Oxynoemacheilus insignis (Heckel, 1843) [N] — Syrian loach; Binun ha’yarden

Taxonomy. Original description: Cobitis insignis Heckel, 1843a: 1087 (97) [Damascus, Syria; syntypes: NMW (4, not found), SMF 166 (2, poor condition)].— Israel synonyms: Nemacheilus insignis (Heckel, 1843); Noemacheilus angorae jordanicus Bănărescu & Nalbant, 1966; Noemacheilus angorae tortonesei Bănărescu & Nalbant, 1966; Orthrias dori Goren & Bănărescu, 1982; Nemacheilus dori Goren & Bănărescu, 1982; Orthrias israeliticus Goren & Nalbant, 1982; Oxynoemacheilus pantheroides (Goren & Nalbant, 1982); Orthrias pantheroides Goren & Nalbant, 1982 .—Revisions: Prokofiev (2009: 880) with subspecies.—Illustration: Heckel (1843b: pl. 12, fig. 3).

Status in Israel. First record from Israel by Günther (1865: 490) as Cobitis insignis, by Lortet (1883: 173), Tristram (1884: 177) and Steinitz (1953: 213) as Nemachilus insignis, Bănărescu & Nalbant (1966) as Noemacheilus angorae jordanicus and N. angorae tortonesei; Günther (1864) as Cobitis insignis subsequently reported by Goren (1974: 93, 94) as Noemacheilus angorae jordanicus, N. insignis tortonesei and Noemacheilus tigris (non Heckel, 1843); Goren & Bănărescu (1982) as Nemacheilus dori; Goren & Nalbant (1982) as Orthrias israeliticus and O. pantheroides; confirmed by Goren & Ortal (1999: 4) as Nemacheilus jordanicus and Nemacheilus dori .—Israel material: HUJ, TAU, JMH.

Distribution and habitat. Distribution in Israel: Jordan River drainage and Sea of Galilee.—Distribution in River Basin: 2-Dead Sea Basin, 3-Kinneret Basin.—General distribution: Asia Minor and the Middle East: Turkey, Syria, Israel, and Jordan.—Distribution in Ecoregion: 438- Jordan River.—Habitat: This species lives in moderately fast-flowing streams and rivers with a mud or gravel substrate and low pollution levels. Freshwater.

Economic importance. No commercial importance.

Conservation. Conservation status in Israel: Unknown.—IUCN: NT (IUCN 2023 f).—Threats: ABS, CON, HAB, CLI, EUT.—Moderate sensitivity to human activities.—Keystone species.—Decline status: Decreasing.—Moderate priority for conservation action.