Lepidocephalichthys thermalis

Lepidocephalichthys thermalis

Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 2.3)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Cypriniformes
Family:	Cobitidae
Genus:	Lepidocephalichthys
Species:	L. thermalis
Binomial name
*Lepidocephalichthys thermalis* (Valenciennes 1846)
Synonyms
Cobitis carnaticus Jerdon, 1849 Cobitis carnaticus Jerdon, 1849 Cobitis mysorensis Jerdon, 1849 Cobitis mysorensis Jerdon, 1849 Cobitis rubripinnis Jerdon, 1849 Cobitis rubripinnis Jerdon, 1849 Cobitis thermalis Valenciennes, 1846 Cobitis thermalis Valenciennes, 1846 Lepidocephalichthys thermalis (Valenciennes, 1846) Lepidocephalichthys thermalis (Valenciennes, 1846) Platacanthus agrensis Day, 1865 Platacanthus agrensis Day, 1865

Lepidocephalichthys thermalis, known as the Common Spiny loach or the spotted loach, is a freshwater fish species restricted to India and Sri Lanka.^[1]

They are found usually in quiet, flowing waters with a sandy substrate.^[2]

Related species and diagnosis

Also endemic Lepidocephalichthys jonklaasi is found in Sri Lanka. Jayaram (1981) reports that at least six other species occur in the north-eastern part of India (Assam to Burma). Tilak & Hussain (1981) have written a review on the systematics of the Indian members of the genus.

Lepidocephalichthys jonklaasi is distinguished from L. furcatus, L. micropogon, L. manipurensis, and L. goalparensis by rounded/truncated (vs. forked) caudal fin, from L. irrorata and L. kranos by absence of scales on top of head, from L. guntea, L. hasselti, L. tomaculum, L. alkaia, and L. annandalei by broad regularly spaced dark bars (vs. reticulations, spots, or stripe) on caudal fin, from L. thermalis, L. arunachalensis, L. coromandelensis, and L. berdmorei by vertically elongated, dark spots on side that form irregular, thin bars (vs. round spots that sometimes form squares or thin stripe), and from L. lorentzi by thinner, more irregularly spaced dark side bars, dorsal-fin origin anterior (vs. posterior) to pelvic-fin origin, and larger size (to 45 vs. 33 mm SL), (Havird & Page 2010).

The two Sri Lankan species L. jonklaasi and L.thermalis are not very closely related. They are easily differentiated by body shape and proportions, colour pattern, and form of sexual dimorphism that is unique to L. jonklaasi. Further, a mature adult L. jonklaasi is significantly longer than L. thermalis. It is not easily confused with L. thermalis owing to its distinctive colour pattern and robust, tubular body.

References

↑ http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/172360/0
↑ Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2013). "Lepidocephalichthys thermalis" in FishBase. April 2013 version.

Amarasinghe. U. S., shirantha. R. R. A. R., Wijeyaratne. M. J. S., (2006); Some Aspects of Ecology of Endemic Freshwater fishes of Sri Lanka; The Fauna of Sri Lanka Status of Taxonomy, Research and Conservation, IUCN Sri Lanka.^[1]

Bambaradeniya, C.N.B. (2003); An overview of the flora and fauna of the Kanneliya- Dediyagala-Nakiyadeniya forest Complex- A Proposed Biosphere Reserve in Sri Lanka; Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka.

Bambaradeniya, C.N.B., Perera, M.S.J., Perera, W.P.N., Wickramasinghe, L.J.M., Kekulandala, L.D.C.B., Samarawickrama, V.A.P., Fernando, R.H.S.S., & Samarawickrama, V.A.M.P.K. (2003); Composition of faunal species in the Sinharaja World Heritage Site in Sri Lanka; The Sri Lanka Forester.

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Chamikara S.S. (2002); The diversity of freshwater fishes and current status. The Society for Environmental Education; Unpublished report.

Chamikara S.S. (2003); Dombagas kanda mathsya vividatwaya ha warthamana thtwaya (The diversity of freshwater fishes of Dombagas kanda and present status). Parisara sangrahaya (May–June) The Society for Environmental Education; Unpublished report.

Chamikara S.S. (2003); Fish diversity and present status of wet forests in Pahiyangala, Weligalpotta and Horanekanda; The Society for Environmental studies. Unpublished report.

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De Silva, M.P. (1998); Biodiversity in the catchments of Hiyare Reservoir; Proceeding of the 2nd Annual Forestry Symposium 1996.

Ekaratne, K., Fernando, R.H.S.S., De silva, S., Bambaradeniya, C.N.B., De silva, D., (2003); A Comparison of the Conservation and Legal Status of the Fauna and Flora of Sri Lanka, IUCN Sri Lanka.

Gamage,S. N., Liyanage, W. K. D. D., Gunawardena, A. & Wimalasuriya, S. ; 2006; Vertebrate diversity in a thirty year old analogue forest in Pitigala, Elpitiya, in the Galle District of Southern Sri Lanka; RUHUNA JOURNAL OF SCIENCE, Faculty of Science, University of Ruhuna.

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Herath, T. & Jayasinghe, H., (2005); Diversity of freshwater fish species of Pahiyangala & Yatagampitiya Proposed Reserve area; (Unpublished).

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IUCN, (2007); The 2007 list of threatened fauna and flora of Sri Lanka, IUCN Sri Lanka.

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Ministry of forestry & environment (2000); Statistical compendium on natural resources management Sri Lanka-2000, Ministry of forestry & environment.

Pethiyagoda, R., (1991); Fresh water fishes of Sri Lanka; WHT publications, Colombo.

Pethiyagoda, R., (2000) ; The fauna and flora protection ordinance; Loris, Journal of the wildlife and Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka.

Pethiyagoda, R., (2006); Conservation of Sri Lankan Freshwater Fishes; The Fauna of Sri Lanka Status of Taxonomy, Research and Conservation, IUCN Sri Lanka.

Ranasinghe, P. N. & Rathnayayake, A.,(1992); Fauna and Flora of Dombagaskanda forest and its conservation, Young Zoologist’s Association of Sri Lanka.

Senanayake, F. R. (1980); The biogeography and ecology of the inland fishes of Sri Lanka, (unpublished; Ph.D. Dissertation, Department of Wildlife & fisheries biology, University of California, Davis.

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External links

↑ https://portals.iucn.org/library/efiles/edocs/2006-030.pdf

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