Glyptothorax galaxias, Mousavi-Sabet, Eagderi, Vatandoust & Freyhof, 2021

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 609

Glyptothorax galaxias

Common name. White-spot torrent catfish.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Glyptothorax in West Asia by: ○ thoracic adhesive apparatus with many and long anteromedial striae, 1.3–1.5 times longer than wide, extending to posterior-most pectoral base / ○ thoracic adhesive apparatus strongly elevated, almost or completely situated on a horse-shoe shaped elevation / ○ medial pit open, without striae / ○ dorsal and lateral head, back and flank with small round warts / ○ adipose length 0.5–0.8 of distance between base of last dorsal ray and adipose origin / ○ caudal lobes rounded / ○ caudal moderately forked, its shortest middle caudal ray 61–65 % of longest ray of upper caudal lobe / ○ head pointed and short, 21–24 % SL / ○ maximum head width 84–101 % HL / ○ postdorsal length 52–54 % SL / ○ preanal length 65–72 % SL / ○ eye diameter 10–14 % HL / ○ caudal-peduncle 1.6–2.1 times in its length / ○ maxillary barbel shorter than head, 77–91 % HL / ○ inner mandibular barbel 26–33 % HL / ○ outer mandibular barbel 56–58 % HL / ○ 9–12 serrae on pectoral spine / ○ all fins with a distinct,

distal yellow tip / ○ head, back and flank with many, irregular shaped and set brown blotches as large as eye diameter or slightly larger. Size up to 114 mm SL, likely to grow larger.

Distribution. Iran: Upper Karun and Karkheh drainages.

Habitat. Fast-flowing water in mountain streams, rapids, and riffles on rocky or gravelly bottoms.

Biology. Nocturnal, hiding under rocks during day. Feeds on benthic invertebrates.

Conservation status. LC.

Remarks. Occurs often in sympatry with G. alidaeii .

Further reading. Mousavi - Sabet et al. 2021 (description); Sayyadzadeh et al. 2022 (synonym of G. silviae ).