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Five new species of Glyptothorax are described from Iran. Glyptothorax alidaeii, new species, from the Seimare in the Karkheh drainage, G. galaxias, new species, from the upper Karun drainage, G. hosseinpanahii, new species, from the Zohreh drainage, G. pallens, new species, from the Sirvan drainage, and G. shapuri, new species, from Shapur in the Helleh drainage. Glyptothorax silviae from the Jarrahi drainage is re-diagnosed. All six species are morphologically distinguishable by the structure of the thoracic adhesive apparatus, as well as morphometric characters and details in the colour pattern. They form distinct mitochondrial clades between 1.2% and 4.1% minimum K2P distance based on the mitochondrial DNA barcode region.

Aim In the Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot, freshwater fishes are key biogeographic indicators, while their habitats are vulnerable to ongoing anthropogenic pressures. The freshwater blenny is a widespread endemic taxon in this area. However, our understanding of the overall diversity of specific populations and their phylogenetic relationships is sparse. Thus, we aim to investigate the genetic diversity, infer relationships among sampled populations related to major palaeoenvironmental changes and suggest insights for future research and conservation targets. Location Mediterranean Basin Methods We studied 171 Salaria specimens from 51 rivers and lakes, and from 13 countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. For assessing the phylogenetic relationships among different locations, we used mtDNA d-loop and intron S7 sequences. Furthermore, we inferred absolute divergence times and demographic changes using secondary calibrations and investigated the diversity within major lineages using haplotype networks and several geographical and genetic clustering methods. Results We found eight well-differentiated lineages, each of which being confined to a particular geographical region. The onset of the freshwater blenny radiation was dated around the Messinian salinity crisis. Further differentiation happened during the Plio- and Pleistocene with signatures of population expansion after the Last Glacial Maximum in some of the main lineages. Main conclusions Due to their unusually widespread distribution, the freshwater blennies represent an excellent model for studying phylogeographic structure across the Mediterranean basin biodiversity hotspot. The extant diversity and distribution of the freshwater Salaria species mirrors palaeoenvironmental changes in the region, but there are still large gaps in knowledge, particularly in the Levant. Even though the main lineages described are statistically well supported, the phylogenetic relationship among several of them remains poorly resolved. Despite the fact that the most widespread species, S. fluviatilis, is not globally threatened, it harbours some distinct populations that are of conservation concern.

Alburnus battalgilae Özuluğ & Freyhof, 2007 from the Gediz River drainage in western Anatolia is a junior synonym of A. attalus Özuluğ & Freyhof, 2007, from the adjacent Bakır River drainage. We were unable to confirm the morphological differences originally proposed. As both species have been described in the same publication, as First Reviewers, we prioritise of A. attalus over A. battalgilae.

Oxynoemacheilus nasreddini, new species, from Lake Akşehir, Eber, Eğirdir, and Ilgın basins in Central Anatolia is distinguished from other species of Oxynoemacheilus in Central Anatolia by having irregularly shaped blotches on flank; 2–4 dark-brown bands on caudal fin; a slender body, and an emarginate caudal fin in which the shortest middle caudal-fin ray is 76–91% of the longest ray of the upper caudal-fin lobe. Molecular data suggest that the new species is closely related to O. mediterraneus from the Aksu and Köprüçay drainages. Although the two species are separated by only a minimum K2P distance of 1.2% in the mtDNA COI barcode region, they are well distinguished morphologically. The situation is complicated by loaches from Lake Eğirdir basin that are identified as O. nasreddini by their morphological character states but are only distinguished from O. mediterraneus by a minimum K2P distance of 0.2% in the mtDNA COI barcode region.

The Glyptothorax species inhabiting the Euphrates and Tigris drainages are reviewed and six species are recognised, one of which is described herein as new species. Glyptothorax armeniacus is endemic to headwater streams in the Euphrates drainage. Glyptothorax kurdistanicus is endemic to the upper Tigris downstream to the Lesser Zab drainage. Glyptothorax cous and G. steindachneri are riverine species widespread in both the Euphrates and Tigris drainages. Glyptothorax silviae is endemic to Iran. Glyptothorax daemon, new species, from the Greater Zab and Yanarsu in the upper Tigris drainage, is distinguished by having the thoracic adhesive apparatus strongly elevated, 1.1–1.2 times longer than wide, without tubercles on the head, well developed anteromedial striae, the medial pit without striae, and a short adipose fin. Glyptothorax daemon is separated into two mitochondrial lineages, externally indistinguishable and separated by a minimum K2P distance of 2.0% in the DNA barcode region. These lineages are paraphyletic in our analysis indicating past introgressive hybridisation with G. cous. All six species are diagnosed and all, except unstudied G. steindachneri, form distinct mitochondrial clades with between 1.2% and 3.4% minimum K2P distance between them. Species from the Euphrates and Tigris form a monophyletic mitochondrial group separated from 53 other Glyptothorax species studied from India and areas further east.

It was reported that the complex geological history of the southern Balkans caused diversification of terrestrial species. On the other hand, knowledge of the evolutionary history of freshwater biota is scarce. In order to contribute to an understanding of the historical biogeography of the region’s freshwaters, as well as to describe intraspecific diversity and structure of a species distributed in the Ionian Ecoregion, we have analysed the population genetic structure and evolutionary history of Telestes pleurobipunctatus. Analyses were based on the mitochondrial gene for cytochrome b from samples covering the whole distribution range of this species. A high level of intraspecific structuring was revealed inside T. pleurobipunctatus. Its evolutionary history corroborates the complexity of historical geologic events in the area. Telestes pleurobipunctatus comprises two main clades (northern and southern), which have been separated from each other for about seven million years and that are further divided. The Louros and Arachthos Rivers were denoted as ancestral geographic ranges of the northern clade. The distribution range of the ancestor of the southern clade seems to comprise rivers flowing into the Patraikos Gulf. Structures within the two main clades, as well as timing of diversification events are different, implying separate evolutionary courses.

