Schistura imitator Kottelat, 2000

Family:  Nemacheilidae (Brook loaches)
Max. size:  4.49 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  Asia: Xe Kong of the Mekong basin in Laos.
Diagnosis:  Anterior nostril pierced on front side of a flap; processus dentiformis present; upper lip almost smooth, with a broad median notch, lower lip interrupted medially; lower jaw with a deep notch; lateral line complete; anus closer from pelvic-fin base than anal-fin origin; 9.5 branched dorsal-fin rays; 5.5 branched anal-fin rays; caudal fin emarginate, with 9+8 branched rays; axillary pelvic lobe present; body with 9-11 dark brown bars wider than interspaces, sometimes very regular, sometimes irregular or branched; black bar at caudal-fin base complete but faint along dorsal and ventral midlines; dorsal fin with one or two grey blotches along base and a black subdistal stripe, on both rays and membranes; a red mark along anterior edge of fin and on the following rays immediately above the black subdistal stripe; caudal fin reddish, pectoral and pelvic fins yellowish (Ref. 36949).
Biology:  Found in fast flowing water, rapids; Schistura imitator has always been collected together with S. khamtanhi (Ref. 36949).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 20 January 2011 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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