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Nemacheilus troglocataractus
Kottelat & Géry, 1989 |
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Common Name:
Etymology: trogle (Gr) hole; cataracta (L)
waterfall.
Major Synonyms:
History: Collected in February 1986 by R. Brouquisse and in
June 1986 by the Thais-Maros expedition. |
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Morphological Characteristics:
68 mm standard length (SL). Ray counts:
dorsal
soft rays (total): 11-12;
anal
soft rays: 8-8. Absence of eyes and pigmentation; presence of a nuchal
cavity; slightly compressed body, tapering posteriorly; head depressed,
conical when seen from above.
Troglomorphic Characters:
Eye Condition:
From vestigial eyes to totally absent.
Pigmentation: Depigmented.
Scales: Scales embedded.
Swim (gas)
bladder: No information available.
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Picture:
http://www.loaches.com/species_images/nemacheilus_troglocataractus_01_large.jpg |
| Distribution: Thailand:
Kanchanaburi Province: Tham (Cave) Wang Badan [= Tham Sai Yok Noi, =Tham Nam Tok,
Tham Vang Ba Dahl], 3 km
north-northwest of Nam Tok (14o 15' N, 99o 04' E). |
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Habitat and
Ecology: Found in an underwater stream, at the headwater stream with a
relatively low volume of water flowing over rocks, alternating with small
pools and gravel-bottomed shallow reaches. Syntopic with
Pterocryptis buccata. It may be preyed upon by a cave shrimp
species of the genus Macrobrachium sp. Its population size is
unknown (Trajano et al. 2002). |
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Food and Feeding: |
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Reproduction and Development: |
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Other Behaviors: Few
individuals were seen adhering to rocks in fast-flowing, well-aerated
water or swimming in the pools. This species exhibits agonistic
behavior upon encounter. |
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Conservation
Status: Vulnerable (International union for the Conservation of
Nature, IUCN) (D2).
Major Threats:
This fish has been collected for the aquarium trade. |
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Conservation Plans: |
| Phylogenetic Relationships:
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