Paraschistura alta, Nalbant & Bianco, 1998

Paraschistura alta View in CoL View Figure

Common name. Helmand banded loach.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Paraschistura in West Asia by: ● processus dentiformis in upper jaw absent / ○ lateral line complete or almost complete (incomplete in Iranian fish), reaching to caudal base / ○ flank and caudal peduncle covered by scales / ○ snout long and pointed / ○ caudal forked / ○ 7½ or 8½ branched dorsal rays / ○ pelvic origin below second or third branched dorsal ray / ○ no dorsal adipose crest / ○ suborbital flap or groove absent in male / ○ a small, bold black spot at base of first dorsal rays / ○ black bar at caudal base faint / ○ 9–10 regularly set and shaped pale-brown or grey bars, absent or very faint on flank in front of dorsal origin / ○ caudal–peduncle depth 0.9–1.2 times longer than deep / ○ body depth at dorsal origin 12–20 % SL. Size up to 112 mm SL.

Distribution View Figure . Afghanistan and Iran: Sistan basin, including Helmand drainage, Chahnime reservoirs, Hamun Lakes, and Zehak.

Habitat. Large and medium-sized rivers.

Biology. No data.

Conservation status. LC; situation in Helmand unknown.

Remarks. This species was originally described as having a complete or almost complete lateral line, which is incomplete in fish recorded from Iran. Whether this species has a suborbital groove or flap in males remains unknown; it is absent in the few individuals examined.

Further reading. Nalbant & Bianco 1998 (description); Jouladeh-Roudbar et al. 2015c (record from Iran).