Sasanidus kermanshahensis

Common name. Kermanshah loach.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from superficially similar species of Oxynoemacheilus in Tigris drainage by: ○ body cylindrical / ● a prominent, irregular lateral stripe along lateral midline / ● no dark-brown or black bar or blotch at caudal base / ● a prominent whitish or yellowish triangular patch on posteriormost upper and lower caudal peduncle / ● no sexual dimorphism in pectoral length / ○ caudal peduncle deep, without adipose crest / ○ caudal moderately deep emarginate / ○ lateral line incomplete, reaching to vertical between middle dorsal base and middle anal base / ○ suborbital groove present in male. Size up to 70 mm SL.

Distribution. Iran: Gamasiab, Dinevar, Razavar, and Kahman in Karkheh drainage and Sezar in Karun drainage.

Habitat. Moderately fast-flowing to standing waters of gravel-bed streams.

Biology. No data.

Conservation status. VU; appears to be declining within its small range.

Further reading. Bănărescu & Nalbant 1966 (description); Freyhof et al. 2016a (phylogeny).