Lepidocephalichthys thermalis, known as common spiny loach or spotted loach, is a species of freshwater fish found in India and Sri Lanka.[1][2]
They are found usually in quiet, flowing waters with a sandy substrate. It grows to 38cm (15in)standard length.[2]
The species name, thermalis, references the fact that the type locality of this species was the Kanniya Hot Springs from Sri Lanka. However, this species is not exclusively restricted to hot springs.[3]
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 and 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. 33mm SL), (Havird and 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.
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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.
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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 The Society for Environmental Education; Unpublished report.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.
Daraniyagala, P.E.P., (1952); A colored atlas of some vertebrates from Ceylon, volume one, Fishes, Ceylon national museums, Colombo.
De Silva, M.P. (1998); Biodiversity in the catchments of Hiyare Reservoir; Proceedings 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. and 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.
Gerhard, H.F. and Hans-jurgen, (2003- Unpublished); A new record of Lepidocephalichthys jonklaasi (Daraniyagala, 1956) (Teleostei; Cypriniformes, Cobitidae); (Unpublished).
Havird, J.C. and Page, L.M.; 2010; A Revision of Lepidocephalichthys (Teleostei: Cobitidae) with Descriptions of Two New Species from Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Myanmar; Copeia online publication
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IUCN, (2007); The 2007 list of threatened fauna and flora of Sri Lanka, IUCN Sri Lanka.
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Wildlife conservation society (2008); the study of the faunal diversity in Galle district, southern Sri Lanka, Wildlife conservation society, Galle Sri Lanka.
↑ "Archived copy"(PDF). portals.iucn.org. Archived from the original(PDF) on 12 January 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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