Oxynoemacheilus sarus

Common name. Sarus loach.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other Oxynoemacheilus species in Cilicia (including Göksu, Seyhan, and Ceyhan drainages) by: ○ a series of irregularly shaped midlateral blotches or bars disconnected from saddles on back / ○ a bold, black blotch or spot at upper and lower caudal base / ○ 3–5 dark-brown bands on caudal / ○ lateral line complete, terminating at anterior part of hypural complex / ○ caudal forked (shortest middle caudal ray is 56–70 % of longest ray of upper caudal lobe) / ○ caudal peduncle 1.4–1.8 times longer than deep, without dorsal crest / ○ a suborbital groove in male / ○ pre-dorsal length 45–52 % SL / ○ prepelvic length 48–53 % SL / ○ distance between pectoral- and pelvic origin 25–29 % SL. Size up to 54 mm SL.

Distribution . Türkiye: Ceyhan, and lower Seyhan drainages.

Habitat. Moderately fast-flowing water in streams and rivers with stones and gravel bottoms.

Biology. No data.

Conservation status. LC.

Further reading. Freyhof et al. 2021a (description).