Nemacheilidae

4.12 | Nemacheilidae View in CoL View at ENA

Oxynoemacheilus cemali was described from the Coruh River drainage in north-eastern Turkey by Turan, Kaya, Kalayci, Bayçelebi, and Aksu (2019). The species is expected to occur in the Georgian part of the river also.

Oxynoemacheilus merga is distributed in northern Caucasian rivers (the Kuma, Terek, Sulak) which flow to the Caspian Sea. Although it has not been recorded in Georgia yet, we assume that the fish could be distributed in the European part of the country.

Oxynoemacheilus veyseli was described from the upper Aras River in Turkey by Çiçek, Eagderi, and Sungur (2018). The species name is incorrect and must be replaced by O. veyselorum , since this species was named after two men, the father and son of the first author (see Çiçek et al., 2018). Loaches usually identified as O. angorae in the Kura and Aras Rivers ( Abdurakhmanov, 1962; Barach, 1940, 1941; Berg, 1949; Dadikyan, 1986; Elanidze, 1983; Gabrielyan, 2001; Levin & Rubenyan, 2010; Ninua & Japoshvili, 2008; Pipoyan, 2012; Pipoyan & Tigranyan, 1998) might largely belong to O. veyselorum .

Overall, the systematics of Oxynoemacheilus species in the study area is still poorly understood and the taxonomic status of species such as O. angorae alasanicus , O. bergi , O. brandti gibbusnazus , and O. lenkoranensis need to be revisited.