Oxynoemacheilus ciceki, new nemacheilid species (Teleostei, Nemacheilidae) from the Sultan Marsh, Kayseri Province, Turkey

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375
Iran. J. Ichthyol. (December 2017), 4(4): 375-383 Received: September 08, 2017
© 2017 Iranian Society of Ichthyology Accepted: December 16, 2017
P-ISSN: 2383-1561; E-ISSN: 2383-0964 doi: 10.22034/iji.v4i4.258
http://www.ijichthyol.org
Research Article
Oxynoemacheilus ciceki, new nemacheilid species (Teleostei,
Nemacheilidae) from the Sultan Marsh, Kayseri Province, Turkey
Sevil SUNGUR1, Paria JALILI2, Soheil EAGDERI*2
1Vocational School of Health Services, Nevsehir Hacı Bektas Veli University, Nevsehir, Turkey.
2Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
*Email: soheil.eagderi@ut.ac.ir
Abstract: A new species of nemacheilid fish, Oxynoemacheilus ciceki sp. n. is
described from the Sultan Marsh, Kayseri Province, Turkey. The species differs
from its congeners in the combination of the following characters: flank yellowish
brown or pale gray with irregular spot; cheeks with numerous tiny spots; lacking
scale; thinner caudal peduncle; complete lateral line; 4 central and 4 lateral pores in
the supra-temporal canal; lower lip thick with a deep median interruption and
marked furrows and small median incision in upper lip.
Keywords: Freshwater fish, Taxonomy, Morphology, Loach.
Citation: Sungur, S.; Jalili, P. & Eagderi, S. 2017. Oxynoemacheilus ciceki, new nemacheilid
species (Teleostei, Nemacheilidae) from the Sultan Marsh, Kayseri Province, Turkey. Iranian
Journal of Ichthyology 4(4): 375-383.
Zoobank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:FCC5C7C8-68ED-4167-BFDF-795A55F28930
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:AC67C659-E0F4-47CE-92F4-713E471120B8
Introduction
Stone loaches of the family Nemacheilidae, are small
fishes occurring in fresh waters of Asia, Europe, and
northeast Africa (Nelson et al. 2016; Coad 2017).
Due to small size and low economic value, they are
poorly known group of freshwater fishes (Kottelat
2012; Mafakheri et al. 2015a) and their taxonomic
status is still complicated (Prokofiev 2009, 2010;
Sayyadzadeh et al. 2016, 2017). They inhabit a
variety of water bodies from turbulent mountain
streams to salty rivers in dry lowlands (Mafakheri et
al. 2015a, b, 2016). The family Nemacheilidae has
about 48 genera and more than 661 species (Freyhof
et al. 2015; Nelson et al. 2016), with more expected
to be described (Geiger et al. 2014; Freyhof & Geiger
2017). They have a great diversity in Turkish inland
waters, with about 35 reported species belonging to
the six genera, including
Barbatula
,
Oxynoe-
macheilus
,
Paracobitis
,
Schistura
,
Seminemacheilus
and
Turcinoemacheilus
(Çiçek et al. 2015).
Stoumboudi et al. (2006) and Prokofiev (2009)
placed the most nemacheilid loaches from Eastern
Europe and the Middle East in the genus
Oxynoemacheilus
(Freyhof et al. 2011). A recent
study on the spatial heterogeneity of freshwater
fishes in the Mediterranean revealed that some
populations of this genus were not identified as any
described species (Geiger et al. 2014). Among them,
the population of Sultan Marshes which is an isolated
part of Kızılırmak basin, is an unrecognized
candidate species. Hence, this study aimed to
describe an additional species of the genus
Oxynoemacheilus
collected from the Sultan Marsh,
Kayseri Province, Turkey based on differences
found.
Materials and Methods
The specimens were collected by an electrofishing

