Jörg Freyhof

Museum für Naturkunde - Leibniz Institute for Research on Evolution and Biodiversity | MFN · Center for Integrative Biodiversity Discovery

The conservation of freshwater ecosystems has lagged behind that of marine and terrestrial ecosystems and often requires the integration of large‐scale approaches and transboundary considerations. This study aims to set the foundations of a spatial conservation strategy by identifying the most important catchments for the conservation of freshwater...

This chapter aims to assist biodiversity observation networks across the world in coordinating comprehensive freshwater biodiversity observations at national, regional or continental scales. We highlight special considerations for freshwater biodiversity and methods and tools available for monitoring. We also discuss options for storing, accessing,...

Subterranean biodiversity in Europe is spectacularly rich, with the Western Balkans being home to about 400 cave species, representing the highest number of species per area worldwide [1]. Nonetheless, cave fishes, which are the most commonly found vertebrates in underground habitats [2], have not been described from Europe so far [3]. Here, we rep...

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 diagn...

Biodiversity loss is a major global challenge and minimizing extinction rates is the goal of several multilateral environmental agreements. Policy decisions require comprehensive, spatially explicit information on species’ distributions and threats. We present an analysis of the conservation status of 14,669 European terrestrial, freshwater and mar...

Cabdio occidentalis, new species, is described from the Lake Mashkid basin and the Makran region of Iran. It is distinguished from other species of the genus by a combination of characters: 38–42+1–2 total lateral-line scales, 19–23 predorsal scales, 9–11 pectoral-fin rays, and the absence of a keel between the pelvic-fin base and the genital papil...

Die Gesamtartenliste der sich im Süßwasser reproduzierenden Fische und Neunaugen Deutschlands umfasst 111 etablierte Arten. Eine Rote-Liste-Kategorie wird für die 90 indigenen und archäobiotischen Arten ermittelt. Die bundesweite Gefährdungsanalyse beruht auf den länderspezifischen Einschätzungen von 59 Expertinnen und Experten aus allen Ländern un...

Atlantor, new genus, is proposed for Barbus reinii from the Atlantic basin in Morocco. The sole species of the genus is clearly separated from related genera based on its phylogenetic position, and from Carasobarbus, Mesopotamichthys and Pterocapoeta in its morphological characters. Atlantor was previously included in Labeobarbus, making this genus...

Glyptothorax vatandousti, new species, from the upper Karkheh drainage, a tributary of the Iranian Tigris, is distinguished from its congeners in the Persian Gulf basin by having the flank with a fine, pale-brown mottled pattern overlaid by small and large, blackish or dark-brown blotches, deep caudal-peduncle (its depth 1.1–1.3 times in length), a...

Two new species of Salariopsis are described from the Eastern Mediterranean basin. Salariopsis burcuae, new species, from the Bay of Antalya east to the Jordan, is characterised by having a short cirrus, usually not overlapping the 9th circum-orbital sensory pore, and many tiny black dots on the cheek not organised in rows or bands. The new species...

Mystus misrai from the northern Orontes drainage (Mediterranean Sea basin) is re-examined and recognised as a valid species. It is distinguished from M. pelusius from the Gulf basin by the lack of stripes on the flank, shorter fins, the eye situated below the dorsal head profile, and a K2P distance of 7.3% in its COI barcoding gene. Mystus misrai i...

Barbus urmianus, from the upper Mahabad River in Lake Urmia basin, was distinguished from B. cyri based on several morphological characters. Our analysis demonstrated very small molecular (COI) differences between both species and mostly overlapping or identic morphological character states. Therefore, Barbus urmianus is treated as a junior synonym...

Glyptothorax sardashtensis, new species, from the upper Lesser Zab in Iran, is distinguished from its congeners in the Persian Gulf basin by: a plain flank without black or brown blotches; a wide and round anterior margin of the medial pit in the thoracic adhesive apparatus; few, short median striae in the thoracic adhesive apparatus; three yellowi...

