Cobitis elazigensis, Coad & Sarieyyupoglu, 1988

Cobitis elazigensis View in CoL View Figure

Common name. Euphrates spined loach.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Cobitis in Persian Gulf basin by: ○ two laminae circularis in male / ○ Z4 between vertical of pectoral origin and dorsal base squarish, irregularly shaped, roundish, and usually widely separated / ○ pelvic axillary lobe present. Size up to 143 mm SL.

Distribution View Figure . Türkiye: Upper Euphrates south to Atatürk reservoir. Expected to be more widespread in Euphrates, and records of Cobitis from Syrian Euphrates may belong to this species.

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

Biology. No data.

Conservation status. LC.

Further reading. Coad & Sarıeyyüpoğlu 1988 (description); Erk’akan et al. 1998 (discussion); Bohlen et al. 2006 (phylogeny); Freyhof et al. 2018c (description).