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Triplophysa zhaoi Prokofiev, 2006 |
| Family: | Nemacheilidae (Brook loaches) | |||
| Max. size: | 8 cm SL (male/unsexed) | |||
| Environment: | demersal; freshwater | |||
| Distribution: | Asia: China. | |||
| Diagnosis: | Dorsal spines (total): 3-3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6-6; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 5-5; Vertebrae: 42-44. Distinguished from its congeners in having 6 branched dorsal fin rays; no thickened rays in the unpaired fins; caudal peduncle laterally compressed and shorter than the head; pelvic fins inserted on the level of mid-base of the dorsal fin; 4 pectoral bony radials, where second radial is only slightly expanded and weakly blocked with the first radial; anterior and posterior nares closely spaced; occipital canal continuous with 3 pores; well-developed free air-bladder portion in the abdominal cavity; intestine long and spirally coiled; complete body lateral line; sphenotic contacting epiotic; minute anterior fontanelle in the skull; 4 basibranchials and 2 pairs of infrapharyngobranchials in the branchial apparatus; the pads of the breeding tubercles are weakly-developed in the preorbital region of the mature males, and such pad below the infraorbital canal is comma-shaped (Ref. 57977). | |||
| Biology: | Inhabits swampy creeks. A moderately small species, found mature at 56 mm SL or more (Ref. 57977). | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||