Garra rezai, new species, is described from the Chooman, a tributary of the Lesser Zab in Iran, and from headwaters of the Yanarsu, a tributary of the upper Tigris in Turkey. It is distinguished from its congeners in the Garra variabilis species group by having two pairs of barbels, a well-developed mental disc, 35-40 total scales along the lateral...

DNA barcodes (COI) of Troglocobitis starostini, endemic to a single site in Turkmenistan, were analysed and put into the taxonomic context of the large group of nemacheilid loaches known from Western and Central Asia. All applied phylogenetic tree-based analyses place the species into the genus Paracobitis. This finding supports previous morphologi...

The eastern-most members of the Salmo trutta species complex in the Aralo-Caspian Sea region were studied to infer their population genetic structure and biogeographic origin. A total of 68 individuals collected from Iranian endorheic inland basins (Namak and Urmia lakes), tributaries of the Caspian (Haraz, Kura, Samur, Volga, and Ural river draina...

The 'two species' hypothesis for S. cephaloides and S. cii, both occurring in the southern Marmara Sea basin, is tested. Our results suggested that there are no morphological and molecular characters to support this hypothesis, and we treat Squalius cephaloides as a junior synonym of S. cii.

Cobitis indus, new species, from the Dalaman River drainage, is distinguished from other Cobitis species in the eastern Aegean Sea basin by having two laminae circularis, a bifurcate suborbital spine, a narrow caudal peduncle, pigmentation zone 4 with 17-24 small blotches often fused into a stripe, pigmentation below Z4 usually absent, and one blac...

Freshwater ecosystems host disproportionately high numbers of species relative to their surface area yet are poorly protected globally. We used data on the distribution of 1631 species of aquatic plant, mollusc, odonate and fish in 18,816 river and lake catchments in Europe to establish spatial conservation priorities based on the occurrence of thr...

Oxynoemacheilus zarzianus was described from the Lesser Zab River drainage in Iraqi Kurdistan. Here, we report this species for the first time from the Iranian part of the Sirvan River drainage based on morphological and mtDNA COI barcode sequence characters.

The Oxynoemacheilus angorae species group is revised and 10 species are recognised, two of which are described herein as new. Oxynoemacheilus anatolicus, O. angorae, O. eregliensis, O. germencicus, O. isauricus, O. nasreddini, O. mediterraneus, and O. theophilii are endemic to west and Central Anatolia. Oxynoemacheilus cinicus and O. mesudae, both...

The Oxynoemacheilus bergianus species group is revised based on tree topology (ML, NJ, MP), distance (K2P and ASAP) and Poisson tree process analyses of DNA barcode data tested against morphometric and morphological characters including colour patterns. The O. bergianus species group is distinguished from other Oxynoemacheilus groups based on morph...

Egirdira, new genus, is proposed for Pararhodeus niger from Central Anatolia based on its position in molecular phylogenetic analyses and its morphological characters. It is distinguished from all other genera of Leuciscidae except Delminichthys and Pelasgus by having the unbranched part of pectoral rays 2-3 thickened and slanted upward, with a con...

The cover image is based on the Viewpoint A global agenda for advancing freshwater biodiversity research by Alain Maasri et al., https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.13931. Image Credit: Solvin Zankl. image

With the the support of the University of Guilan and the Iranian Society of Ichthyology, the "Ninth National and the First International Iranian Conference of Ichthyology" with the goal of exchanging ideas, synergy and updating knowledge in various areas of fish biodiversity, conservation of native fish species and protection of aquatic ecosystems...

The results of Central Asian freshwater fishes Red List assessments were very briefly described. A list of all described species of freshwater fishes’ native to Central Asia was compiled and it was ensured that the taxonomy is consistent with the IUCN Species Information System (SIS) database and standard taxonomic sources. The IUCN Species Red Lis...

