52. Paracobitis malapterura (Valenciennes, 1846)

Common name. Western crested loach

Taxonomy. Original description: Cobitis malapterura Valenciennes, 1846: 88, pl. 523 ["Sent from Syria " (Iran); syntypes: MNHN 0000–3962 (1), B–3070 (ex MNHN 0000–3962) (1)] .

Revisions. Freyhof et al. (2014).

Illustrations. Freyhof et al. (2014: 18, fig. 5-7).

Distribution in Iran. —Distribution in River Basin: Namak Lake, Dasht-e Kavir.—Distribution in Ecoregions: 447-Namak, 448-Kavir & Lut Deserts.

Status in Iran. [Endemic].—Loch mahi-e tajdar-e Namak.—Listed in previous checklists from Iran by Esmaeili et al. (2017 a, 2018); Jouladeh-Roudbar et al. (2020) and Eagderi et al. (2022).—Iran material: ZM-CBSU.

Conservation. —IUCN: NE.