Distribution and conservation status of loaches in Hungary.

We provide an overview of the distribution of loaches in Hungary and evaluate their status from a conservation viewpoint. Fish faunistic data, from the last twenty-five years (1975-2000) were reviewed to show the distribution of four genera of loaches: Barbatula, Misgurnus, Cobitis and Sabanejewia. Based on fish occurrence data, distribution maps were drawn to evaluate the abundance of species (B. barbatula, M. fossilis) or genera (Cobitis, Sabanejewia). We characterize the conservation status of each taxon within IUCN categories. Because species (i.e., cytogenetic level) diversity is unknown for the genera Cobitis and Sabanejewia, optimal selection of populations for conservation is not possible at present.