Oxynoemacheilus sarus, new species, is described from the lower Ceyhan and Seyhan drainages in southern Anatolia. It is distinguished from other Oxynoemacheilus species in Cilicia (including the Göksu, Seyhan and Ceyhan drainages) by possession of a series of irregularly shaped midlateral blotches, 3–5 dark-brown bands on the caudal fin, a complete lateral line, a forked caudal fin (shortest middle caudal-fin ray is 56–70% of longest ray of the upper caudal-fin lobe), the caudal peduncle depth 1.4–1.8 times in its length, and a suborbital groove in male individuals. The new species occurs in sympatry with superficially similar O. seyhanicola and O. evreni, and is distinguished by colour pattern as well as morphometric and molecular characters. Molecular data suggest that the closest relatives to the new species in our dataset are O. euphraticus and O. shehabi, which is characterised by a minimum K2P distance of 3.6% and 3.8%, respectively, in the COI mtDNA barcode region.

Oxynoemacheilus phasicus, new species, is described from the Rioni and Enguri River drainages in Georgia. It is distinguished from other Oxynoemacheilus species in the O. brandtii group by a mottled or marbled flank pattern in adults, a slightly emarginate caudal fin, and a deep caudal peduncle. Molecular data suggest that the new species is characterized by a minimum K2P distance of 7.5% from O. brandtii from the Kura drainage in the mtDNA COI barcode region. Oxynoemacheilus brandtii and O. elsae are re-diagnosed. A very slender Oxynoemacheilus from the Aras drainage clusters as sister to O. elsae in our molecular analysis and not with O. brandtii from the Kura River. However, it is identified as O. brandtii as it is indistinguishable from this species in morphological characters.

This study aims to complement existing fish-based assessment approaches by classifying European lampreys and fish species according to their probability of occurrence in six different longitudinal river regions and five types of floodplain water bodies under unimpaired conditions. The main objective was to provide for the first time harmonized occurrence traits for European lampreys and fishes in both longitudinal and lateral dimensions of floodplain river systems in a Fish Region Index (FRI) and Floodplain Fish Index (FFI), respectively. Altogether 163 lamprey and fish species established in European rivers have been scored according to their longitudinal and lateral occurrence probabilities. The species-specific Fish Region and Floodplain Fish indices and their variances inform about species’ occurrence probabilities, dispersal traits and potential species inventories of different river regions and floodplain waters. The final scores allow identifying characteristic fish assemblages, i.e. a set of type-specific species for the different longitudinal river regions and lateral floodplain water bodies. The species-specific index values and variances serve to calculate summary metrics for the total fish assemblage (FRItotal and FFItotal) as macro-scale indicators for the deviation of the total fish assemblage from a reference state. The resulting index values indicate degradation as well as rehabilitation success at the level of fish assemblages, i.e. at an ecologically relevant macro-scale. Both species-specific and total assemblage indices are directly comparable among all biogeographic regions of Europe independent of the local species pool. As such, the indices serve as assemblage indicators for the fish-based assessment of the ecological status of water body types and river regions in floodplain river systems, which are required in particular for the assessment of large floodplain rivers info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Oxynoemacheilus amanos, new species, is described from İncesu spring in the upper Hupnik drainage, a northern tributary of the lower Orontes in Turkey. It is distinguished from the other Oxynoemacheilus species in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea basin by possession of an incomplete lateral line with 23–45 pores, terminating between the vertical through the dorsal fin origin and the anus, 10–13 pores in the infraorbital canal, a deeply emarginate caudal fin, no suborbital groove in the male, and a series of irregularly shaped and set dark-brown bars on the flank, not connected to saddles on the back.

Thermal response curves that depict the probability of occurrence along a thermal gradient are used to derive various species’ thermal properties and abilities to cope with warming. However, different thermal responses can be expected for different portions of a species range. We focus on differences in thermal response curves (TRCs) and thermal niche requirements for four freshwater fishes (Coregonus sardinella, Pungitius pungitius, Rutilus rutilus, Salvelinus alpinus) native to Europe at (1) the global and (2) European continental scale. European ranges captured only a portion of the global thermal range with major differences in the minimum (Tmin), maximum (Tmax) and average temperature (Tav) of the respective distributions. Further investigations of the model-derived preferred temperature (Tpref), warming tolerance (WT = Tmax − Tpref), safety margin (SM = Tpref − Tav) and the future climatic impact showed substantially differing results. All considered thermal properties either were under- or overestimated at the European level. Our results highlight that, although continental analyses have an impressive spatial extent, they might deliver misleading estimates of species thermal niches and future climate change impacts, if they do not cover the full species ranges. Studies and management actions should therefore favor whole global range distribution data for analyzing species responses to environmental gradients.

Oxynoemacheilus shehabi, new species, is described from the upper Orontes in southern Syria. It is distinguished from other Oxynoemacheilus species in the Levant by possession of a complete lateral line, a deeply emarginate caudal fin, a narrow caudal peduncle, a suborbital groove in male individuals, a well-developed pelvic axillary lobe, and 5–7 dark-brown bars on the flank. Molecular data suggest that the new species is characterised by a minimum K2P distance of 3.8% to O. “seyhanicola” in the COI mtDNA barcode region.

