Cobitis Keyvani Sp Nova-A New Species Of Spined-Loach From South Of The Caspian Sea Basin (Teleostei: Cobitidae)

Abstract

Cobitis keyvani is a new species of spined-loach which is described from Talar River, south of the Caspian Sea basin, north of Iran. This new species is distinguished from Cobitis linea by one lamina circularis at the base of second ray of the male pectoral fins and from Cobitis taenia and Cobitis faridpaki by combination of the following characters: dorsal fin with 2-3 unbranched and 6-7 branched soft rays; anal fin with 2-3 unbranched 5-7 branched soft rays; caudal fin with 13-16 branched rays; one brownish streak across eye from the tip of nose, no streak on cheek; a big black spot smaller than eye diameter near the dorsal corner of the caudal fin base; pigmentation of longitudinal zones; third zone is reduced, and the fourth zone composed of 14-20 roundish to oval blotches