Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cypriniformes (Carps) >
Nemacheilidae (Brook loaches)
Etymology: Nemacheilus: Greek, nema, -atos = filament + Greek, cheilos = lip (Ref. 45335); cleopatra: Named after the brillant Queen of Egypt, Cleopatra (69BC-30BC).
Eponymy: Cleopatra (69–30 BC) was Queen of Egypt (52–30 BC), probably best remembered today for her role in Shakespeare’s: Antony and Cleopatra. She was a legendary beauty, leading the authors to name this ‘elegant’ fish after her. (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on authors: Freyhof & Serov.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical
Asia: River Ba or Da Rang, Viet Nam.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 8.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 40772)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 9. 9.5 branched dorsal-fin rays; no conspicuous large black spot on anterior dorsal-fin rays; body with 9-13 vertically elongated dark blotches, reaching beyond lateral line in large specimens, 8-11 saddles along dorsal midline; no conspicuous black stripe along lateral line or at mid-dorsal longitudinal line; caudal peduncle 1.4-1.9 times longer than deep; predorsal part of body covered by embedded scales; no acuminate scales on caudal peduncle; a distinct median incision in upper lip.
Body shape (shape guide): elongated.
Inhabits fast flowing water on open sand substratum.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Freyhof, J. and D.V. Serov, 2001. Nemacheiline loaches from Central Vietnam with descriptions of a new genus and 14 new species (Cypriniformes: Balitoridae). Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwat. 12(2):133-191. (Ref. 40772)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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