Sewellia speciosa Roberts, 1998
Sewellia speciosa
photo by Germeau, G.

Family:  Gastromyzontidae (Hillstream loaches)
Max. size:  5.37 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater
Distribution:  Asia: Se Kong drainage in Laos and Vietnam.
Diagnosis:  Vertebrae: 31-32. Differs from other species of Sewellia by the following combination of characters: body spotted, without dark stripes; without concentric band on paired fins; pelvic fin reaching to anal-fin origin; pelvic-fin origin below dorsal-fin origin; small soft elevated patches of fine tubercles on first pectoral-fin rays in males; tubercles on simple pectoral-fin ray not enlarge; absence of cavity around mouth; absence of skin-fold between oropectoral membrane and ventral surface of head; and 50-60 lateral line scales (Ref. 40433).
Biology:  Inhabits rivers with rocky bottom, with gravel and stone and sometimes large boulders. River current is moderate to swift, but the gradient is moderate.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 19 February 2011 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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