Oxynoemacheilus cyri (Berg, 1910)

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 498-499

Oxynoemacheilus cyri

Common name. Kura banded loach.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Oxynoemacheilus in Caspian basin by: ● suborbital groove absent in male / ● flank with 12–17 distinct, regularly shaped and set bars / ● caudal very slightly emarginate or truncate. Size up to 74 mm SL.

set, pale-brown bars, usually flank-bars separated from middorsal saddles and not meeting contralateral. Size up to 58 mm SL.

Distribution. Türkiye: Lower Göksu east to Ceyhan drainage.

Habitat. Small streams to larger rivers. In slow or moderately fast-flowing stretches, usually along banks. Also along banks of reservoirs and in irrigation canals.

Biology. No data.

Conservation status. LC.

Remarks. Distribution of this species and superficially similar O. ceyhanensis from upper Ceyhan needs to be better explored.

Further reading. Kaya et al. 2020b (description).

Distribution. Türkiye: Ardahan plateau in upper Kura drainage.

Habitat. Slow or fast-flowing streams with gravel or rock bottoms and clear water.

Biology. No data.

Conservation status. LC; has a small range in upper Kura drainage; its habitat is intact, the species is common, and no threats are known.

Remarks. It is a phylogenetically isolated species, restricted to a small area at high altitudes. It appears to

Oxynoemacheilus eliasi ; Şaşal, Türkiye; ~ 55 mm SL.