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Iran. J. Ichthyol. (December 2017), 4(4): 375-383
device. After anaesthesia, fishes were fixed in 5%
formaldehyde and stored in 70% ethanol after 48
hours. Measurements follow Kottelat & Freyhof
(2007) (Table 1). Standard length (SL) is measured
from the tip of the snout to the end of the hypural
complex. The length of the caudal peduncle is
measured from behind the base of the last anal-fin ray
to the end of the hypural complex, at mid-height of
the caudal-fin base. The last two branched rays
articulating on a single pterygiophore in the dorsal
and anal fins are noted as “1½”. Measurements were
made using a digital caliper to the nearest 0.1 mm.
Abbreviations used: SL, standard length; HL, lateral
head length; IMNRFI-UT, Ichtyological Museum of
Natural Resources Faculty, University of Tehran;
NHVUIC, Ichthyology Collections of Nevsehir Haci
Bektas Veli University, Nevşehir, Turkey.
Results
Oxynoemacheilus ciceki
sp. n.
(Figs. 1-5)
Holotype: NHVUIC 2017-03-15-h, 52.3mm SL;
Turkey: Kayseri prov.: Sultan Marsh, 38°23'23.53"N
35°21'54.52"E, E. Çiçek, S. Eagderi & S. Sungur
Birecikligil, 15 March 2017.
Paratypes: NHVUIC 2017-03-16, 15, 41.8-52.0mm
SL; data same as holotype.—IMNRF-UT-1036, 5,
48.4-58.3mm SL; data same as holotype.
Diagnosis:
Oxynoemacheilus
ciceki
sp. n. is distin-
guished from the other species of
Oxynoemacheilus
in the Kızılırmak basin by a combination of
characters, none of them unique.
Oxynoemacheilus
ciceki
sp. n. is distinguished from
O. angorae
by
having flank yellowish brown or pale gray with
irregular spots (vs. yellowish with a mid-lateral row
of horizontally elongated fused blotches), cheeks
with numerous tiny spots (vs. without pigmentation),
without scale (vs. scaled), shorter pelvic fin (11.3-
13.6 vs. 14.9-17.0 %SL), lower mouth width (16.0-
22.0 vs. 20.6-26.7 %HL).
Oxynoemacheilus ciceki
sp. n. is distinguished
from
O. kosswigi
by having flank yellowish brown
or pale gray with irregular spots (vs. with irregular
vertical elongated blotches, sometimes fused in
lateral line), without scale (vs. scaled), without
adipose crest (vs. having a short and shallow dorsal
and ventral adipose crest), lower caudal peduncle
(8.4-10.7 vs. 10.9-14.4 %SL), thinner head (47.3-
62.0 vs. 64.0-71.0 %SL), shorter inter-orbital
distance (20.2-24.6 vs. 27.0-30.3 %HL), shorter
inter-nasal distance (15.4-20.4 vs. 23.7-28.6 %HL).
Oxynoemacheilus ciceki
sp. n. is distinguished
from
O.
samanticus
by having flank yellowish brown
or pale gray with irregular spots (vs. flank with
prominent bars on posterior half of body, particularly
behind dorsal-fin origin), without scale (vs. scaled),
deeper caudal peduncle (8.4-10.7 vs. 6.6-8.2 %SL),
longer post-dorsal distance (39.3-44.5 vs. 32.1-39.0
%SL), shorter pelvic fin (11.3-13.6 vs. 16.2-19.0
%SL), less maximum caudal peduncle width (4.3-6.5
vs. 6.7-7.9 %SL).
Description: For general appearance see Figures 1-5;
morphometric characters are provided in Table 1.
Small sized species with pointed or rounded snout.
Fig.1. Uncatalogued live specimen of Oxynoemacheilus ciceki sp. n., Turkey: Kayseri prov.: Sultan Marsh.

