Lepidocephalichthys hasselti (Valenciennes, 1846)
Lepidocephalichthys hasselti
photo by Baird, I.G.

Family:  Cobitidae (Spined loaches)
Max. size:  6 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater
Distribution:  Asia: Thailand to Viet Nam and Indonesia.
Diagnosis:  Median longitudinal stripe or row of adjacent black spots on the body, with an unpigmented stripe above it (color pattern may become obscured or faint in larger specimens) (Ref. 43281). Caudal fin with 5-6 indistinct or irregular bars (Ref. 12693).
Biology:  Inhabits slow-moving, shallow waters of canals and inundated floodplains (Ref. 12693), usually on or in muddy substrates (Ref. 43281). Lives in swamps and rivers including peats (Ref. 57235). Also found in mountain streams, preferring sandy or gravelly bottom (Ref. 51717). Occurs in running waters of lower Mekong (Ref. 36667). Preferred food is zooplankton but occasionally feeds on some algae. Not seen in markets (Ref. 12693).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 09 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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