Oxynoemacheilus shehabi, Freyhof & Geiger, 2021

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 532-533

Oxynoemacheilus shehabi

Common name. Syrian sportive loach.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Oxynoemacheilus in Cilicia and northern Levant by: ● flank with 5–7 dark-brown bars, much narrower than interspaces, irregularly shaped and set, extending to middorsal saddles and meeting contralateral / ○ a bold, black blotch or spot at upper and lower caudal base / ○ caudal with dark-brown bands of elongated blotches / ○ lateral line complete

Oxynoemacheilus simavicus ; Susurluk drainage, Türkiye; 65 mm SL. terminating at caudal base / ○ caudal deeply emarginate / ○ flank covered by scales, sparsely set on anterior, densely set on posterior flank / ○ no dorsal crest on caudal peduncle / ○ no or a very short incision in upper lip / ○ suborbital groove present in male / ○ pelvic axillary lobe well developed, fully attached to body / ○ two, usually indistinct, black blotches or spots at caudal base / ○ caudal–peduncle depth 1.8–2.4 in its length. Size up to 48 mm SL, likely to grow larger.

Oxynoemacheilus simavicus ; Bayındır, Sakarya drainage, Türkiye; 64 mm SL.

Oxynoemacheilus simavicus ; Porsuk subdrainage, Sakarya drainage, Türkiye; 55 mm SL.

Distribution. Syria: Upper Orontes drainage upriver of Lake Qattinah.

Habitat. From small streams to larger rivers. In fast-flowing stretches.

Biology. No data.

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

Further reading. Freyhof & Geiger 2021 (description).