Paraschistura ilamensis, Vatandoust & Eagderi, 2015

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 560-561

Paraschistura ilamensis

Common name. Ilam banded loach.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Paraschistura in West Asia by: ○ suborbital flap roundish or elongate, pointed downward, overlapping slit below flap / ○ snout blunt / ○ back and flank fully covered by scales / ○ pelvic origin below first branched dorsal ray / ○ 7–13 dark-brown, irregularly shaped and set, often faded bars on flank / ○ pelvic reaching to a point about 1.0–2.0 eye diameter in front of anus / ○ no dorsal adipose crest / ○ lateral line incomplete / ○ caudal emarginate / ○ caudal–peduncle depth 1.6–1.8 times longer than deep / ○ a bold or very faint black spot at base of first dorsal rays / ○ usually a complete

black bar at caudal base / ○ 7½ branched dorsal rays / ○ body depth at dorsal origin 14–15 % SL. Size up to 55 mm SL.

Distribution. Iran: Bala and Cholvar are two tributaries of Dez in Karun drainage and Siah Gav in Karkheh drainage.

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

Biology. No data.

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

Remarks. Paraschistura pasatigris is a synonym.

Further reading. Freyhof et al. 2015 (description as P. pasatigris ); Vatandoust & Eagderi 2015 (description); Eagderi et al. 2019b (priority).

River Rodan in Iran is the habitat of Paraschistura hormuzensis , Capoeta anamisensis , Garra persica and Cyprinion microphthalmum . Paraschistura kermanensis ; Bidkhoon drainage, Iran; 65 mm SL.