Cobitis derzhavini, Freyhof & Yoğurtçuoğlu & Jouladeh-Roudbar & Kaya, 2025

Cobitis derzhavini View in CoL View Figure

Common name. Kura spined loach.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Cobitis in southern Caspian basin by: ● plate of lamina circularis not reaching end of third segment of attached pectoral ray / ● dark-brown spot at upper caudal base absent or poorly developed / ○ subdorsal scales with a small focal zone (about or less than ⅒ of maximum scale diameter) / ○ one lamina circularis in male. Size up to 80 mm SL.

Distribution View Figure . Azerbaijan and Georgia: Lower Kura drainage: Kara-Su and its tributaries, Agstafa, Mingechaur reservoir basin, and Katekh in Balaken region.

Habitat. Wetlands, streams, rivers, and reservoirs, usually on sand or fine gravel in slow or moderate fast-flowing waters.

Biology. No data.

Conservation status. LC.

Remarks. Sympatric with C. saniae in Agstafa drainage and potentially in other areas. Both species are very closely related, and their mode of reproductive isolation is interesting to research.

Further reading. Vasil’eva et al. 2020 (description); Vasil’eva & Vasil’ev. 2020 (osteology).