Glyptothorax
Creators: name: Freyhof, Jörg
name: Kaya, Cüneyt
name: Abdullah, Younis Sabir
name: Geiger, Matthias F.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2021
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Siluriformes
Sisoridae
Glyptothorax
Glyptothorax armeniacus

description: Key to species of Glyptothorax in the Middle East
1a Adipose-fin length 1.5–3.0 times larger than distance between base of last dorsal-fin ray and adipose-fin origin; 13–17 serrae along posterior edge of pectoral-fin spine; head pointed; medial pit of thoracic adhesive apparatus with striae..................................................................................................... G. steindachneri
1b Adipose-fin length 0.6–1.2 times larger than distance between base of last dorsal-fin ray and adipose-fin origin; 7–14 serrae on pectoral-fin spine; head blunt, spade-shaped; medial pit of thoracic adhesive apparatus without striae................... 2
2a Thoracic adhesive apparatus extending from isthmus to level of base of first or third branched pectoral-fin ray, usually wider than long, as wide as long in juveniles; anteromedial striae absent or very short; caudal-peduncle depth 1.1–1.6 times in its length.................................................................................. G. kurdistanicus
2b Thoracic adhesive apparatus extending from isthmus to level of last branched pectoral-fin ray or beyond, longer than wide or as wide as long; anteromedial striae present, few and short in G. silviae, well developed and long in other species; caudal-peduncle depth 1.6–2.5 times in its length, 1.4–1.5 in some G. armeniacus ................................................ 3
3a Thoracic adhesive apparatus as wide as long, poorly delineated at its posterior margin, only partly situated on shallow, horse-shoe shaped swelling, swelling absent in many adult individuals; head, back and flank usually with large, bony, striated and elongated tubercles (absent in some individuals)........................................................ G. cous
3b Thoracic adhesive apparatus longer than wide, well delineated at its posterior margin, situated completely on a horse-shoe shaped swelling; head, back and flank without large bony tubercles, very small tubercles present in G. armeniacus ........ 4
4a Head, back and flank without warts or tubercles; anteromedial striae in thoracic adhesive apparatus absent or very short................................................................................................. G. silviae
4b Back and flank with warts and/or small tubercles; anteromedial striae in thoracic adhesive apparatus numerous and long... 5
5a Fins with a distinct, distal yellow tip; head with many minute tubercles and few roundish warts............ G. armeniacus5b Fins without or very indistinct, distal yellow tip; head without tubercles, with many roundish or elongate warts...G. daemon
Glyptothorax armeniacus (Berg, 1918)
(Fig. 5–9)
Glyptosternum armeniacum Berg, 1918:146
Material examined. ZIN 20806, syntypes, 3, 62–118 mm SL; Turkey: Mukhlassi-darasi River downstream from Chat, 42 km SE from Erzurum, a headwater stream of Euphrates [stream Habib at Oyuklu Mahallesi, 39.6050 40.9764; see below] (photographs only). — FFR 3912, 1, 37 mm SL; FFR 3915, 1, 76 mm SL; Turkey: Malatya prov.: stream Sultansuyu 20 km west of Malatya, 38.339 38.063. —FFR 3914, 1, 63 mm SL; Turkey: Muş prov.: stream Kaynarca 3 km northwest of Tepe, Murat River drainage, 39.068 41.529. —FFR 3917, 4, 90–111 mm SL; Turkey: Tunceli prov.: stream Pülümür 8 km northeast of Tunceli, 39.140 39.638. —FFR 3925, 1, 94 mm SL; Turkey: Tunceli prov.: stream Kalan 16 km north of Tunceli, 39.250 39.489. —FFR 3927, 1, 67 mm SL; Turkey: Adıyaman prov.: Göksu River 2 km west of Aktoprak, 37.844 37.670. —FFR 3913, 2, 46–76 mm SL; Turkey: Gaziantep prov.: stream Merzimen 3 km south of Yavuzeli, 37.2916 37.5727. —FSJF 1800, 2, 83–98 mm SL; Turkey: Euphrates drainage. —FSJF 2634, 3, 41–66 mm SL; Turkey: upper River Göksu 5 km northeast of Gölbaşı, 37.837 37.6848. — FSJF 4107, 3, 87–108 mm SL; Turkey: Tunceli prov.: stream Pülümür at Pülümür, 37.173 41.2697. — NMW 87875, 1, 135 mm SL; Turkey: Şanlıurfa prov.: Euphrates at Birecik, about 37.02 37.97 (photographs only).
Material used in molecular genetic analysis. FSJF-DNA 3336; Turkey: Gaziantep prov.: stream Merzimen 3 km south of Yavuzeli, 37.2916 37.5727 (GenBank accession number: MW724503).— FSJF-DNA 900; Turkey: upper River Göksu, 5 km northeast of Gölbaşı, 37.837 37.6848 (GenBank accession numbers: MW770714, MW770726).— FSJF-DNA 3377; Turkey: Tunceli prov.: stream Pülümür at Pülümür, 37.173 41.2697 (GenBank accession numbers: MW770723, MW770712).
