Loaches Online Forum

Hi Emma

Great shots. They have allowed me to see the extent of the lateral line. However, I needed the mouth shot from underneath, I did say, honest! (it will be difficult to get a close up anyway). Without a clear close up mouth shot from underneath it is difficult to differentiate Physoschistura from Schistura and Nemacheilus. The short lateral line is pointing towards P. raoi or less likey P. pseudobrunneana, if it is a Physoschistura, but need to see the mouth and if an axillary pelvic lobe is present.

This may seem like a daft question, but what do you reckon is the easiest way to do the mouth shot? Do you mean right from underneath, say if I put them into a photo tank without substrate and take a pic from directly underneath? I am glad that at least some of the shots were ok though!

Emma

Emma Turner wrote:This may seem like a daft question, but what do you reckon is the easiest way to do the mouth shot? Do you mean right from underneath, say if I put them into a photo tank without substrate and take a pic from directly underneath? I am glad that at least some of the shots were ok though!

Emma

Hi Emma
That is your best bet but it will be difficult to get the lips clear enough because of their size and colour.
Steve

I have finally managed to find time to have a go at photographing the underneath of the mouths of these active little loaches:

















The.Dark.One please let me know if any of these are good enough and if you'd like any of them emailed over to you as larger sized files.

Emma

The one thing I have noticed about these fish is the conditioning , from the first pic till now

Hi Emma
Well done, I knew it wouldn't be easy!

Please email me or preferably send me links to larger images of images 3, 5, 6, 7.

Thanks

Sent.

Thanks Emma

I still cant see clearly the folds in the lower lip (I think it would be impossible with a camera using live specimens), however, based on the shape of the lips and the median interruption, the shape of the body, the markings I feel they are a Physoschistura. In terms of which one the pattern matches P. rivulicola although the lateral line seems too short for that species. It doesnt 100% match the others either. My guess is that it is a new species of Physoschistura, or it is P. rivulicola with a shorter lateral line than that reported so far for that species (some species are known to have variation in lateral line length).

Many thanks TDO, you're a star.

Emma
You still take incredible pictures! In the head on shots the fish are so cute I just want to give one a fishy kiss. BTW Hi! Its been awhile. And I have confuzona fry!

Chris, its good to hear from you again, and congratulations on the fry.

Hi,
The Loaches look kind of like my Zipper Loachs.
mack