Schistura deansmarti Vidthayanon & Kottelat, 2003
Schistura deansmarti
photo by Panitvong, N.

Family:  Nemacheilidae (Brook loaches)
Max. size:  10.47 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater
Distribution:  Asia: Tham Phra Sai Ngam cave in Thailand.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-13; Anal soft rays: 8-8. Body pinkish white in life, without color pattern; feebly developed suborbital flap in male, with a shallow groove outlining only tip of flap; a long, pointed flap-like nostril tube; eye subcutaneous, vestigial, in a small pit, or apparently missing; eye pit or slit often missing and not connected with groove bordering suborbital flap in male; in females, no groove in position homologous to that of groove behind suborbital flap; eye becoming indistinct at about 4 cm SL; snout conical; dorsal head profile flushed with that of body (Ref. 51711).
Biology:  Inhabits cave with only stagnant water in the dry season and with reportedly only moderate flow in the rainy season. Occurs approximately 200 m from the entrance. Mostly found resting on the bottom, sometimes free swimming, near crevices where they hide if chased.
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable (VU); Date assessed: 25 February 2011 (D2) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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