Scientific classification
· Kingdom: Animalia· Phylum: Chordata
· Class: Actinopterygii
· Order: Cypriniformes
· Family: Nemacheilidae
· Genus: Acanthocobitis
· Subgenus: Paracanthocobitis
· Species: P. urophthalma
Basic Description
Acanthocobitis (Paracanthocobitis) urophthalma, also known as the banded mountain zipper loach, is a species of ray-finned fish. This species is endemic to southwestern Sri Lanka.
Tiger loach can grow up to 6 cm in length. Their body is higher than their width. Lateral black colour stripes can be seen all over the body.
They are not straight band like stripes, but irregular stripes. Rest of the body is brown/ red brown colour. 6 barbels can be seen around the mouth and they are prominent than other loach types.
Distribution and habitat
Personally, I have recovered this species in the streams and rivers (Seethawaka river basin) in Daraniyagala, Waga streaming system, and streams at Bulathkohupitiya area in Kegalle.
This species can be found in the streams with gravel sandy substrate, clean water and medium flow rate. Average water temperature is around 20°C-24°C.
Diet and feeding habits
Normally they feed on small Aquatic invertebrates like larval stages of different insects, shrimps and prawns, small freshwater snails. They are a little bit territorial and aggressive when feeding.
Threaten and conservation state
This is a relatively rare species of freshwater fish that lives only in a small part of the country and the main threaten to them is their habitat lost due to development projects like hydro electrical dams.
The agricultural chemical used in tea culture, also pollute their natural habitat.
According to the IUCN their conservation state is conservation dependent.
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