arakensis, Aphanius Teimori [A.], Esmaeili [H. R.], Gholami [Z.], Zarei [N.] & Reichenbacher [B.] 2012:62, Figs. 2A, B, 5 [ZooKeys No. 215; ref. 32136] Small pond, Namak Lake basin, 34°00'N, 49°50'E, 5 km southeast of the city of Arak, Iran, elevation 1786 meters. Holotype: ZM-CBSU 10999. Paratypes: ZM-CBSU 110000, 11051-11118 (70). •Valid as Aphanius arakensis Teimori, Esmaeili, Gholami, Zarei & Reichenbacher 2012 -- (Esmaeili et al. 2014:29 [ref. 33250], Keivany & Esmaeili 2014:68 [ref. 33293], Gholami et al. 2013:137 [ref. 33004], Esmaeili et al. 2014:248 [ref. 33345], Jouladeh-Roudbar et al. 2015:892 [ref. 34062], Teimori et al. 2015:90 [ref. 34095], Esmaeili et al. 2017:89 [ref. 35254], Esmaeili et al. 2018:71 [ref. 36089], Esmaeili et al. 2018:4 [ref. 36738], Esmaeili et al. 2020:5 [ref. 37446], Jouladeh-Roudbar et al. 2020:257 [ref. 37983], Kärst et al. 2020:164 [ref. 38165]). •Synonym of Esmaeilius sophiae (Heckel 1847) -- (Freyhof & Yoğurtçuoğlu 2020:445 [ref. 37656]). •Valid as Esmaeilius arakensis (Teimori, Esmaeili, Gholami, Zarei & Reichenbacher 2012) -- (Çiçek et al. 2024:354 [ref. 40789]). Current status: Valid as Esmaeilius arakensis (Teimori, Esmaeili, Gholami, Zarei & Reichenbacher 2012). Aphaniidae. Distribution: Middle East: Namak Lake basin (Iran). Habitat: freshwater.