''Triplophysa ferganaensis'' (), known as the Fergana stone loach, is a

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

ray-finned fish Actinopterygii (; ), members of which are known as ray-finned fish or actinopterygians, is a class of bony fish that comprise over 50% of living vertebrate species. They are so called because of their lightly built fins made of webbings of sk ...

in the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Nemacheilidae The Nemacheilidae, or stone loaches, are a family of cypriniform fishes that inhabit stream environments, mostly in Eurasia, with one genus, ''Afronemacheilus'' found in Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous ...

. It is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

to the

Shohimardonsoy The Shohimardonsoy (, ) is a river in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. It is formed at the confluence of the rivers Aksuu and Köksuu, that run from the Alay Range, near the village Shohimardon. Its lower course, between Vodil and the city Fergana, is ...

stream in

Fergana Valley The Fergana Valley (also commonly spelled the Ferghana Valley) in Central Asia crosses eastern Uzbekistan, southern Kyrgyzstan and northern Tajikistan. Encompassing three former Republics of the Soviet Union, Soviet republics, the valley is e ...

, Uzbekistan. It lives in fast-flowing rivers over 1500m in altitude.

Etymology

The specific name ''ferganaensis'' is taken from the Fergana Valley, Uzbekistan, where the type locality is located (Shakhimardan stream in Yordon village).Christopher Scharpf (14 April 2022)
"Order CYPRINIFORMES: Family NEMACHEILIDAE (r-y)"
The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf. Retrieved 24 April 2022.

Description

It grows to 109.2 mm (4.3 in) SL. Eyes are present. Mouth is inferior. Gill rakers are absent in outer row, however, 10–11 gill rakers are found in inner row on first-gill arch. Scales are absent on the body. The lateral line is complete. Elongated body is slightly compressed anteriorly and strongly compressed posteriorly. Lips thick with furrows and papillae. Three pairs of barbels are present. Dorsal and anal fins are truncate. Pectoral fins are moderately developed. Caudal fin emarginated and tips are pointed.

References

ferganaensis Freshwater fish of Asia Fish of Central Asia Sheraliev Taxa named by Zuogang Peng Fish described in 2021 {{Nemacheilidae-stub