Descriptive osteology of a spined loach, Cobitis avicennae from Iranian part of the Tigris basin

Cobitis avicennae is a new described species from Iranian part of the Tigris basin and little information is available on its different aspects of its biology and holomorphology. Hence, this study was conducted to provide a detailed description of its osteological features. For this purpose, the specimens of C. avicennae were cleared and stained and a detailed description of its skeletal structure was provided. Cobitis avicennae can be distinguished from other Iranian members of the genus Cobitis by having 41 centra and two unbranched rays in the anal fin, lacking two processes in the middle part of the parasphenoid and presence of three basibranchial elements in the branchial apparatus.