Glyptothorax cous (Linnaeus, 1766) [N]—Catfish; Balouj

Taxonomy. Original description: Silurus cous Linnaeus, 1766: 504 [Qweik River, at Aleppo, Syria; holotype: BMNH 1955.6.25.2].—Syrian synonyms: None.—Revisions: Freyhof et al. (2021: 465); Sayyadzadeh et al. (2022).—Illustration: Freyhof et al. (2021: figs. 10-17); Sayyadzadeh et al. (2022: 22, fig. 9).

Status in Syria. Recorded from Syria in original description by Linnaeus (1766: 504); subsequently reported by Beckman (1962: 178); Ali (2003); Taha (2005).—Syrian material: BMNH, MCZ, MSL.

Distribution and habitat. Distribution in Syria: Qweik River system, Tigris-Euphrates River basin.—Distribution in River Basin: 1-Dajleh & Khabour, 2-Euphrates & Aleppo.—General distribution: Asia Minor and Middle East: Tigris-Euphrates River basin, Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria.—Distribution in Ecoregion: 441-Lower Tigris & Euphrates, 442-Upper Tigris & Euphrates.—Habitat: This species occurs in slow running and standing streams. Freshwater.

Economic importance. No commercial importance.

Conservation. Conservation status in Syria: Unknown.—IUCN: NE (2023).—Threats: Unknown.—Moderate sensitivity to human activities.—Keystone species.—Decline status: Unknown.—Moderate priority for conservation action.