Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cypriniformes (Carps) >
Cobitidae (Spined loaches)
Etymology: Microcobitis: Name from the Greek word ‘micros’ for small (used as prefix here) and the generic name Cobitis (type genus of Cobitidae), in which Microcobitis was originally placed due to the similar shape of the lamina circularis in males; stilaspi: Name 'stilaspi' from the Greek word meaning 'in the mud', in reference to the habitat of the new species. A noun in apposition.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical
Asia: Laos.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 4.2 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 138333)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: post dorsal body is conspicuously twisted upwards, then horizontal again, with a mid-dorsal swelling forming a protuberance above the end of the base of the anal fin in males; pectoral fin reaches about ½ to of distance to pelvic-fin origin in males; one black spot at each upper and lower extremities of caudal-fin base; and the origin of the pelvic fin is under the base of branched dorsal-fin rays 1-3 (Ref. 138333).
Body shape (shape guide): elongated; Cross section: oval.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Kottelat, M., 2025. Microcobitis stilaspi, a new species of loach from the Nam Theun watershed, central Laos (Teleostei: Cobitidae). Raffles Bull. Zool. 73:615-624. (Ref. 138333)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2 (Global))
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
Tools
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.7500 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00501 (0.00233 - 0.01079), b=3.08 (2.90 - 3.26), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.1 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
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