Oxynoemacheilus frenatus

Oxynoemacheilus frenatus, the banded Tigris loach, is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Oxynoemacheilus.[3] This species is widespread in the upper drainage basin of the Tigris in Turkey, Syria and Iraq where it can be locally very common. It can be found in habitats varying from streams with a moderately fast current to near standing waters in springs, streams and rivers which have beds of gravel or mud.[1] Academically speaking, it inhabits fast-flowing streams and rivers with rocky substrates.[4]

Oxynoemacheilus frenatus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Nemacheilidae
Genus: Oxynoemacheilus
Species:
O. frenatus
Binomial name
Oxynoemacheilus frenatus
(Heckel, 1843)[2]
Synonyms
  • Cobitis frenata Heckel, 1843
  • Barbatula frenata (Heckel, 1843)
  • Nemacheilus frenatus (Heckel, 1843)
  • Orthrias frenatus (Heckel, 1843)

Taxonomy

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Oxynoemacheilus frenatus was first described by the ichthyologist Karl Kessler in 1877. It belongs to the genus Oxynoemacheilus, which includes several species of small, benthic fishes found in the Middle East and Central Asia.[5]

Physical description

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Oxynoemacheilus frenatus is a small, elongated fish, typically reaching lengths of up to 8 cm. It has a streamlined body adapted to life in fast-flowing waters, with a pale brown coloration and dark mottled patterns that provide camouflage against the riverbed.[6]

Habitat and Distribution

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This species is endemic to the river systems of Turkey, particularly in the Anatolian Peninsula. It prefers fast-flowing, oxygen-rich streams with rocky or gravel substrates, where it can find shelter among the stones and feed on small invertebrates.[7]

Behaviour and Ecology

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Oxynoemacheilus frenatus is a benthic species, meaning it spends most of its time on or near the bottom of the water body. It is known for its agility in navigating rocky substrates and its ability to cling to surfaces in strong currents. Its diet consists primarily of small invertebrates and organic detritus.[8]

Reproduction

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The breeding season for Oxynoemacheilus frenatus occurs in late spring and early summer. Females lay eggs in hidden crevices among the rocks, where the eggs are protected from predators and strong currents. The eggs hatch into free-swimming larvae after a few days.[9]

Conservation status

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Oxynoemacheilus frenatus is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, but its populations are potentially threatened by habitat destruction, water pollution, and river damming. Conservation efforts are needed to ensure the preservation of its natural habitats and biodiversity.[10]

References

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  1. ^ a b Freyhof, J. (2014). "Oxynoemacheilus frenatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T19413121A19848917. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T19413121A19848917.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. ^ Rainer Froese; Daniel Pauly, eds. (2017). "Oxynoemacheilus frenatus (Heckel, 1843) Banded Tigris loach". Fishbase. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  3. ^ Kottelat, M. (2012): Conspectus cobitidum: an inventory of the loaches of the world (Teleostei: Cypriniformes: Cobitoidei). The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, Suppl. No. 26: 1-199.
  4. ^ "Oxynoemacheilus frenatus: Freyhof, J." IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013-01-09. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
  5. ^ Ganyukova, A.I.; Drachko, D.O.; Malysheva, M.N.; Frolov, A.O.; Agasoi, V.V.; Smirnov, P.A.; Kostygov, A.Yu. (2024). "High prevalence of Trypanosoma theileri-like trypanosomes and scarcity of monoxenous trypanosomatids in tabanids of Northwestern Russia". Protistology (1). doi:10.21685/1680-0826-2024-18-1-1. ISSN 1680-0826.
  6. ^ CEYHAN, TEVFİK; AKYOL, OKAN; ERDEM, MUSTAFA (2009-01-01). "Length-Weight Relationships of Fishes from Gökova Bay, Turkey (Aegean Sea)". Turkish Journal of Zoology. doi:10.3906/zoo-0802-9. ISSN 1303-6114.
  7. ^ Lauritsen, Diane D. (December 1992). "Zoogeography of Fresh Waters. Volume 2. Distribution and Dispersal of Freshwater Animals in North America and Eurasia. Petru-Bănărescu". Journal of the North American Benthological Society. 11 (4): 438–438. doi:10.2307/1467568. ISSN 0887-3593.
  8. ^ Carriol, René-Pierre (2001). "Crustacés Cirripèdes actuels du Muséum D'Histoire naturelle de Lyon". Cahiers scientifiques du Muséum d'histoire naturelle de Lyon - Centre de conservation et d'étude des collections. 2 (1): 5–17. doi:10.3406/mhnly.2001.1313. ISSN 1627-3516.
  9. ^ Turan, Davut; Kaya, Cüneyt; Kalayci, Gökhan; Bayçelebi, Esra; Aksu, İsmail (2019-02-21). "Oxynoemacheilus cemali, a new species of stone loach (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae) from the Çoruh River drainage, Turkey". Journal of Fish Biology. 94 (3): 458–468. doi:10.1111/jfb.13909. ISSN 0022-1112.
  10. ^ Page, Lawrence M. (2008-09-10). "Handbook of European Freshwater Fishes Maurice Kottelat, Jörg Freyhof . Handbook of European Freshwater Fishes. 2007. Kottelat. Cornol, Switzerland. Freyhof. Berlin, Germany. ISBN: 978-2-8399-0298-4. 646 p. $130.00 (hardcover)". Copeia. 2008 (3): 725–727. doi:10.1643/ot-08-098a.1. ISSN 0045-8511.