Diagnosis. Characters useful for identification but not unique to the species are: Head, back and flank without large bony tubercles, with many minute tubercles and few roundish warts; fins with a distinct, distal yellow tip; thoracic adhesive apparatus strongly elevated, 1.0–1.5 times longer than wide, extending from isthmus to base of last pectoral-fin ray or to posterior limit of pectoral-fin base; striae restricted to elevated apparatus; anteromedial striae numerous and well developed; medial pit without striae; caudal-peduncle depth 1.6–2.1 times in its length; adipose-fin short, its length 0.7–1.1 times larger than distance between base of last dorsal-fin ray and adipose-fin origin; head blunt, roundish, 24–28% SL; head and body dark brown without or with small, often indistinct brown or black spots. Size up to 220 mm SL. See below for characters to distinguish G. armeniacus from other Glyptothorax in the Middle East.
Distribution. Widespread in upper Euphrates drainages and so far only recorded from Turkey. Found downriver to Birecik, situated only 23 km north of the border to Syria.
Remarks. Coad & Delmastro (1985) recorded one individual Glyptothorax from the Yeşilırmak drainage in the Anatolian Black Sea basin. This record was never confirmed despite some fieldwork in the region. It cannot be excluded that such catfishes occur there as the Yeşilırmak is situated adjacent to the Euphrates.
Berg (1918) described G. armeniacus based on specimens collected by A.L. Behning in 1916. From the description it is obvious that Berg did not meet Behning in person and Berg (1931) gives the type locality as “in the river Mukhlassi-darasi, head waters of Euphrates, beneath Chat, 42 km SE from Erzeroum” as stated on the label. Already Berg (1931) mentioned that on the map, he did not find the locality. The distance of 42 km SE from Erzeroum [Erzurum] leads in the catchment of the upper Aras and Berg (1931) suspected that the type locality might be situated in the Araxes [Aras] River drainage and not in the Euphrates. Glyptothorax indistinguishable from the types of G. armeniacus (Fig. 5) are widespread in the upper Euphrates and we exclude the possibility that Glyptothorax occur in the Aras, which had been well studied and no Glyptothorax was ever found.
There is no doubt that SE of Erzurum must be a mistake and the type locality is situated SW of Erzurum. “Chat”, as mentioned on the label is the Cat district, which is about 41 km SW of Erzurum. We have searched in detail but there is no name of a stream, or a settlement resembling „Mukhlassi-darasi“ in the area. Probably, A.L. Behning asked villagers about the name of the stream and those answered in Turkish as “Mahallesi Deresi”, which was understood as „Mukhlassi-darasi“. „Mahallesi“ means „neighbourhood (a small part of the city)“ and „Deresi“ means „stream“. In Turkey, a neighbourhood (Mahalle) must be very close to a city (district). If the place is far from a city, it is not a neighbourhood, but a village. If our interpretation is correct, there is only one place that matches with „ 42 km SW of Erzurum “ and placed in a „Mahalle“. This must be the stream Habib (39.6050 40.9764) at Oyuklu Mahallesi, in the Çat district. The river is very close to the main road, easy to reach and access and we expect A.L. Behning to have travelled along the road and not off-road. The fast flowing stream could be a habitat for Glyptothorax. However, we had no chance to visit the place to prove that G. armeniacus is present at this site.
(Fig. 5–9)
Glyptosternum armeniacum Berg, 1918:146
Material examined. ZIN 20806, syntypes, 3, 62–118 mm SL; Turkey: Mukhlassi-darasi River downstream from Chat, 42 km SE from Erzurum, a headwater stream of Euphrates [stream Habib at Oyuklu Mahallesi, 39.6050 40.9764; see below] (photographs only). — FFR 3912, 1, 37 mm SL; FFR 3915, 1, 76 mm SL; Turkey: Malatya prov.: stream Sultansuyu 20 km west of Malatya, 38.339 38.063. —FFR 3914, 1, 63 mm SL; Turkey: Muş prov.: stream Kaynarca 3 km northwest of Tepe, Murat River drainage, 39.068 41.529. —FFR 3917, 4, 90–111 mm SL; Turkey: Tunceli prov.: stream Pülümür 8 km northeast of Tunceli, 39.140 39.638. —FFR 3925, 1, 94 mm SL; Turkey: Tunceli prov.: stream Kalan 16 km north of Tunceli, 39.250 39.489. —FFR 3927, 1, 67 mm SL; Turkey: Adıyaman prov.: Göksu River 2 km west of Aktoprak, 37.844 37.670. —FFR 3913, 2, 46–76 mm SL; Turkey: Gaziantep prov.: stream Merzimen 3 km south of Yavuzeli, 37.2916 37.5727. —FSJF 1800, 2, 83–98 mm SL; Turkey: Euphrates drainage. —FSJF 2634, 3, 41–66 mm SL; Turkey: upper River Göksu 5 km northeast of Gölbaşı, 37.837 37.6848. — FSJF 4107, 3, 87–108 mm SL; Turkey: Tunceli prov.: stream Pülümür at Pülümür, 37.173 41.2697. — NMW 87875, 1, 135 mm SL; Turkey: Şanlıurfa prov.: Euphrates at Birecik, about 37.02 37.97 (photographs only).
