Lepidocephalichthys thermalis

Lepidocephalichthys thermalis, known as the common spiny loach or the spotted loach, is a freshwater fish species found in India and Sri Lanka.[1][2]

Lepidocephalichthys thermalis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cobitidae
Genus: Lepidocephalichthys
Species:
L. thermalis
Binomial name
Lepidocephalichthys thermalis
(Valenciennes, 1846)
Synonyms

Cobitis carnaticus Jerdon, 1849
Cobitis carnaticus Jerdon, 1849
Cobitis mysorensis Jerdon, 1849
Cobitis mysorensis Jerdon, 1849
Cobitis rubripinnis Jerdon, 1849
Cobitis rubripinnis Jerdon, 1849
Cobitis thermalis Valenciennes, 1846
Cobitis thermalis Valenciennes, 1846
Lepidocephalichthys thermalis (Valenciennes, 1846)
Lepidocephalichthys thermalis (Valenciennes, 1846)
Platacanthus agrensis Day, 1865
Platacanthus agrensis Day, 1865

They are found usually in quiet, flowing waters with a sandy substrate. It grows to 38 cm (15 in) standard length.[2]

Also endemic Lepidocephalichthys jonklaasi is found in Sri Lanka. Jayaram (1981) reports that at least six other species occur in the north-eastern part of India (Assam to Burma). Tilak & Hussain (1981) have written a review on the systematics of the Indian members of the genus.

Lepidocephalichthys jonklaasi is distinguished from L. furcatus, L. micropogon, L. manipurensis, and L. goalparensis by rounded/truncated (vs. forked) caudal fin, from L. irrorata and L. kranos by absence of scales on top of head, from L. guntea, L. hasselti, L. tomaculum, L. alkaia, and L. annandalei by broad regularly spaced dark bars (vs. reticulations, spots, or stripe) on caudal fin, from L. thermalis, L. arunachalensis, L. coromandelensis, and L. berdmorei by vertically elongated, dark spots on side that form irregular, thin bars (vs. round spots that sometimes form squares or thin stripe), and from L. lorentzi by thinner, more irregularly spaced dark side bars, dorsal-fin origin anterior (vs. posterior) to pelvic-fin origin, and larger size (to 45 vs. 33 mm SL), (Havird & Page 2010).

The two Sri Lankan species L. jonklaasi and L. thermalis are not very closely related. They are easily differentiated by body shape and proportions, colour pattern, and form of sexual dimorphism that is unique to L. jonklaasi. Further, a mature adult L. jonklaasi is significantly longer than L. thermalis. It is not easily confused with L. thermalis owing to its distinctive colour pattern and robust, tubular body.

References
  1. Shaji, C.P. (2011). "Lepidocephalichthys thermalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2011: e.T172360A6876283. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T172360A6876283.en.
  2. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2019). "Lepidocephalichthys thermalis" in FishBase. February 2019 version.
  • Amarasinghe. U. S., shirantha. R. R. A. R., Wijeyaratne. M. J. S., (2006); Some Aspects of Ecology of Endemic Freshwater fishes of Sri Lanka; The Fauna of Sri Lanka Status of Taxonomy, Research and Conservation, IUCN Sri Lanka.[1]
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  • Chamikara S.S. (2003); Dombagas kanda mathsya vividatwaya ha warthamana thtwaya (The diversity of freshwater fishes of Dombagas kanda and present status). Parisara sangrahaya (May–June) The Society for Environmental Education; Unpublished report.
  • Chamikara S.S. (2003); Fish diversity and present status of wet forests in Pahiyangala, Weligalpotta and Horanekanda; The Society for Environmental studies. Unpublished report.
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  • Ekaratne, K., Fernando, R.H.S.S., De silva, S., Bambaradeniya, C.N.B., De silva, D., (2003); A Comparison of the Conservation and Legal Status of the Fauna and Flora of Sri Lanka, IUCN Sri Lanka.
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  • Gerhard, H. F. & Hans-jurgen, (2003- Unbublished); A new record of Lepidocephalichthys jonklaasi (Daraniyagala, 1956) (Teleostei; Cypriniformes, Cobitidae); (Unpublished).
  • Havird, J. C. and Page, L. M. ; 2010; A Revision of Lepidocephalichthys (Teleostei: Cobitidae) with Descriptions of Two New Species from Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Myanmar; Copeia online publication
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  • IUCN, (2007); The 2007 list of threatened fauna and flora of Sri Lanka, IUCN Sri Lanka.
  • Jayaneththi, H. B. & Madurapperuma P. L., (2004); A new record of Lepidocephalichthys jonklaasi Daraniyagala, 1956 (Cobitidae; Cypriniformes) from Pahiyangala, Kalu River basin., SRI LANKA NATURALIST, JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY AND NATURE, Young Zoologist's Association of Sri Lanka.
  • Jayaweera, S. & Herath, T., (2009); Biodiversity Report- Boralugoda, Organisation for Aquatic Resours Management (OARM) (Unpublished).
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  • Pethiyagoda, R., (2006); Conservation of Sri Lankan Freshwater Fishes; The Fauna of Sri Lanka Status of Taxonomy, Research and Conservation, IUCN Sri Lanka.
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  1. https://portals.iucn.org/library/efiles/edocs/2006-030.pdf%5B%5D
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