Pseudophoxinus zeregi (Heckel, 1843)

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 388-389

Pseudophoxinus zeregi

Common name. Levantine spring minnow.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Pseudophoxinus in eastern Mediterranean basin by: ○ 55–62+2–3 scales in lateral series / ○ lateral line complete / ○ flank with prominent, brown or grey mid-lateral stripe. Size up to 79 mm SL.

Distribution. Türkiye and Syria: Orontes drainage and headwaters of Qweiq. Rivers Marqīyah and Abou Noah in Syria.

Habitat. Pools, slow-flowing streams, marshes, springs usually among vegetation.

Biology. Lives up to 5 years. Spawns first time after first winter. Fractional spawner. Feeds on a wide range of small invertebrates and detritus.

Conservation status. EN; Extirpated from the Qweiq in Syria and the potentially from Orontes drainage in Türkiye. It appears to have declined sharply in recent

Habitat. Springs, spring-fed streams, and densely vegetated lakes.

Biology. No data.

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

Further reading. Bogutskaya et al. 2007 (description); Saç et al. 2019b (distribution).

years due to climate change, desiccation of streams, and massive pollution.

Further reading. Krupp 1985d (distribution); Geiger et al. 2014 (phylogeny).

Pseudophoxinus sp. Israel, Jordan drainage, Israel; ~ 45 mm SL. © B. Nicca