Oxynoemacheilus kaynaki

Common name. Melid loach.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Oxynoemacheilus in Euphrates drainage by: ○ caudal peduncle with a shallow, wide, and often long dorsal adipose ridge, not elevated from dorsal profile, reaching to middle of caudal peduncle or below last dorsal ray when folded down / ○ lateral line complete / ○ suborbital groove absent in male / ○ pelvic axillary lobe present / ○ flank covered by scales / ○ caudal very slightly emarginate or truncate / ○ flank with a brown mottled or marmorated pattern, with irregularly shaped brown bars, especially on flank behind dorsal origin in some individuals / ○ caudal base with a bold, dark-brown or black bar. Size up to 68 mm SL.

Distribution. Türkiye: Upper Göksu, Kaynarca, and Gül, which are headwaters of Peri Suyu, Sultan Suyu, which flows to Karakaya reservoir, and Kangal, which flows to Keban reservoir, all in Euphrates drainage.

Habitat. Fast to moderately fast-flowing streams with gravel substrate. Usually along margins of streams with muddy substrate.

Biology. No data.

Conservation status. LC.

Further reading. Erk’akan et al. 2008b (description); Freyhof et al. 2019b (diagnosis, distribution).