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Sungur et al. - Oxynoemacheilus ciceki, a new nemacheilid species from Turkey
Head flattened on ventral surface. Mouth arched.
Upper lip with a small median incision and shallow
furrows, and lower lip thick with a deep median
interruption and marked furrows. Inner rostral barbel
reaching (or not reaching) to base of maxillary
barbel. Outer one reaching vertical to anterior edge
of eye (sometimes pass it), maxillary barbel reaching
vertical to the posterior margin of eye (pass it in some
specimens). Four central and four lateral pores in the
supra-temporal canal. Anterior half of body convex
from snout to anterior base of dorsal fin. Widest part
of body in the front of dorsal fin origin. Pelvic fin
origin below second or third branched rays of dorsal
fin, not reaching to anus. Pelvic fin without axillary
lobe or with a small axillary lobe in some specimens
(n=4). Anal fin origin at the middle distance between
insertion of dorsal fin base and caudal fin origin.
Margin of dorsal and anal fins straight. Caudal
peduncle compressed laterally, 1.1-2.2 (mean 1.9)
times longer than deep. Caudal fin emarginated.
Body without scales and in some parts with tiny
unculi. Lateral line complete, reaching to caudal fin.
Dorsal fin with 4 unbranched and 7½ branched rays,
anal fin with 3 unbranched and 5½ branched rays,
pectoral fin with 10-11 branched rays, pelvic fin with
7-8 branched rays and caudal fin with 10+9 or 9+9
rays. Longest known specimen 58.3mm SL.
Coloration: Flank yellowish-brown (in specimens
fixed in formalin) or pale gray (in live specimens)
with irregular spots from posterior part of opercula to
anterior base of caudal fin. 3-6 paired rounded
saddles usually fused and make ellipsoid shape on
back between anterior origin of dorsal fin to nape and
4-7 saddles between insertions of dorsal fin to caudal
fin origin. Head yellowish brown or pale gray
sometimes with small blotches on top, cheeks with
numerous tiny spots. No pigmentation from tip of
snout to anus ventrally. Dorsal fin with tessellated
Fig.2. Oxynoemacheilus ciceki sp. n., NHVUIC 2017-03-15-h, holotype, 53.2mm SL, Turkey: Kayseri prov.: Sultan
Marsh.

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Iran. J. Ichthyol. (December 2017), 4(4): 375-383
pattern on rays (3 bands in most specimens, 4 bands
in one specimens). Anal fin without pigment or with
brown spots on 3 first rays and rarely on others.
Caudal fin with 3 or 4 bands on rays. Pectoral fin with
dark brown (in males) or pale brown (in some
females) tessellated pattern. Pelvic fin usually with
brown pigment on rays and rarely without pigment.
Etymology: The new species is named after Prof. Dr.
Erdoğan Çiçek, for his valuable contribution to the
knowledge of freshwater fishes of Turkey.
Holotype
Range
Mean ±SD
Standard length (mm)
52.3
41.8
52.0
In percent of standard length
Body depth maximal
17.6
13.1
18.9
16.9
1.6
Caudal peduncle depth
10.3
8.4
10.7
9.9
0.6
Predorsal length
50.5
46.6
50.7
49.2
0.9
Postdorsal length
44.4
39.3
44.5
42.5
1.6
Prepelvic length
52.5
48.2
52.6
50.2
1.3
Preanal length
75.3
71.3
75.4
72.7
1.1
Caudal peduncle length
18.8
18.4
21.1
19.1
2.4
Dorsal-fin base length
11.3
9.5
12.3
11.5
1.9
Dorsal-fin depth
18.2
18.2
20.3
19.3
0.6
Anal-fin base length
7.7
6.3
8.3
7.2
0.6
Anal-fin depth
13.0
11.7
15.5
14.1
1.0
Pectoral fin length
16.7
16.5
22.8
19.2
2.2
Pelvic fin-length
12.0
11.3
13.6
12.5
0.6
Pectoral–pelvic-fin origin distance
28.5
24.1
28.5
26.0
1.0
Pelvic–anal fin origin distance
21.7
20.5
25.1
21.9
1.3
Caudal-fin length
16.1
17.3
19.5
18.2
0.6
Body width
14.3
11.5
15.2
13.4
0.9
Caudal peduncle width maximum
5.7
4.3
6.5
5.6
0.6
Caudal peduncle width minimum
2.1
1.4
3.2
2.2
0.4
Head length
24.1
23.5
26.3
24.5
0.8
In percent of Head length
Snout length
39.1
30.0
41.6
38.0
2.7
Eye horizontal diameter
12.9
12.2
15.9
13.3
2.6
Postorbital distance
48.4
39.0
49.9
45.8
2.7
Head depth at nape
54.2
45.2
61.2
55.2
3.8
Head width
57.9
47.3
62.0
56.6
3.8
Inter Orbital
21.8
20.2
24.6
22.2
1.3
Inter nasal
19.8
15.4
20.4
18.1
1.7
Mouth width
18.7
16.0
22.0
19.3
1.8
Inner rostral barbel
19.1
17.7
21.4
19.5
1.1
Outer rostral barbel
27.9
25.3
33.0
28.2
2.3
Maxillary barbe
30.4
23.3
34.4
28.9
3.0
Table 1. Morphometric data of Oxynoemacheilus ciceki. sp. n. (holotype, NHVUIC 2017-03-15-h; paratypes, NHVUIC
2017-03-16-15, 15 specimens)

