Cobitis pirii

Common name. Pisidian spined loach.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Cobitis in Mediterranean basin east of Eşen and endorheic basins in Central Anatolia by: ○ flank pattern well organised in four Gambetta zones, blotches in Z4 organised in a wide band or two rows of spots, and blotches in some individuals or populations / ○ external part of suborbital spine simple / ○ black spot present at upper caudal base / ○ back with 13–20 dark-brown, roundish blotches, often irregularly shaped or fused to each other / ○ two laminae circularis in male. Size up to 97 mm SL.

Distribution . Türkiye: Lake Eğirdir basin, upper Aksu and Köprüçay drainages.

Habitat. Streams, rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, usually on sand or fine gravel in slow or moderate fast-flowing waters.

Biology. No data.

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

Further reading. Freyhof et al. 2018c (description).