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).
6 x Clown Loaches all 30 years of age on 01.01.2024, largest 11.5", 2 large females, 4 smaller males, aquarium 6' x 18" x 18" 400 ltr/90 uk gal/110 US gal. approx.
Currently keeping: gastromyzon spp., hypergastromyzon humilis, pseudogastromyzon sp., sewellia spp., ambastaia sidthimunki, homaloptera spp., serpenticobitis octozona, Yaoshania pachychilus. As well as various catfish, loricarids, livebearers and tetras.
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.
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
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.
6 x Clown Loaches all 30 years of age on 01.01.2024, largest 11.5", 2 large females, 4 smaller males, aquarium 6' x 18" x 18" 400 ltr/90 uk gal/110 US gal. approx.
