Paraschistura bampurensis (Nikolskii, 1900)

Family:  Nemacheilidae (Brook loaches)
Max. size:  6.7 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 3.3 g
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  Asia: Iran and Pakistan. Records of this species from the Helmand basin in Afghanistan refer to Paraschistura alta.
Diagnosis:  Paraschistura bampurensis is distinguished from its congeners in Iran and adjacent Pakistan by a combination of non-unique characters. It differs from P. kessleri, P. turcmenica and P. lindbergi from adjacent Pakistan by having the flank and back covered by scales (vs. without scales) and by the presence of a suborbital flap in males (vs. absence); P. cristata by the absence of a dorsal adipose crest and procurrent caudal-fin rays on the caudal peduncle (vs. presence); from P. cristata, P. nielseni and P. turcmenica by having a suborbital flap in males (vs. a suborbital groove in P. nielseni, no suborbital flap or groove in P. cristata and P. turcmenica), a pointed snout (vs. obtuse in P. nielseni and P. cristata) and a color pattern consisting of 11-18 dark-brown bars on the flank usually narrower than interspaces, especially on the caudal peduncle (vs. 6-11 bars, absent or very faint on the flank in front of the dorsal-fin origin in P. nielseni). Additional characters useful to identify P. bampurensis include the following: lateral line incomplete, usually reaching beyond dorsal-fin base, beyond anal-fin origin in some individuals; caudal fin forked or deeply emarginate; black spot at the base of first dorsal-fin rays bold; dorsal fin usually with 8 ½ branched rays; pelvic fin reaching to about 1-2 eye diameter in front of anus (Ref. 103390).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 30 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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