Beyşehir Spined Loach

biology_ecology

Habitat. Running waters with gravel, sand, or silt bottoms, often with dense submerged vegetation. Biology. No data.

Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia

conservation

Conservation status. VU; less than 10 populations are known; some declining but may be more widespread.

Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia

diagnosis

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Cobitis in Mediterranean basin east of Eşen and endorheic basins in Central Anatolia by: ○ two laminae circularis in male / ○ pigmentation organised in Gambetta zones / ○ blotches in Z 4 being usually dissociated, usually vertically elongate, often forming a band or an open field of small, irregularly shaped blotches and spots in female larger than 90 mm SL / ○ blotches in Z 4 often vertically and horizontally dissociated into several rows or a wide band of small blotches and spots / ○ blotches in Z 4 in not forming stripes, usually much larger than in Z 2 / ○ mid-dorsal pigmentation consisting in a series of blotches, often very closely set or slightly fused / ○ a black spot at upper caudal base, often very small and comma-shaped / ○ anterior nare reaching to hint margin of posterior nare when folded down / ○ external part of suborbital spine bifurcate / ○ snout as long or shorter than distance between tip of anal and end of hypural complex / ○ caudal peduncle 14 – 16 % SL / ○ interorbital distance 14 – 16 % HL in male / ○ eye diameter in male 16 – 20 % HL. Size up to 137 mm SL.

Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia

discussion

Remarks. Closely related to C. turcica, and few individuals might be difficult to distinguish. Cobitis battalgilae grows much larger than C. turcica. The distribution area of C. battalgilae reflects the hydrological connections of Lake Beyşehir, which seasonally flows over to Lake Suğla, from which some parts of water flow to the Konya plain, and other parts of water flow into the karstic rock masses supporting springs in Manavgat drainage through underground connections. The colour pattern in C. battalgilae is especially variable within and between populations. Some individuals, usually males smaller than 70 mm SL, lack the pigmentation in Z 3, and there is one series of squarish blotches in Z 4. Other individuals have the Z 3 partly or fully pigmented, and the blotches in Z 4 are vertically elongate, often small and densely set, or some or all blotches in Z 4 are divided into 2 or more elements, resulting in a colour pattern of two rows of blotches (similar to C. pirii, see below). In other individuals, Z 4 is dissociated into a band of small, irregularly shaped blotches and spots, or the spots and blotches are dispersed on the flank, forming an open field of blotches and spots.

Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia