Cobitis turcica, Hanko, 1925

Cobitis turcica View in CoL View Figure

Common name. Central Anatolian spined loach.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Cobitis in Mediterranean basin east of Eşen and endorheic basins in Central Anatolia by: ○ flank pattern not organised in Gambetta zones, completely disorganised into a pattern of many small spots and blotches / ○ back with dark-brown, large, and roundish blotches / ○ black spot present at upper

caudal base, often very small and best seen in life individuals / ○ mental lobe long, reaching to or beyond lower lip / ○ caudal truncate / ○ prepelvic length 53–56 % SL / ○ preanal distance 75–78 % SL in female / ○ two laminae circularis in male. Size up to 100 mm SL.

Distribution View Figure . Türkiye: Wider Lake Tuz basin: Ereğli, Melendiz (Ihlara Valley), springs in Sultanhanı north of Sarı Yayla and Gölyazı.

Habitat. Springs and streams with still to moderately flowing clear water and muddy or sandy bottoms. Also, lakes and reservoirs.

Biology. No data.

Conservation status. EN; appears to be declining within its very small range. Extirpated from Ereğli.

Remarks. Cobitis turcica and C. battalgilae are closely related, but almost all individuals can be well distinguished, and therefore they are treated as two species.

Further reading. Hankó 1925 (description); Erk’akan et al. 1998 (description, synonyms); Bohlen et al. 2006 (molecular phylogeny); Freyhof et al. 2018c (description, distribution).