Page 1 of 1

Recent discovery of European Cave Loach

Posted: Sat May 20, 2017 12:57 pm
by redshark1
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-39446505

I found this article very interesting. The Stone Loach Nemachaelis barbatus is the only wild loach in my local waters. It looks like the Cave Loach may be derived from it. I took the pic of a local Stone Loach below (note that this specimen has a chunk of the caudal fin missing).

Image

Re: Recent discovery of European Cave Loach

Posted: Sat May 20, 2017 9:30 pm
by atmichaels
Very cool! Thanks for sharing.

Austen

Re: Recent discovery of European Cave Loach

Posted: Sun May 21, 2017 7:58 pm
by NancyD
That is cool! It seems like caves would have a more stable temperature than surface water so it's no wonder to me that the new loaches would be found farther north of other similar species. With all the DNA comparisons possible these days, I bet scientists will be able to say definitively soon-ish. Are there other species of stone loaches in England vs continental Europe? I haven't looked yet...I just wish there were NA loaches, lol.

Thanks, redshark!

Re: Recent discovery of European Cave Loach

Posted: Mon May 22, 2017 2:43 am
by Bas Pels
In the Netherlands, we have 3 species of laoches - the large loach Misgurnis fossilis, the small loach, Cobitis taenia and "het bermpje" Barbatula barbatula. I thouth it was Noemocheilus barbatula, but that apart.

As far as I know, in north western Europe these 3 species, and no more, are found

Re: Recent discovery of European Cave Loach

Posted: Mon May 22, 2017 3:17 pm
by redshark1
There is only one other loach (making that two) in Britain. This is the Spined Loach Cobitis taenia.

http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/ProtectedSites ... Code=S1149

I believe this loach feeds by attracting food particles to sticky mucus which it extrudes from it's mouth and re-ingests.

I am familiar with the Stone Loach which is fairly common in unpolluted waters (though unpolluted waters themselves are not that common). It is a lovely fish and I kept a trio for several years before releasing them to concentrate on other species.

However, I am not familiar with the Spined Loach which is very rare and which only frequents a handful of rivers which were once joined to the Rhine river system.

Re: Recent discovery of European Cave Loach

Posted: Mon May 22, 2017 11:59 pm
by NancyD
Oh, I had forgotten about both M. fossilis & cobitis. Thanks guys, it's easy to forget another continent's natives, oops.