The fishes of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers are reviewed and 242 is the total species from 58 families are recognized. From these, and 126 are coastal species, many just entering the lower Shatt Al-Arab during salt water intrusion. Additional 107 species are anadromous (Tenualosa ilisha) or restricted to freshwaters including one species (Aphaniops stoliczkanus) found in freshwater, brackish water, and marine habitats. Three families (Cyprinidae: 30 species, Leuciscidae: 22 species, Nemacheilidae: 37 species) dominate the freshwater fish fauna. The largest genus is Oxynoemacheilus with 24 species in the area. Endemic to the Euphrates and Tigris are 87 species (77%) of freshwater species. Most non-endemic freshwater species occur also in the Iranian rivers of the Gulf, while six species are shared with the Mediterranean and one each with the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea basins.

Previous studies on the phylogenetic relationships between lamprey species relied either on a low number of morphological characters related to the feeding apparatus, or on a low number of molecular mitochondrial DNA markers. Here, we apply a multilocus approach to assess the phylogenetic relationships of northern hemisphere lampreys, with a special emphasis on the 17 European species. The study comprises two mitochondrial (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene—DNA barcodes, and cytochrome b gene) a nd t wo n uclear (internal transcribed spacers I and II) markers to investigate species' phylogenetic affinities. The phylogeny obtained with mitochondrial markers revealed a clear and highly supported separation of all northern hemisphere lampreys. Among those, our multilocus results show several polyphyletic genera, stressing the need for a taxonomic revision in a near future. Lampetra morii (Berg, 1931) from East Asia, often included in Eudontomyzon, is placed in the genus Lethenteron. Lampetra richardsoni Vladykov & Follett, 1965 and Entosphenus hubbsi (Vladykov & Kott, 1976) should be placed in a new genus, as well as the southern populations of Lethenteron camtschaticum (Tilesius, 1811) and Lethenteron reissneri (Dybowski, 1869). Considering European species, our results argue for a taxonomic revision of Eudontomyzon, with emphasis on Eudontomyzon vladykovi Oliva & Zanandrea, 1959. RESUMEN: Estudios anteriores sobre las relaciones filogenéticas entre especies de lampreas, se basan en un escaso número de caracteres morfológicos relacionados con las estructuras de alimentación, o en un bajo número de marcadores moleculares de ADN mitocondrial. Aquí aplicamos un enfoque multilocus para evaluar las relaciones filogenéticas de las lampreas del hemisferio norte, con especial énfasis en 17 especies europeas. Este estudio comprende dos marcadores mitocondriales (citocromo oxidasa c subunidad 1 —ADN barcodes, y citocromo oxidasa b) y dos marcadores nucleares (espaciadores transcritos internos I y II (ITS) ) para investigar la afinidad filogenética de las especies. La filogenia obtenida con losmarcadores mitocondriales reveló una separación clara y altamente apoyada de todas las lampreas del hemisferio norte. Entre ellas, nuestros resultados multilocus muestran varios géneros polifiléticos, lo que resalta la necesidad de una revisión taxonómica en el futuro. Lampetra morii (Berg, 1931) de Asia oriental, a menudo incluida en Eudontomyzon, se sitúa en el género Lethenteron. Lampetra richardsoni Vladykov & Follett, 1965 y Entosphenus hubbsi (Vladykov & Kott, 1976) deben colocarse en un nuevo género, así como las poblaciones meridionales de Lethenteron camtschaticum (Tilesius, 1811) y Lethenteron reissneri (Dybowski, 1869). Considerando las especies europeas, nuestros resultados abogan por una revisión taxonómica de Eudontomyzon, con énfasis en Eudontomyzon vladykovi Oliva & Zanandrea, 1959. Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia - FCT info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Alburnus nasreddini described from Lake Eber in Central Anatolia is a junior synonym of A. escherichii, a widespread species in adjacent Sakarya River drainage. We found no morphological characters to distinguish Alburnus nasreddini from A. escherichii and both are poorly distinguished on a molecular level also.

Following an exhaustive review of published molecular data and morphological characters, we propose a new generic classification for the Cyprinodontiform family Aphaniidae. The generic concept applied is based on monophyly, reasonable compactness, and morphological diagnoses. The proposed genera are monophyletic and compact groups that can be diagnosed by a combination of morphological characters. All species in Aphaniidae are morphologically homogeneous and have similar scale patterns, fin positions, and meristic characters. However, only a handful of morphological characters, including colour patterns, permit identification. We propose separation of Aphaniidae into eight monophyletic genera: Anatolichthys, Aphaniops, Aphanius, Kosswigichthys, Paraphanius, and Tellia, in addition to the new genera Esmaeilius and Apricaphanius, which are described for the species of the A. sophiae and A. iberus species groups, respectively. The original description of Aphanius hormuzensis does not fulfil the criteria of the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, therefore this taxon is re-described as A. teimorii. Esmaeilius arakensis, E. kavirensis, E. mesopotamicus, and E. pluristriatus are treated as synonyms of E. sophiae. Esmaeilius farsicus is a junior synonym of E. persicus (Jenkins, 1910). The fossil genus Brachylebias is considered as incertae sedis since it lacks diagnostic characters which would permit it to be assigned to any of the extant genera recognised in this study.

Oxynoemacheilus cilicicus, new species, is described from the Göksu, Seyhan and Ceyhan rivers in southern Turkey. It is distinguished from other Oxynoemacheilus species in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea basin by possession of an incomplete lateral line, terminating before the vertical of the dorsal-fin origin or slightly behind the dorsal-fin base, a deeply emarginate caudal fin, no suborbital groove in male individuals, and a series of dark-brown bars on the flank not interrupted along the lateral line. Molecular data suggest that Oxynoemacheilus cilicicus is characterised by 22 variable nucleotide substitutions and a minimum K2P distance of 4.09% with O. panthera in the mtDNA COI barcode region.

