Acanthocobitis botia (Hamilton, 1822)
Mottled loach
photo by Greco, F.M.

Family:  Nemacheilidae (Brook loaches)
Max. size:  14.87 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater; pH range: 7.19999980926514; dH range: 25
Distribution:  Asia: Indus basin in Pakistan to the Mae Khlong basin in Thailand through Ganges, Chindwin, Irrawaddy, Sitang and Salween basins. Recorded also from Yunnan, China.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-17; Anal soft rays: 8-8. Distinguished from its congeners by the absence of a suborbital flap in male, the flap being replaced by a suborbital groove; lateral line reaches at least to anus (Ref. 39226).
Biology:  Adults inhabit clear water, swift flowing streams with rocky, pebbly and sandy bottoms (Ref. 1479).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 01 March 2007 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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