Pseudophoxinus zeregi (Heckel, 1843)

Pseudophoxinus zeregi View in CoL View Figure

Common name. Levantine spring minnow.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Pseudophoxinus in eastern Mediterranean basin by: ○ 55–62+2–3 scales in lateral series / ○ lateral line complete / ○ flank with prominent, brown or grey mid-lateral stripe. Size up to 79 mm SL.

Distribution View Figure . Türkiye and Syria: Orontes drainage and headwaters of Qweiq. Rivers Marqīyah and Abou Noah in Syria.

Habitat. Pools, slow-flowing streams, marshes, springs usually among vegetation.

Biology. Lives up to 5 years. Spawns first time after first winter. Fractional spawner. Feeds on a wide range of small invertebrates and detritus.

Conservation status. EN; Extirpated from the Qweiq in Syria and the potentially from Orontes drainage in Türkiye. It appears to have declined sharply in recent years due to climate change, desiccation of streams, and massive pollution.

Further reading. Krupp 1985d (distribution); Geiger et al. 2014 (phylogeny).