Schistura notostigma (Bleeker, 1863)
Spotback loach
photo by Greco, F.M.

Family:  Nemacheilidae (Brook loaches)
Max. size:  6.31 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater; pH range: 6 - 8; dH range: 5 - 12
Distribution:  Asia: endemic to Sri Lanka.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-11; Anal soft rays: 8-8. Schistura notostigma differs from all congeners from peninsular India and Sri Lanka by the combination of the following characters: 6-7 wide, brown bars on the posterior half of the body; width of interspaces equal ½-1 times the width of the bars; black bar on caudal-fin base complete, narrower than the width of the interspaces on the body; emarginate caudal fin; incomplete lateral line ending beneath the dorsal-fin base; adpressed pelvic fin surpassing the anus; 7½ branched rays on dorsal fin; pelvic-fin origin beneath first branched dorsal-fin ray; 4-8 pre-operculo-mandibular pores; and suborbital flap in males absent (Ref. 116162).
Biology:  Prefers to inhabit fast flowing streams with a rock or pebble substrate (Ref. 116162). Found usually browsing among pebbles in shallow, flowing water. Can ascend steep inclines and also occurs in even the highest mountain streams (Ref. 6028).
IUCN Red List Status: Near Threatened (NT); Date assessed: 05 August 2019 (B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.