Paraschistura cristata (Berg, 1898)

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 558-559

Paraschistura cristata

Common name. Khorasan loach.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Paraschistura in West Asia by: ● prominent dorsal adipose crest supported by 22–25 procurrent caudal rays / ○ lateral line complete or almost complete, reaching to caudal base / ○ snout blunt / ○ flank completely covered by scales / ○ pelvic reaching to or slightly in front of anus / ○ a bold black spot at base of first dorsal rays / ○ 9–13 brown bars usually faded or absent on flank in front of dorsal origin, regularly shaped and wider than interspaces or dissociated into blotches and irregularly shaped bars; rarely without bars / ○ body with 4–8 wide dark-brown bars behind dorsal origin / ○ usually a complete black bar at caudal base / ○ pelvic origin below vertical of second or third branched dorsal ray / ○ suborbital groove or flap absent in male / ○ caudal emarginate / ○ usually 8½, rarely 7½ branched dorsal rays. Size up to 70 mm SL.

Distribution. Eastern Kavir basin ( Iran), Hari drainage in Afghanistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Morghab, and Kopetdag in Karakum Desert basin ( Turkmenistan). Probably more widespread in Turkmenistan.

Habitat. Fast to slow-flowing streams with gravel substrate.

Biology. Lives up to 4 years, and spawns March–June.

Conservation status. LC.

Remarks. Previously placed in the monotypic genus

Metaschistura .

Further reading. Prokofiev 2009 (placement in Metaschistura ); Freyhof et al. 2015 (diagnosis).

Paraschistura delvarii ; Mond drainage, Iran; ~ 45 mm SL.