Loaches Online Forum

Hello all,

I'm so very glad to have found out about this website! I've been exploring freshwater fishes of the Western Ghats (India) for quite a while, but I'm having a really hard time identifying a rather common loach of steady streams. And I was wondering if anyone could help me with its identity.

I think it may belong to the family Cobitidae, and genus Lepidocephalus. Any clue?

Thanks and regards,
Ani

Hi Ani
remembers me of a pic by Heiko Bleher of a nemacheilus nilgiriensis of the Kaluarili river. but: lacks the red in the dorsal fin. could send you a pdf.
cheers Charles

Thank you Charles! It does indeed resemble a Nemacheilus sp. The N. nilgiriensis, which I think was recorded first in the Nilgiris, is a few hundred kilometers from here - here being closer to Mumbai in the Northern Western Ghats region.

I'm attaching another image of this Loach:

If possible, could you email me the pdf on anihd2009 (at) gmail (dot) com?

Thanking you once again,
Ani

What lovely looking fish. Please do post more pictures of them and other species (not just loaches!) from your local area.

Prominent nasal barbels and truncate caudal suggest an Indoreonectes sp.??? I.everzadi has been reported from your region. A good pic can be seen here ; http://www.fishbase.org/Photos/Pictures ... at=species

Thank you Shovelnose! I will look into this.

Regards

I asked one ichtiologyst about this specimens. He also confirmed that they are Indoreonectes. At the moment only one: I.evezardi was described. He asked, if you can make better photos, side, frontal and from above - it would be great.

wingedskull wrote: At the moment only one: I.evezardi was described.

There is Indoreonectes keralensis as well.

Correction: (about second described) - descriptions are not equal with professional photos.

I am sorry but I didn't quite get you.