Schistura psittacula Freyhof & Serov, 2001

Family:  Nemacheilidae (Brook loaches)
Max. size:  6.38 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater
Distribution:  Asia: Cam Lo and Ben Hai rivers in Viet Nam.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-12; Anal soft rays: 8-8. Differs from its congeners in Indochina by the combination of the following characters: very broad processus dentiformis in upper jaw; caudal fin with 9+8 branched rays; caudal peduncle 0.9-1.2 times longer than deep, depth 13.2-16.2% SL; interorbital distance 28.4-34.3% HL; lateral head length 20.8-23.8% SL; eye 13.5-19.4% HL; anus situated 1.7-2.5 eye diameter in front of anal-fin origin; intestine with a wide loop, anteriorly reaching mid-length of stomach; 7-14 dark bars on body wider than interspaces, regularly shaped and set, not forming blotches; bars meeting their homologues on back; a complete black bar at caudal-fin base, reaching dorsal and ventral midlines; last yellow bar prominent and never darker; head dark brown (Ref. 40772).
Biology:  Abundant in riffles with rocks and gravel and high water velocities (Ref. 40772). Feeds on aquatic invertebrates (Ref. 40772). Associated with Annamia normani, Schistura huongensis, Mastacembelus armatus, Rhinogobius ocellatus and Anguilla marmorata (Ref. 40772).
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 11 August 2010 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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