The nemacheilid genus Seminemacheilus is revised. Six species are recognised, three of them described herein as new. All species are endemic to Central Anatolia. Seminemacheilus lendlii from the Sakarya River drainage and the endorheic Lake Aksehir and Eber basins, S. ispartensis from Lake Eğirdir basin and S. ahmeti from Sultan Sazlığı are valid species. Although Seminemacheilus lendlii and S. ispartensis have almost identical COI sequences, they are distinguished by the shape of the caudal peduncle and the presence of scales on the caudal peduncle in S. ispartensis (vs. absent in S. lendlii). Seminemacheilus attalicus, new species, from Kırkgöz drainage, is distinguished by having a slightly emarginated caudal fin, a central pore in the supratemporal canal and a marbled flank pattern. Seminemacheilus ekmekciae, new species, from Lake Tuz basin is distinguished by having a roundish caudal fin, a short post-dorsal length and large brown blotches fused into stripes on the flank. Seminemacheilus tubae, new species, from Lake Beyşehir basin, is distinguished by having a truncate caudal fin and 2–5 (6) supraorbital head pores. Seminemacheilus dursunavsari from the Göksu River drainage is not a valid name and this population is identified as S. tubae.

The Garra species inhabiting the Hajar Mountains are revised and five species are recognised, two of which are newly species described herein. Garra barreimiae, from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Northern Oman, is distinguished from other Garra species in the Hajar Mountains by a strongly mottled flank pattern with individual or series of midlateral orange scales, a white dorsal-fin tip, an orange spot at the upper operculum, and more gill rakers on the lower limb of the first gill arch. Garra barreimiae shawkahensis is a synonym of G. barreimiae. Garra gallagheri, from the Wadi Bani Khalid drainage in Oman, is distinguished by flank-scale margins the same colour or slightly darker than the centre of the scales. Garra longipinnis, from the interior wadis in the Central Hajar Mountains in Oman, is distinguished by flank-scale margins being clearly darker than the centre of scales. The original description of G. longipinnis was based on a few individuals with very large fins, which are here considered aberrant. Garra shamal, new species, from the coastal drainages around Muscat in Oman, is distinguished by a strongly mottled flank pattern usually without orange midlateral scales, a white dorsal-fin tip, no orange spot at the upper operculum, and middle caudal-fin rays and membranes the same colour or slightly darker than the rest of the fins in colouration. Garra sharq, new species, from the Wadi Kabbah drainage and a few interior springs in Oman, is distinguished by a strongly mottled flank pattern with individual or series of orange midlateral scales, no orange spot at the upper opercle, and dorsal-fin tip and membranes between central caudal-fin rays the same colour as the rest of the fins. All five species are well differentiated genetically and form distinct mitochondrial clades with between 2.1 and 9.2% differences (p-distances) in the mitochondrial COI.

There are particular challenges in defining the taxonomic status of recently radiated groups due to the low level of phylogenetic signal. Members of the Salmo trutta species-complex, which mostly evolved during and following the Pleistocene, show high morphological and ecological diversity that, along with their very wide geographic distribution, have led to morphological description of 47 extant nominal species. However, many of these species have not been supported by previous phylogenetic studies, which could be partly due to lack of significant genetic differences among them, the limited resolution offered by molecular methods previously used, as well as the often local scale of these studies. The development of next-generation sequencing (NGS) and related analytical tools have enhanced our ability to address such challenging questions. In this study, Genotyping-by-Sequencing (GBS) of 15,169 filtered SNPs and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) D-loop sequences were combined to assess the phylogenetic relationships among 166 brown trouts representing 21 described species and three undescribed groups collected from 84 localities throughout their natural distribution in Europe, west Asia, and North Africa. The data were analysed using different clustering algorithms (admixture analysis and discriminant analysis of principal components-DAPC), a Bayes Factor Delimitation (BFD) test, species tree reconstruction, gene flow tests (three- and four-population tests), and Rogue taxa identification tests. Genomic contributions of the Atlantic lineage brown trout were found in all major sea basins excluding the North African and Aral Sea basins, suggesting introgressive hybridization of native brown trouts driven by stocking using strains of the Atlantic lineage. After removing the phylogenetic noise caused by the Atlantic brown trout, admixture clusters and DAPC clustering based on GBS data, respectively, resolved 11 and 13 clusters among the previously described brown trout species, which were also supported by BFD test results. Our results suggest that natural hybridization between different brown trout lineages has probably played an important role in the origin of several of the putative species, including S. marmoratus, S. carpio, S. farioides, S. pellegrini, S. caspius (in the Kura River drainage) and Salmo sp. in the Danube River basin. Overall, our results support a multi-species taxonomy for brown trouts. They also resolve some species in the Adriatic-Mediterranean and Black Sea drainages as members of very closely related genomic clusters that may need taxonomic revision. However, any final conclusions pertaining to the taxonomy of the brown trout complex should be based on an integrative approach combining genomic, morphological, and ecological data. To avoid challenges in taxonomy and conservation of species complexes like brown trouts, it is suggested to describe species based on genomic clusters of populations instead of describing species based only on morphologically differentiated single type populations.

