Oxynoemacheilus tigris

Common name. Halap loach.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Oxynoemacheilus in Euphrates and Qweiq drainages by: ● prominent long and high dorsal adipose crest on caudal peduncle reaching beyond vertical through anal origin, usually below last dorsal rays when folded down / ● dorsal crest usually dark-brown with yellowish or whitish margin in individuals larger than 60 mm SL / ● 10–16 bold, narrow, regularly shaped bars, very prominent on caudal peduncle / ○ caudal slightly emarginate / ○ suborbital groove absent in male / ○ lateral line incomplete / ○ many isolated, deeply embedded scales on flank / ○ two bold, black spots at caudal base in most individuals. Size up to 73 mm SL.

Distribution. Qweiq drainage in Türkiye and Syria, and stream Merziman, which joins Euphrates at Birecik reservoir.

Habitat. Moderately fast-flowing to standing waters of streams with gravel or mud bottoms.

Biology. No data.

Conservation status. EN; appears to be declining within its very small range. Extirpated from Syria and has a very small distribution range in Türkiye.

Remarks. A population of O. tigris from the upper Qweiq in Türkiye shares mtDNA with O. namiri from the Orontes, The population from Merziman was described as O. sarali in 2025, too late to be included in this book.

Further reading. Heckel 1843 (description); Freyhof et al. 2019b (diagnosis, distribution); Turan et al. 2025 (O. sarali).