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Sungur et al. - Oxynoemacheilus ciceki, a new nemacheilid species from Turkey
Distribution:
Oxynoemacheilus
ciceki
sp. n. is
knowns only from the Sultan Marsh, Kayseri
Province (Fig. 6). This species mostly found slow-
flowing parts of streams in the Sultan Marsh.
Pseudophoxinus elizavetae
,
Aphanius marassan-
tensis
,
Seminemacheilus lendlii
and
Cobitis
sp
.
co-
exist in the type locality with
Oxynoemacheilus
c
iceki
sp. n.
Remarks: Geiger et al. (2014) suggested that species
diversity of the genus
Oxynoemacheilus
in Turkey is
underestimated and introduced the population of
Sultan Marshes as an unrecognized species.
Therefore, we compared DNA sequence data (i.e.,
DNA barcodes viz. COI data) of our collected
specimens from the Sultan Marshes with sequences
from NCBI GenBank (KJ553909 and KJ553936) and
the results revealed both share the same COI.
Material examined: All from Turkey.
Comparative materials:
Oxynoemacheilus
samanticus
: NHVUIC 2017-08-7, 15, 50.8-67.8mm
SL; Turkey: Kayseri prov.: stream Zamantı at
Pınarbası, Seyhan drainage, 38°44'10.76"N
36°24'46.43"E.
Oxynoemacheilus
kosswigi
: NHVUIC 2017-08-
5, 10, 48.3-73.2mm SL; Turkey: Sivas prov.: stream
Yıldız, Kizilirmak basin, 39°47'49.06"N
36°45'58.10"E.
Oxynoemacheilus
angorae
: NHVUIC 2014-06-
Fig.3. Oxynoemacheilus ciceki sp. n., NHVUIC 2017-03-15-h, holotype, 53.2mm SL, Turkey: Kayseri prov.: Sultan
Marsh.

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Iran. J. Ichthyol. (December 2017), 4(4): 375-383
1, 14, 39.2-61.9mm SL, Turkey: Nevsehir prov.:
Kizilirmak River, Kizilirmak basin, 38°37'45.27''N
34°17'54.47''E.
Fig.4. Oxynoemacheilus ciceki sp. n., paratypes; Turkey: Kayseri prov.: Sultan Marsh; (A) NHVUIC 2017-03-16-3,
51.4mm SL; (B) NHVUIC 2017-03-16-10, 47.7mm SL; (C) NHVUIC 2017-03-16-12, 42.5mm SL.

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Sungur et al. - Oxynoemacheilus ciceki, a new nemacheilid species from Turkey
Fig.5. Oxynoemacheilus ciceki sp. n., paratypes; Turkey: Kayseri prov.: Sultan Marsh; (A) NHVUIC 2017-03-16-3,
51.4mm SL; (B) NHVUIC 2017-03-16-10, 47.7mm SL; (C) NHVUIC 2017-03-16-12, 42.5mm SL.
Fig.6. Turkey: Kayseri prov.: Sultan Marsh; type locality of Oxynoemacheilus ciceki sp. n.

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Iran. J. Ichthyol. (December 2017), 4(4): 375-383
Acknowledgments
We are pleased to thank Council of Higher
Education, Project-based Mevlana Exchange
Program (MEV-2016-076) and University of Tehran
for financial support.
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Iran. J. Ichthyol. (December 2017), 4(4): 375–383 Received: September 08, 2017
© 2016 Iranian Society of Ichthyology Accepted: December 16, 2017
P-ISSN: 2383-1561; E-ISSN: 2383-0964 doi: 10.22034/iji.v4i4.258
http://www.ijichthyol.org
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