Scardinius racovitzai appeared to be locally adapted to an extreme high temperature environment (26–35 °C). As a species of conservation concern, due to declining ecological condition of the solitary thermal lake it could be found in (Lake Petea, Oradea, Romania) and eventual near complete abstraction of this lake, 60 adults were saved in 2014. In this study we investigated methods for induced spawning and sperm cryopreservation to aid recovery and reintroduction to restored habitats. Induced spawning was introduced successfully by intraperitoneal induction of dried carp pituitary extract and human chorion gonadotropin. Larvae and juveniles were successfully reared to age 3 months using standard methods for cyprinids. Our experiments on the cryopreservation of S. racovitzai sperm show that the extender consisting 40 mM KCl 200 mM glucose, 30 mM Tris buffered with HCL pH 8.0 is suitable for freezing warm water rudd sperm together with methanol as a cryoprotectant. By rescuing the remaining wild stock into captivity and undertaking propagation research we have prevented extinction of this rare species – more so S. racovitzai will be important in the study of freshwater fishes and how they can adapt to significant warming. Keywords: Critically endangered fish, Lake Petea, Propagation, Larvae rearing, Conservation biology

Garra barreimiae (Fowler and Steinitz, Bull Res Counc Isr 5B:262–289, 1956) is a freshwater fish that lives throughout the Hajar Mountains of Oman and the United Arab Emirates. Previously, four different genetic clades (West clade, Central Clade, North clade and East clade) have been identified within this species. This study observes morphological differences between these clades using morphometrics and meristics as well as micro CT imaging, further strengthening the assumption that the taxon of G. barreimiae should be restricted to one of the genetic clades detected. Although many morphometric and meristic characteristics are highly variable within the clades, the West clade fits the original description of G. barreimiae and is distinguishable by its higher number of fifteen to seventeen gill rakers on the lower limb of the first gill arch (compared to the other clades with ten to fourteen gill rakers), its seven branched pelvic fin rays (in contrary to the other clades with eight branched pelvic fin rays) and its number of vertebrae, with typically nineteen precaudal and one intermediate vertebrae, compared to eighteen precaudal and two intermediate vertebrae in the Central and North clade and seventeen precaudal and two intermediate vertebrae in the East clade.

A critical requirement in assessing progress towards global biodiversity targets is improving our capacity to measure changes in biodiversity. Global biodiversity declined between 2000 and 2010, and there are indications that the decline was greater in freshwater than in terrestrial or marine systems. However, the data, tools and methods available during that decade were inadequate to reliably quantify this decline. Recent advances in freshwater monitoring make a global assessment now close to becoming feasible. Here we identify priorities for freshwater biodiversity assessment for 2020 and 2030, based on the Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBV) framework. We identify 22 priority activities for 2020 under three of the EBV classes (species populations, community composition, and ecosystem structure), which include: a globally systematic approach to collecting and assessing species data, collating existing and new data within global platforms, coordinated effort towards mapping wetland extent at high spatial resolution, linking in-situ data to modelling across regions, and mobilising citizen science for the collection and verification of data. Accomplishing these will allow the state of global biodiversity to be assessed according to a Red List Index with expanded geographic and taxonomic cover, an improved freshwater Living Planet Index with a greater number and phylogenetic range of species, measures of alpha and beta diversity, and globally-consistent estimates of wetland extent. To assess variables in the other EBV classes (genetic composition, species traits, and ecosystem function) we identify 15 priorities, which include development of environmental DNA methods, species-traits databases, eco-informatics and modelling over the next 15 years.

Garra roseae, new species, is described from the stream Tang-e-Sarhe in the Iranian Makran region. It is distinguished from its congeners in the Middle East by lacking barbels, having a small mental disc, 42-58 total scales along the lateral line, 24-30 scales along the predorsal midline, and 20-24 circumpeduncular scales. It is further characterised by having five diagnostic nucleotide substitutions and a minimum K2P distance of 5.39% to G. rossica and 5.49% to G. nudiventris in the mtDNA COI barcode region. Garra phryne from eastern Iran is considered to be a synonym of G. nudiventris., We are pleased to thank the University of Guilan for financial support.

Pseudophoxinus cilicicus, new species, is described from the Arsuz, Ceyhan and Seyhan river drainages in the Gulf of İskenderun. It is distinguished from other members of the Pseudophoxinus zeregi species group by having a complete lateral line with 38–45 + 2–3 scales, the lower lip usually slightly projecting beyond the tip of the upper lip, a prominent black stripe along the flank, and no black pigments below the lateral line. Pseudophoxinus cilicicus is distinguished from P. zekayi by a minimum K2P distance of 3.8% based on the mitochondrial DNA barcode region. Pseudophoxinus atropatenus and P. sojuchbulagi are returned to the genus Rutilus.

Paraschistura makranensis, new species, is described from the Jegin River drainage in southern Iran. It is distinguished from its congeners in Iran by having a plain brown or slightly mottled colour pattern on the flanks, a very slender body with a relatively short head, a complete lateral line extending almost to the caudal-fin base, the caudal peduncle covered by scales, and a suborbital flap in males. Paraschistura makranensis is distinguished from P. bampurensis and P. hormuzensis, its closest relatives in our dataset, by an uncorrected-pairwise distance based on the COI data of 4.0 and 5.4%, respectively. We treat Paraschistura pasatigris as a synonym of P. ilamensis.

Morphometric, meristic and molecular (COI) characters of Alburnus zagrosensis, from the upper Karun River drainage in Iran, largely overlap or are identical with those of A. sellal, a species widely distributed in the Qweik River and the Persian Gulf basin, including the Karun River drainage. As no character states could be found to clearly distinguish these species, A. zagrosensis should be treated as a junior synonym of A. sellal.

