Oxynoemacheilus argyrogramma (Heckel, 1847)

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 486-487

Oxynoemacheilus argyrogramma

Common name. Two-spot loach.

Diagnosis Distinguished from other species of Oxynoemacheilus in Euphrates and Qweiq drainages by: ○ lateral line complete / ○ flank covered by scales / ○ two distinct and prominent black blotches at posteriormost caudal base, often overlaid by a dark-brown or black chevron-shaped bar / ○ caudal moderately deep emarginate / ○ flank and caudal peduncle with marbled colour pattern, without bars / ○ caudal peduncle without high adipose crest or ridge / ○ upper lip with a median incision / ○ suborbital groove present in male / ○ caudal–peduncle depth 1.4–1.8 times in caudal–peduncle length. Size up to 62 mm SL.

Distribution. Qweiq drainage in Türkiye and Syria. South-western Euphrates drainage in Türkiye, and most likely in adjacent Syrian Euphrates. In Gölbaşı lakes in uppermost Ceyhan and potentially more widespread in Ceyhan.

Habitat. Wide range of habitats in moderately fast-flowing waters, from small hill streams to banks of large rivers. Rarely found in stagnant waters as reservoirs.

Biology. No data.

Conservation status. LC.

Further reading. Heckel 1847 (description).

Oxynoemacheilus arsaniasus ; upper Euphrates drainage, Türkiye; 90 mm SL.