| Family: |
Nemacheilidae (Brook loaches) |
| Max. size: |
12.2 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 21.5 g |
| Environment: |
demersal; freshwater; pH range: 6.80000019073486 - 7.80000019073486; dH range: 8 - 18 |
| Distribution: |
Asia: Salween River drainage in Thailand and Myanmar. |
| Diagnosis: |
Paracanthocobitis zonalternans differs from all its congeners by combination of the following characters: lateral line incomplete, ending near insertion of dorsal fin; dorsal fin with 9½-10½ branched rays; presence of axillary pelvic lobe; series of black blotches, usually without black stripe but with faint dusky stripe, along side of body, usually ending near dorsal-fin insertion; circular black spot on upper margin of caudal-fin base; black pigment extending from lateral stripe onto pectoral-fin base; absence of marmorated pattern anterior to origin of dorsal fin; dorsal saddles short, rarely connecting to lateral blotches; and upper caudal fin with 8 (occasionally 7) branched rays (Ref. 117351). |
| Biology: |
Found in a variety of streams from river mainstreams to small brooks. Apparently avoids mountain streams with steep gradient and prefer shallow riffles over small pebbles above which its marmorated color pattern makes it inconspicuous from the surface. Also collected on a muddy to sandy substrate with a few stones and numerous gastropod shells in depths ranging from 0.05 to 0.5 m. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 22 January 2010 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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