Oxynoemacheilus kiabii

Common name. Longhead Zagros loach.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Oxynoemacheilus in Tigris drainage by: ○ two, rarely one or three lateral pores in supratemporal canal and no central pore / ○ suborbital groove absent in male / ○ flank covered by embedded scales, no scales on back in front of dorsal / ○ caudal slightly emarginate / ○ lateral line incomplete, terminating under dorsal base or above anal base / ○ head length 26–30 % SL / ○ flank with vertically elongated, irregularly shaped blotches or narrow bars. Size up to 57 mm SL.

Distribution . Iran: Gamasiab and Dinevar in Karkheh drainage.

Habitat. Moderate to fast-flowing streams with gravel substrate.

Biology. No data

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

Further reading. Golzarianpour et al. 2011 (description).