The species of the genus Barbatula from north-eastern China are reviewed, based on morphological and molecular characters. A total of ten species are recognized. Barbatula nuda, B. toni, B. gibba, B. potaninorum, B. kirinensis and B. pechiliensis are treated as valid and four new species are described herein. Barbatula zhangwuensis, new species, from northern China, is distinguished by having widely spaced nostrils, a pointed snout, a shallow median incision in the upper lip, a short lateral expansion of the lower lip, the pelvic-fin origin situated behind the vertical through the dorsal-fin origin, and no scales on the back and the flank anterior to the vertical through the dorsal-fin origin and irregularly set scales on the post-dorsal back and flank. Barbatula liaoyangensis, new species, from the Taizi River (a tributary of the Liao River), is distinguished by having widely spaced nostrils, a blade-shaped lateral expansion of the mental lobe, a shallow median incision in the upper lip, a short lateral expansion of the lower lip and sparsely set scales on the back and the flank anterior to the vertical through the dorsal-fin origin, but densely set behind. Barbatula emuensis, new species, from the Heilongjiang and Yalu River drainages, is distinguished by having closely set nostrils, a deep median incision in the upper lip, no lateral expansion of the lower lip, and sparsely set scales on the back and the flank anterior to the vertical through the dorsal-fin origin, but densely set behind. Barbatula linjiangensis, new species, from the Yalu River, is distinguished by having closely set nostrils, a shallow median incision in the upper lip, no lateral expansion of the lower lip, and sparsely set scales on the back and the flank anterior to the vertical through the dorsal-fin origin, but densely set behind.

Alburnus magnificus, new species, is described from the northern Orontes River drainage in the eastern Mediterranean Sea basin. It is most similar and closely-related to A. qalilus from coastal rivers in Syria south of the Orontes. Alburnus magnificus is distinguished from A. qalilus by having the anal-fin origin below or behind the vertical through the last dorsal-fin ray, 4–5 scale rows between the lateral line and the anal-fin origin, and a flank pattern of bold black, grey or brown scales on a silvery or brown background. The two species are also distinguished by a minimum K2P distance of 1.8% in their COI sequence data.

Article 16.4. of the International Code for Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN, 1999) requires that the fixation of name-bearing types for a new species to be explicit: “Every new specific and subspecific name published after 1999, except a new replacement name…, must be accompanied in the original publication 16.4.1. by the explicit fixation of a holotype,…..and 16.4.2. where the holotype or syntypes are extant specimens, by a statement of intent that they will be (or are) deposited in a collection and a statement indicating the name and location of that collection.” That means that for species described after 1999, the holotype must be finally deposited in a collection and it is obligatory to indicate the name of the collection and where it is located.

Paracobitis abrishamchiani, new species, is described from the southern Caspian Sea basin, where it is found in the Babol, Haraz, Siah, Tajan, Talar and Kashpal River drainages. It is distinguished from P. hircanica and P. atrakensis, the two other Paracobitis species known from the Caspian Sea basin, by having scales on the flank posterior to the dorsal-fin origin and from its congeners in the Middle East by the position of its dorsal-fin origin, having a roundish posterior narial opening, and a colour pattern consisting of many widely spaced brown spots and blotches. It is further characterized by six diagnostic nucleotide substitutions and a minimum K2P distance of 4.3% to P. persa and 4.6% to P. malapterura in the mtDNA COI barcode region.

Sac, Gulsah/0000-0001-9988-1116; OZULUG, MUFIT/0000-0002-1437-3890 WOS: 000470925100017 Pseudophoxinus firati was described from one spring in the upper Euphrates River drainage in Turkey. Here we record this species from seven additional sites, three in the upper Euphrates drainage, one in the upper Seyhan and three in the upper Ceyhan River drainages. These findings largely expand the distribution area of the species and its habitats are discussed.

The diversity of Cobitis in the Middle East is reviewed, resulting in the recognition of 30 species, of which eight are described herein as new. Two species, C. amphilekta and C. kellei , seem to be extinct. Hypotheses on species-level diversity derived from distance and Poisson tree process analyses of DNA barcode data are tested against morphometric and morphological characters including colour patterns. For species pairs separated by small K2P distances in COI sequence data we follow a practitioner-oriented diagnostic species concept, in which we recognise species only if differentiated morphologically (including by colour pattern). For all 30 species we provide diagnoses and identification keys. Cobitis afifeae , new species, from the Buyuk Menderes River drainage in the Aegean Sea basin, is distinguished by having two laminae circularis in the male, a row of blotches below Z4, a small, roundish or comma-shaped black spot at the upper caudal-fin base, and elevated mental lobes. Cobitis aliyeae , new species, from the lower Seyhan and Ceyhan River drainages, is distinguished by having two laminae circularis in the male, the blotches in Z2 and Z4 anterior to the dorsal-fin origin usually well separated from each other, and the pigmentation in Z1 well distinguished from the pigmentation in Z2. Cobiti s anabelae , new species, from the lower Orontes River drainage, is distinguished by having two laminae circularis in the male, the pigmentation in Z2 formed by small, brown spots, always much smaller than blotches in Z3, much smaller than the pupil diameter, Z2 and Z3 well separated, and no pigmentation below Z4. Cobitis erkakanae , new species, from the Golbasi Lakes, adjacent to the Ceyhan River drainage, is distinguished by having two laminae circularis in the male, no blotches below Z4, the blotches in Z2 and Z4 being horizontally elongated and often fused with adjacent ones, and the caudal fin with 4 – 6 wide, regularly-shaped, brown bands . Cobitis emrei , new species, from the Lake Sapanca basin is distinguished by having one lamina circularis in the male, a large black spot at the upper caudal-fin base, and Z3 fully covered by very small spots forming a sand-like pattern. Cobitis joergbohleni , new species, from the Sultan marshes in Central Anatolia is distinguished by having two laminae circularis in the male, and the flank colour pattern being completely disorganised, not following the Gambetta zones. Cobitis pirii, new species, from the endorheic Lake Egirdir basin and the Mediterranean Aksu and Kopru Rivers, is distinguished by having two laminae circularis in the male, a simple external part of the suborbital spine and two distinct rows of small blotches in Z4, one along the lateral midline and one distinctly below. Cobitis troasensis, new species, from the Tuzla River drainage, is distinguished by having one lamina circularis in the male and 25–36 small, comma-shaped brown blotches in Z4. A lectotype is designated for Cobitis battalgilae . As First Revisers, priority is given to Cobitis fahireae over C. kurui . Cobitis damlae and C. kurui are treated as synonyms of C. fahireae . Cobitis strumicae and C. taenia are recorded for the first time from Anatolia and C. saniae is newly documented from the Black Sea basin in Georgia. The Poisson tree process analysis of COI data proposed 31 groups, most of which could be distinguished by morphological characters. Cobitis troasensis is described based on morphological data alone .

