Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cypriniformes (Carps) >
Cobitidae (Spined loaches)
Etymology: Lepidocephalichthys: Greek, lepas = limpet + Greek, ichtys = fish (Ref. 45335); alkaia: Alkaia is Greek for "lion’s tail", in reference to the tail-like dark stripe on the caudal fin (Ref. 83671).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal. Tropical; 26°N - 16°N, 97°E - 98°E
Lepidocephalichthys alkaia is known from four collections from Myanmar. The holotype and paratypes are from the Nan Kwe River, Irrawaddy drainage, Kachin Province. Other specimens are from the Salween drainage, Kayin Province. Habitats where these collections were made include streams and oxbow lakes. Some collections included L. goalparensis, which is often associated with slow flowing-streams and dense vegetation (Ref. 83671).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 3.8 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 83671)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Lepidocephalichthys alkaia is distinguished from all other Lepidocephalichthys by a midlateral dark stripe on caudal fin, extending from base to terminus of fin, usually spanning rays 7–10. It is further distinguished from all Lepidocephalichthys by the combination of a truncated or rounded caudal fin; scales absent on top of head; usually dark stripe, sometimes dark spots on side; dorsal-fin origin just posterior to pelvic-fin origin; 8–10 predorsal, 8–10 postdorsal, dark bars on dorsum; moderate size (to 38 mm SL) (Ref. 83671).
Facultative air-breathing in the genus (Ref. 126274)
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Havird, J.C. and L.M. Page, 2010. A revision of Lepidocephalichthys (Teleostei: Cobitidae) with descriptions of two new species from Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Myanmar. Copeia 2010(1):137-159. (Ref. 83671)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00617 (0.00284 - 0.01340), b=3.08 (2.91 - 3.25), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.9 ±0.3 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