Material used in molecular genetic analysis. FSJF-DNA 3336; Turkey: Gaziantep prov.: stream Merzimen 3 km south of Yavuzeli, 37.2916 37.5727 (GenBank accession number: MW724503).— FSJF-DNA 900; Turkey: upper River Göksu, 5 km northeast of Gölbaşı, 37.837 37.6848 (GenBank accession numbers: MW770714, MW770726).— FSJF-DNA 3377; Turkey: Tunceli prov.: stream Pülümür at Pülümür, 37.173 41.2697 (GenBank accession numbers: MW770723, MW770712).
Diagnosis. Characters useful for identification but not unique to the species are: Head, back and flank without large bony tubercles, with many minute tubercles and few roundish warts; fins with a distinct, distal yellow tip; thoracic adhesive apparatus strongly elevated, 1.0–1.5 times longer than wide, extending from isthmus to base of last pectoral-fin ray or to posterior limit of pectoral-fin base; striae restricted to elevated apparatus; anteromedial striae numerous and well developed; medial pit without striae; caudal-peduncle depth 1.6–2.1 times in its length; adipose-fin short, its length 0.7–1.1 times larger than distance between base of last dorsal-fin ray and adipose-fin origin; head blunt, roundish, 24–28% SL; head and body dark brown without or with small, often indistinct brown or black spots. Size up to 220 mm SL. See below for characters to distinguish G. armeniacus from other Glyptothorax in the Middle East.
Distribution. Widespread in upper Euphrates drainages and so far only recorded from Turkey. Found downriver to Birecik, situated only 23 km north of the border to Syria.
Remarks. Coad & Delmastro (1985) recorded one individual Glyptothorax from the Yeşilırmak drainage in the Anatolian Black Sea basin. This record was never confirmed despite some fieldwork in the region. It cannot be excluded that such catfishes occur there as the Yeşilırmak is situated adjacent to the Euphrates.
Berg (1918) described G. armeniacus based on specimens collected by A.L. Behning in 1916. From the description it is obvious that Berg did not meet Behning in person and Berg (1931) gives the type locality as “in the river Mukhlassi-darasi, head waters of Euphrates, beneath Chat, 42 km SE from Erzeroum” as stated on the label. Already Berg (1931) mentioned that on the map, he did not find the locality. The distance of 42 km SE from Erzeroum [Erzurum] leads in the catchment of the upper Aras and Berg (1931) suspected that the type locality might be situated in the Araxes [Aras] River drainage and not in the Euphrates. Glyptothorax indistinguishable from the types of G. armeniacus (Fig. 5) are widespread in the upper Euphrates and we exclude the possibility that Glyptothorax occur in the Aras, which had been well studied and no Glyptothorax was ever found.
There is no doubt that SE of Erzurum must be a mistake and the type locality is situated SW of Erzurum. “Chat”, as mentioned on the label is the Cat district, which is about 41 km SW of Erzurum. We have searched in detail but there is no name of a stream, or a settlement resembling „Mukhlassi-darasi“ in the area. Probably, A.L. Behning asked villagers about the name of the stream and those answered in Turkish as “Mahallesi Deresi”, which was understood as „Mukhlassi-darasi“. „Mahallesi“ means „neighbourhood (a small part of the city)“ and „Deresi“ means „stream“. In Turkey, a neighbourhood (Mahalle) must be very close to a city (district). If the place is far from a city, it is not a neighbourhood, but a village. If our interpretation is correct, there is only one place that matches with „ 42 km SW of Erzurum “ and placed in a „Mahalle“. This must be the stream Habib (39.6050 40.9764) at Oyuklu Mahallesi, in the Çat district. The river is very close to the main road, easy to reach and access and we expect A.L. Behning to have travelled along the road and not off-road. The fast flowing stream could be a habitat for Glyptothorax. However, we had no chance to visit the place to prove that G. armeniacus is present at this site.
description: Published as part of Freyhof, Jörg, Kaya, Cüneyt, Abdullah, Younis Sabir & Geiger, Matthias F., 2021, The Glyptothorax catfishes of the Euphrates and Tigris with the description of a new species (Teleostei: Sisoridae), pp. 453-491 in Zootaxa 4969 (3) on pages 458-465, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4969.3.2, http://zenodo.org/record/14895349