The noemacheiline loaches from Israel (Pisces: cobitidae: Noemacheilinae)

The Noemacheilinae of Israel are revised and placed in two genera: Orthrias Jordan & Fowler (until now considered a synonym of Noemacheilus) and Nun, a new genus. The most common species in Israel is o. jordanicus, raised here to species status, and distinct from both o. angorae and o. insignis. Its geographical variation is analyzed; no subspecies are recognized. Sexual dimorphism is recorded for the first time in o. panther and o. tigris. Three new species are described: o. dori, from the Bet She'an Valley, differing from o. jordanicus in having a much deeper body, an elevation at the nape and different colour pattern; o. pantheroides, from the Golan Heights, differing from o. panthera in having a more slender body, forked caudal fin and straight dorsal fm; o. israeliticus, from the Bet She'an Valley and Upper Galilee, differing from o. panther and o. pantheroides in having an abnost complete lateral line and a moderately developed dorsal keel on the caudal peduncle, and in colour pattern. The new genus Nun is proposed for Cobitis galilaeus Giinther. This genus is characterized by six branched anal rays (as against five in all other Noemacheilinae, except the only African species of the subfamily), 9-11 branched dorsal rays, scaleless body, short lateral line, strongly developed processus dentiformis on the upper jaw and lack of sexual dimorphism.