Schistura nicholsi (Smith, 1933)
Schistura nicholsi
photo by FAO

Family:  Nemacheilidae (Brook loaches)
Max. size:  7.4 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  Asia: Mekong basin in Laos and Thailand (Ref. 27732) and probably occurs in the upland areas of eastern Cambodia (Ref. 12693).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-12; Anal soft rays: 8-8. Has 8-10 dark, quite irregular, vertical bars somewhat wider than interspaces; a complete black bar at caudal-fin base; in life, a black spot at the anterior base of the dorsal fin followed by an orange to red spot; an elongated dark blotch; an incomplete lateral line reaching at most to vertical of anal-fin origin; no median incision in upper lip (Ref. 27732). Caudal fin emarginate (Ref. 39226); caudal peduncle length 6.5-7.5 times in SL, depth 0.8-1.2 times in length (Ref. 43281). Dorsal-fin origin above or in front of pelvic-fin insertion; top of head spotted; scales absent on belly in front of tip of pectoral fin (Ref. 12693).
Biology:  Occurs in shallow riffles in small streams with fast flowing water over pebbled bottom. It probably feeds on insect larvae and small amounts of algae (Ref. 12693). A female 7.84 cm SL with ovulae 1.0-1.2 mm in diameter (Ref. 39226).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 08 July 2011 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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