VIETBIO [Innovative approaches to biodiversity discovery and characterisation in Vietnam] is a bilateral German-Vietnamese research and capacity building project focusing on the development and transfer of new methods and technology towards an integrated biodiversity discovery and monitoring system for Vietnam. Dedicated field training and testing...

Global freshwater biodiversity is declining dramatically, and meeting the challenges of this crisis requires bold goals and the mobilisation of substantial resources. While the reasons are varied, investments in both research and conservation of freshwater biodiversity lag far behind those in the terrestrial and marine realms. Inspired by a global...

National and local governments need to step up efforts to effectively implement the post‐2020 global biodiversity framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity to halt and reverse worsening biodiversity trends. Drawing on recent advances in interdisciplinary biodiversity science, we propose a framework for improved implementation by national...

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...

Background Sympatric speciation along ecological gradients has been studied repeatedly, in particular in freshwater fishes. Rapid post-glacial ecological divergence has resulted in numerous endemic species or ecologically distinct populations in lakes of the temperate zones. Here, we focus on the Baltic cisco ( Coregonus albula ) complex, to study...

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 (Aphanio...

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 specia...

The Volturno Spined Loach Cobitis zanandreai is thought to be restricted to only two places in Italy, the Fondi Lake (Latium) and the Volturno river basin (Campania). In this study we carried out a review of the available literature and surveyed 37 sites of potential occurrence. We discovered seven previously unknown populations of C. zanandreai in...

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...

• Freshwater biodiversity is declining at an unprecedented rate. Freshwater conservationists and environmental managers have enough evidence to demonstrate that action must not be delayed but have insufficient evidence to identify those actions that will be most effective in reversing the current trend. • Here, the focus is on identifying essential...

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,...

Rheophilic gudgeons discovered in 2007 in the upper Mur River in Styria were initially identified as Romanogobio uranoscopus. In 2018, these fishes were described as R. skywalkeri, a relative of R. kesslerii. Both, R. uranoscopus and R. kesslerii, are listed in Annex II of the EU Habitats Directive. Species separated from those listed in the EU Hab...

The Convention on Biological Diversity’s post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework will probably include a goal to stabilize and restore the status of species. Its delivery would be facilitated by making the actions required to halt and reverse species loss spatially explicit. Here, we develop a species threat abatement and restoration (STAR) metric...

Oxynoemacheilus isauricus, new species, from the Lakes Beyşehir and Suğla basins in Central Anatolia is distinguished from all other species of the O. angorae group by having a very slender caudal peduncle (its depth 2.2-2.6 times in its length). The new species is further distinguished by having a short head (head length 21-24% SL), and a midlater...

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 cauda...

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. Glypt...

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, h...

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...

Garra orontesi, new species, is described from the Orontes River drainage in the eastern Mediterranean Sea basin in Turkey and Syria. It is distinguished from its congeners in the Mediterranean Sea basin and adjacent Mesopotamia by possessing 17-21 gill rakers on the lower part of the first gill arch, the pelvic-fin origin usually below the second...

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 charac...

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 occu...

Freshwater biodiversity is declining dramatically, and the current biodiversity crisis requires defining bold goals and mobilizing substantial resources to meet the challenges. While the reasons are varied, both research and conservation of freshwater biodiversity lag far behind efforts in the terrestrial and marine realms. We identify fifteen pres...

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 n...

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 throu...

Freshwater biodiversity is declining dramatically, and the current biodiversity crisis requires defining bold goals and mobilizing substantial resources to meet the challenges. While the reasons are varied, both research and conservation of freshwater biodiversity lag far behind efforts in the terrestrial and marine realms. We identify fifteen pres...

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...

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.

Introduction All together 162 species of freshwater fish and four species of lampreys are known from the Caucasus Ecoregion, of which 51 are endemic and 11 alien to the region. The fauna is biogeographically close to the adjacent faunas of the Caspian and Black Seas and many species occur beyond the Caucasus or are closely related to species outsid...

