Tt. Nalbant et Pg. Bianco, The loaches of Iran and adjacent regions with description of six new species (Cobitoidea), ITAL J ZOOL, 65, 1998, pp. 109-123
About 31 species in eight genera and two families (Nemacheilidae and Cobiti
dae) are reported from Iran and adjacent countries (i.e., Iraq, Turkey, Afg
hanistan, and Pakistan). Six new species, five from Iran and one from Afgha
nistan, are described. Several Iranian loach genera are also found in weste
rn Palearctic region (i.e., Sabanejewia, Cobitis, and Orthrias), or eastern
Asia (i.e., Schistura). But other genera such as Paracobitis and Seminemac
heilus are endemic to, or exclusive of, Middle Asia. Our investigation conf
irms the important role of Iranian drainages as a biogeographic bridge betw
een western-Palearctic and Oriental fish faunas.