Oxynoemacheilus karunensis, Freyhof, 2016

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 514-515

Oxynoemacheilus karunensis

Common name. Karkheh two-spot loach.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Oxynoemacheilus in Tigris drainage by: ○ pelvic axillary lobe absent or rudimentary, shallow and knob-shaped / ○ two distinct and prominent black blotches at posteriormost caudal base, often overlaid by a dark-brown or black chevron-shaped bar / ○ suborbital groove present in male /

Oxynoemacheilus kaynaki ; Euphrates drainage, Türkiye; 64 mm SL.

○ lateral line complete, terminating behind vertical of anal base or at caudal base / ○ flank completely covered by scales / ○ caudal deeply emarginate or forked / ○ no or very short incision in upper lip / ○ a series of vertically elongated blotches or short bars along lateral midline / ○ dark-brown blotches behind dorsal base narrower than interspaces / ○ caudal peduncle 1.7–3.1 times longer than deep. Size up to 58 mm SL.

Oxynoemacheilus kaynaki ; Euphrates drainage, Türkiye; 68 mm SL.

Distribution. Iran: Gamasiab, Dinevar, and upper Seymareh in Karkheh drainage.

Habitat. Moderately fast-flowing and standing waters of streams, backwaters, and springs with muddy bottoms.

Biology. No data.

Conservation status. LC.

Remarks. The type locally of this species was mistakenly thought to be in Karun drainage. It was later found to be endemic in Karkheh drainage. Fish identified as O. karunensis from the Jarrahi drainage had been described as O. marunensis .

Further reading. Freyhof 2016a (description).