Paracobitis salihae, new species, from the Göksu River in the western upper Euphrates drainage, is distinguished from other Paracobitis species by possessing a truncate caudal-fin, and a dark-brown vermiculate or marbled colour pattern. It is also characterised by 19 variable nucleotide substitutions, three diagnostic nucleotides and 3.6% minimum K...

Aphaniops dispar, widespread around the Arabian Peninsula, was recently separated in four species (A. dispar, A. hormuzensis, A. kruppi, A. stoliczkanus) by molecular results and colour patterns, but the morphological differences are small and call for more studies. Here we report differences in skeleton and median fin osteology of these species. I...

The Mediterranean Basin Biodiversity Hotspot is among the most biologically diverse regions worldwide and renowned for its richness of endemic freshwater species. But the hotspot’s lakes, rivers and wetlands are seriously threatened by an unprecedented boom in hydropower development. As a result, aquatic ecosystems have become increasingly degraded...

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,...

The results of a historic ichthyological expedition to Algeria and Tunisia are presented. In September 1982, 14 species were recorded at 32 locations. The only alien species recorded was Gambusia holbrooki, which was widespread. Anaecypris punica and Haplochromis desfontainii are still recorded these times from Algeria, in addition to Tropidophoxin...

The freshwater fish diversity of the Anatolian Midwestern Black Sea basin is studied. Twenty-seven species belonging to 18 genera and 9 families were recorded. The most representative families are Leuciscidae with eight species (30 %), followed by Cyprinidae with six species (22 %). The sub-basins sampled are clustered in three well-distinguished g...

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 s...

This study represents the metadata of the occurrence dataset that contains 1064 geo-referenced distribution data of fish species of all genera within the family Aphaniidae. The data has been partially downloaded from GBIF, and has been quality checked and is now being uploaded again by providing additional data from published scientific and grey li...

This study represents the metadata of the occurrence dataset that contains 1064 geo-referenced distribution data of fish species of all genera within the family Aphaniidae. The data has been partially downloaded from GBIF, and has been quality checked and is now being uploaded again by providing additional data from published scientific and grey li...

We present a critical checklist of freshwater fish species found so far in the countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. In total 119 freshwater fishes are recorded. There are 40, 86 and 96 species currently known for Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia respectively. From these 119 species, seven are endemic and seven species are alien. From the al...

The Arabian Peninsula is today home to 31 native and 10 alien species of freshwater fishes. This comprehensive field guide, the first of its kind, provides detailed and illustrated information about the little known and often ignored Arabian freshwater fish fauna. It is intended to enlighten and appeal to both scientific professionals and non-speci...

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 midl...

In order to update the IUCN Red List of all freshwater fish species inhabiting the Maghreb region, comprehensive knowledge of their respective geographic ranges is essential. Here we present site-scale distribution records derived from all known sources for native and alien freshwater fish species distributed in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. Correc...

Freshwaters including adjacent floodplains, as well as coastal waters are among the global hotspots of biological diversity. They are also among the most threatened ecosystems on Earth, and yet receive much less attention than terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Not only does the dramatic decline in freshwater biodiversity affect all levels of biolo...

“Research for the Future of our Freshwaters“ is IGB’s guiding principle. This involves giving objective and evidence-based information and advice to policymakers, authorities, associations, industry, educational institutions and the public. Within the institute’s publication series called IGB Outlines, which includes the IGB Policy Brief, IGB disse...

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 characteris...

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 pro...

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 pe...

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A new locality is reported for the Iranian subterranean fishes Garra typhlops and Garra lorestanensis (and probably Eidinemacheilus smithi), near the village Tuveh in the Dez River drainage. The site is 31 km straight‐line distance away from the only other known locality where these species have been observed previously. The finding suggests the pr...

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 disting...

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...