Turcinoemacheilus inexpectatus, Freyhof & Jouladeh-Roudbar, 2023

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 580

Turcinoemacheilus inexpectatus

Common name. Zab dwarf loach.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Turcinoemacheilus in West Asia by: ○ a dark midlateral stripe broader than eye diameter / ○ 5–6 mandibular pores in mandibular canal / ○ caudal–peduncle length 8–10 % SL / ○ body depth 1.3–2.0 times in head length / ○ caudal–peduncle depth 1.5–2.3 times in its length / ○ interorbital distance 31–37 % HL / ○ prepelvic distance 50–53 % SL / ○ anus situated at middle or in front of middle between pelvic and anal origins / ○ no dark-brown blotch on side of anal base. Size up to 52 mm SL.

Turcinoemacheilus kosswigi ; upper Greater Zab, Türkiye; 60 mm SL.

Distribution. Iraq and Iran: Sirvan, Greater and Lesser Zab drainages.

Habitat. Fast-flowing sections of small rivers and streams, usually in rapids and riffles with coarse gravel or rocks. Inhabits interspaces in gravel.

Biology. No data.

Conservation status. LC.

Further reading. Esmaeili et al. 2014c (description as T. kosswigi ); Kaya et al. 2024d (molecular phylogeny); Freyhof & Jouladeh-Roudbar 2024 (description).