Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cypriniformes (Carps) >
Nemacheilidae (Brook loaches)
Etymology: Schistura: Greek, schizein = to divide + Greek, oura = tail; an allusion to forked caudal fins (Ref. 45335); nicholsi: Named for J.T. Nichols.
Eponymy: John Treadwell Nichols (1883–1958) was an American ichthyologist, mammalogist and ornithologist. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Smith.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical
Asia: Mekong basin in Laos and Thailand (Ref. 27732) and probably occurs in the upland areas of eastern Cambodia (Ref. 12693).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 7.4 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 43281)
Dorsal soft rays (total): 12; Anal soft rays: 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).
Body shape (shape guide): elongated.
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).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Rainboth, W.J., 1996. Fishes of the Cambodian Mekong. FAO species identification field guide for fishery purposes. FAO, Rome, 265 p. (Ref. 12693)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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