal-fin origin. Pectoral fin reaching approximately 35–45% of the distance from pectoral-fin origin to pelvic-fin origin. Pelvic fin not reaching anus. Distance from anus to anal-fin origin 2.4–3.7 times the distance from pelvic-fin to anal-fin origins. Anal-fin origin behind vertical of tip of dorsal fin when adpressed to body. Anal fin reaching or not reaching middle of caudal peduncle. No adipose crest on caudal peduncle. Margin of dorsal fin straight. Caudal fin emarginate. Largest known specimen 50 mm SL.

Three to five supratemporal canals, 10–13 pores in infraorbital canal, and 5–8 pores in suborbital canal. No suborbital flap or groove in male. Dorsal fin with 7½ branched rays. Anal fin with 5½ branched rays. Caudal fin with 8+8 or 8+7 branched rays. Pectoral fin with 9 and pelvic fin with 5–7 branched rays. Body without scales. Lateral line incomplete or complete; if complete, with 12–46 pores, reaches to base of caudal fin. Anterior nostril opening at end of a pointed flap-like tube. Posterior nostril oval, posterior tip of anterior nostril not or just overlapping posterior nostril when folded backwards. Mouth small, slightly arched. Lips moderately thick. A median interruption on lower lip. Upper lip with a shallow median incision. Processus dentiformis small and blunt. No median notch in lower jaw. Barbels short; inner rostral barbel not reaching base of maxillary rostral barbel; outer one reaching to base of maxillary barbel. Maxillary barbel reaching vertical of anterior part of eye. No external sexual dimorphism observed.

Coloration. In fresh and ethanol-fixed specimens, body cream or yellow with olive or dark brown mottled pattern. Lateral midline with irregular blotches, forming irregularly set and shaped saddles in most individuals; in a few individuals, body pattern uniform olive or pale brown without blotch and saddles or few blotches on caudal peduncle. Flank below lateral midline without pigmentation. A semilunar or irregularly shaped, black or dark brown bar at caudal-fin base. A whitish or triangle-shaped patch in front of bar on upper and lower caudal peduncle. Cheeks white or cream, ventral surface of head white or cream, head above cheeks olive or dark brown. Operculum yellowish or golden brown. Pectoral, pelvic, anal fins hyaline, caudal and dorsal fins olive to dark brown. Caudal fin with elongated faint spots on rays, forming a mottled pattern of one vertical row approximately in middle of ray length. Median part of last unbranched ray of dorsal fin with dark brown or black pigments.

Etymology. This species is named after Anousheh Ansari, the first Iranian, as well as the first self-funded woman, to fly to the space station. The naming of this species pays tribute to her, serving as a source of inspiration and motivation for future generations, especially women in Iran. A noun in apposition.

Distribution. The species is known from the Merian, Beshar ( Figure 7 View Figure 7 ), and Khersan rivers in the headwaters of the Karun drainage.

Habitat. Turcinoemacheilus ansari typically inhabits the headwaters of rivers with clear, cold, and well-oxygenated water. The species demonstrates a preference for high-gradient riffles and rapids containing coarse substrata such as gravel, pebbles, and rocks. The species has a low tolerance for sediments and is not found in low-current areas, slack water, or deep water in the lower Khersan or Karun River. This species is found in sympatry with T. saadii .