Lepidocephalichthys annandalei Chaudhuri, 1912
Annandale loach

Family:  Cobitidae (Spined loaches)
Max. size:  9 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 5.8 g
Environment:  demersal; freshwater
Distribution:  Asia: India (Assam), Bangladesh, and Nepal in the Ganges and Brahmaputra drainages.
Diagnosis:  Distinguished from all congeners by its unique caudal fin coloration, consisting of two distinct black spots (one at upper base of fin and one at center of posterior edge of fin). Further differs from all Lepidocephalichthys by the combination of the following characters: caudal fin with two broad, dark V-shaped bands; truncated/notched caudal fin; scales on top of head absent or embedded; dorsal-fin origin anterior to pelvic-fin origin; moderate/large size up to 4.3 cm SL); small barbels, first rostral pair never reaching anterior nostril (Ref. 83671).
Biology:  Inhabits clear, swift streams with sandy bottom (Ref. 41236). Also collected from slow-flowing streams and oxbows (Ref. 83671).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 06 October 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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