PubMedID: 30486123 Garra turcica, from the rivers Kizil, Seyhan, Ceyhan and Arsuz, is re-diagnosed and re-described. The species was treated as a synonym of G. rufa but molecular data strongly suggest that G. turcica represent an own species. It is distinguished from G. rufa by being more slender bodied, having a blunt snout and usually a short rostral cap. Based on COI sequence data, G. turcica is closely related to a group of species from the Persian Gulf basin, all having very small distribution areas nested in or adjacent to the range of G. rufa. The closest relatives of G. turcica are G. elegans, G. mondica and G. amirhosseini from which G. turcica differs by having a free posterior edge of the mental disc, the predorsal back covered by scales and the scales on the chest about as large as on the belly as well as by a minimum K2P distance of 2.2% in its COI barcode region. © Copyright 2018 Magnolia Press. Society for the Anthropology of Work We are pleased to thank Ralf Thiel and Irina Eidus (ZMH) for allowing JF to study the type of G. turcica. Many thanks to Matthias Geiger (Bonn) for unpublished genetic data, İsmail Aksu (Rize) for the help in interpreting the genetic results and Oğuz Ergül (Rize) and Yunus Dedeoğlu (Rize) for helping with photography. Ayşe Demirbaş (Rize) read the manuscript and improved the language. We thank the two reviewers for useful comments. This study is a product of the FREDIE project, supported by the Leibniz Association Joint Initiative for Research and Innovation (SAW).

Barbus anatolicus, new species, is described from the Kızılırmak and Yeşilırmak River drainages in the southern Black Sea basin. It is distinguished from other Barbus species in the Middle East by having 58–71 total lateral line scales, a moderately ossified last simple dorsal-fin ray, serrated along about 70–80% of its posterior margin, many small irregular shaped black or brown spots, smaller or as large as scales, often forming large, dark-brown blotches on the head, back and flank in adults and juveniles, and a concave posterior dorsal-fin margin. In addition, DNA barcode data reject the hypothesis that it belongs to one of the other species of the B. barbus species group. Barbus bergi from Bulgaria and adjacent Turkey is treated as synonym of B. tauricus. Barbus tauricus was previously believed to be restricted to the Crimean Peninsula but is found to be widespread in the Black Sea basin.

Two new species of Luciobarbus are described from the Mediterranean Sea basin in Morocco and Algeria. Their monophyly and phylogenetic placement are resolved by molecular analyses using two mitochondrial markers (cyt b and D-loop). Luciobarbus lanigarensis, new species, from the Tafna River drainage in Algeria and Morocco, is distinguished by having orange fins, a great predorsal length (52–59% SL) and a very long pectoral fin (79–90% HL). Luciobarbus numidiensis, new species, from the El-Kébir River drainage in Algeria, is distinguished by having a golden pectoral-fin margin, 43–47+1–3 lateral line scales and a very long anal-fin (19–23%).

Alburnus goekhani, new species, is described from the Yeşilırmak and Kızılırmak River drainages. It belongs to the A. alburnus species group and is distinguished from other species in this group in Anatolia by having 48–56 + 2–3 scales in the lateral-line, 12–15 gill rakers, a distinct dark lateral stripe along the flank on live and preserved specimens and the anal-fin origin situated below the branched dorsal-fin ray 6–8. Alburnus goekhani is also well distinguished from other Alburnus species by its DNA barcode sequence.

Aphanius irregularis, new species, is described from the spring Kaklık in the Büyük Menderes River drainage in south-western Anatolia. Males of A. irregularis are distinguished from males of other species of the A. anatoliae group by having irregularly set and shaped dark-brown flank-bars often fused to each other, forming rows of vertically elongated silvery blotches and many small silvery spots or fields of small vermiculation, disconnected from silvery bar interspaces on flank. Males of A. irregularis are distinguished from males of some other species of the A. anatoliae group by having a wide, dusty grey or black anal-fin margin, often interrupted in small individuals; a narrow, white stripe or a series of white spots on the black dorsal-fin base; and often some white blotches in the middle of the dorsal fin. Females of A. irregularis are distinguished by having a vermiculate brown colour pattern, usually with a mid-lateral series of short stripes. The available molecular genetic data suggest that A. irregularis is closely related to A. maeandricus, which occurs in other springs in the Büyük Menderes River drainage. Geological data suggest that both spring complexes have not been connected until they were caught by the Büyük Menderes River in the Late Quaternary, no more than 0.8 million years ago.

