Oxynoemacheilus cyri (Berg, 1910)

Oxynoemacheilus cyri View in CoL View Figure

Common name. Kura banded loach.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Oxynoemacheilus in Caspian basin by: ● suborbital groove absent in male / ● flank with 12–17 distinct, regularly shaped and set bars / ● caudal very slightly emarginate or truncate. Size up to 74 mm SL.

Distribution View Figure . Türkiye: Ardahan plateau in upper Kura drainage.

Habitat. Slow or fast-flowing streams with gravel or rock bottoms and clear water.

Biology. No data.

Conservation status. LC; has a small range in upper Kura drainage; its habitat is intact, the species is common, and no threats are known.

Remarks. It is a phylogenetically isolated species, restricted to a small area at high altitudes. It appears to be endemic to Türkiye and has never been found in downstream Armenia.

Further reading. Berg 1910 (description); Kaya et al. 2020a (distribution).