Turcinoemacheilus saadii, Esmaeili, Sayyadzadeh, Ozulug, Geiger & Freyhof, 2014

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 583-584

Turcinoemacheilus saadii

Common name. Large spot dwarf loach.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Turcinoemacheilus in West Asia by: ● colour pattern organised in 7–9 distinct dark-brown or grey saddles never forming a lateral stripe / ○ caudal deeply emarginate / ○ 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 64 mm SL.

Distribution. Iran: Bashar, Bakhtiyari, and Sezar in Karun, Gamasiab, Dinevar, and Kahman in Karkheh 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.

Remarks. In the upper Karun, usually syntopic with T. hafezi and Sasanidus kermanshahensis .

Further reading. Esmaeili et al. 2014c (description).

The stream Eziki in Türkiye is a tributary of the Greater Zab, a major Tigris tributary. It is the habitat of Turcinoemacheilus kosswigi .

Oxynoemacheilus eliasi inhabits streams with a Mediterranean water regime and often survives only in small pools during summer.