The generic position of Leuciscus kurui Bogutskaya, 1995 is reviewed through a comparison of morphological and molecular characters (COI). The molecular data place L. kurui in Alburnus , close to Alburnus timarensis from the Lake Van basin. Alburnus kurui (Bogutskaya) is distinguished from this species by lacking a ventral keel and possessing both a very low number of gill rakers and midlateral scales. Alburnus selcuklui , from the upper Tigris drainage, cannot be distinguished from the widespread A. sellal and is therefore treated as a synonym of this species. Alburnus kurui Mangit & Yerli, 2018 is a junior secondary homonym of A. kurui (Bogutskaya, 1995) and A. carianorum is proposed as its replacement name. Several specimens of Alburnus caeruleus and Alburnus heckeli shared the same haplotypes as some A. sellal and therefore these species cannot always be distinguished by mitochondrial molecular characters. Alburnus caeruleus and A. heckeli are treated as valid species. Other individuals of A. caeruleus have haplotypes very different from A. sellal , and A. heckeli is well distinguished from A. sellal by having more gill rakers. The Lake Van basin as a separate freshwater ecoregion and the treatment of several species of Alburnus in synonymy of A. mento are discussed.

Romanogobio skywalkeri, new species, is described from the upper Mur River in the Austrian Danube drainage. It is related to R. banarescui from the Mediterranean basin. Romanogobio skywalkeri is distinguished from R. banarescui by lacking epithelial crests on the predorsal back, having 12–14 total pectoral-fin rays (vs. 10–11) and usually 8½ branched dorsal-fin rays (vs. 7½). It is distinguished from other Romanogobio species in the Danube drainage by having a very slender body; a moderately long barbel, extending slightly beyond the posterior eye margin; and no epithelial crests on the predorsal back. Romanogobio skywalkeri is distinguished by a minimum net divergence of 6.3% (uncorrected p-distance against R. banarescui) in the COI barcoding region from other European Romanogobio species. A key to the Romanogobio species of the Danube drainage is provided. Romanogobio banarescui from the Vardar drainage and R. carpathorossicus from the Danube drainage are treated as valid species.

Accurate determination of species diversity in areas of high endemicity, particularly those lacking comprehensive systematic knowledge, represents a challenge for both taxonomists and conservationists. This need is particularly evident in areas greatly affected by anthropogenic disturbances such as the Eastern Mediterranean and its freshwater environments. To improve our knowledge of Eastern Mediterranean freshwater fishes, we phylogenetically studied Western Palearctic Cobitis species, focusing on those found in Turkey. Overall, our results provide a robust framework to assess the number of species of Cobitis. Phylogenetic reconstructions based on mitochondrial (cyt b) and nuclear (RAG1) sequences show seven major clades (Clades 1–7) grouping all Western Palearctic Cobitis species, except C. melanoleuca. In general, each major clade comprises Cobitis species that inhabit geographically close areas and have similar secondary sexual characters. Multiple divergent lineages were identified in our analyses, some of which were highly divergent such as the ones inhabiting Turkish freshwaters. Moreover, in some analyses, several of the identified lineages were incongruent with a priori defined species. Furthermore, our analyses identified eight potentially new candidate species, six that had been suggested in previous studies and two that are reported here for the first time. Our results reveal Turkey as the area with the greatest diversity of spined loaches in the Mediterranean, This study was funded by project CGL2007-61010 by the Ministerio Ciencia e Innovación, and partially supported by SYNTHESYS3 CZ-TAF6293, MINECO/FEDER CGL2015–66571-P, and Intramural special project Fundación General 200630l125.

Alburnus kotschyi is re-described and a neotype is designated. It is found in a small isolated coastal stream at Arsuz at the eastern Mediterranean coast as well as in the Ceyhan and Seyhan River drainages in southern Anatolia. Alburnus adanensis, from the Seyhan River, seems not to have been found again since its first description in 1944 and might be extinct.

Oxynoemacheilus hazarensis, new species, from Lake Hazar in the Turkish Tigris drainage, is distinguished from other Oxynoemacheilus in the Tigris drainage by having the combination of a slightly emarginate caudal fin, no suborbital groove in males, an incomplete lateral line, no scales on the back and flank in front of the anus, the maxillary barbel reaching beyond the middle of the eye, an incision in the middle of the upper lip, and the colour pattern on the flank mottled, not interrupted by an unpigmented zone along the lateral line. Oxynoemacheilus euphraticus from the Euphrates and Tigris drainages is a valid species: it is discussed and re-diagnosed against O. argyrogramma.

Oxynoemacheilus kentritensis, new species, is described from the Botan drainage, a tributary to the upper Tigris. It is distinguished from other Oxynoemacheilus species in the Tigris drainage by having a complete lateral line, long barbels, flank and back completely covered by scales and flank behind dorsal-fin base with large, dark-brown, vertically elongated blotches or bars.

Two new species of Oxynoemacheilus are described from the Sirvan River drainage in Iraqi Kurdistan. Oxynoemacheilus gyndes, new species, is distinguished by having a very short lateral line, reaching behind the pectoral-fin base, no scales except on the posteriormost part of the caudal peduncle, a slightly emarginate caudal fin and no suborbital groove in males. Oxynoemacheilus hanae, new species, is distinguished by having a midlateral row of elongated blotches, isolated patches of dark-brown spots or blotches on lower flank, a deeply emarginate caudal fin and a suborbital groove in males.