Oxynoemacheilus ceyhanensis

Common name. Elbistan loach.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Oxynoemacheilus in Cilicia and northern Levant by: ○ caudal deeply emarginate, length of middle caudal ray 1.1–1.3 times in length of longest unbranched ray in upper caudal lobe / ○ lateral line complete, terminating at caudal base or on hypural complex / ○ suborbital groove absent in male / ○ flank and back behind dorsal base covered by many isolated and embedded scales / ○ no prominent dorsal crest on caudal peduncle / ○ caudal–peduncle depth 1.4–1.6 times in its length / ○ body depth at dorsal origin 18–20 % SL / ○ head length 25–27 % SL. Size up to 57 mm SL.

Distribution. Türkiye: Upper Ceyhan drainage.

Habitat. Moderately fast-flowing waters in streams with gravel substrate.

Biology. No data.

Conservation status. LC.

Remarks. The distribution of this species needs to be better understood as it has usually been confused with O. cilicicus, a species found in the lower Ceyhan drainage.

Further reading. Erk’akan et al. 2007 (description); Kaya et al. 2020b (distribution).