Zebra loach

Zebra loach ( Botia striata )

The Zebra Loach ( Botia striata ) is a carp -like tropical freshwater fish in the family of clown loaches.

Features

Botia striata is a small six to eight inches total length representatives of the clown loaches that are different from most other fish schmerlenartigen by a high-backed body that is laterally strongly compressed. To the under constant foot three pairs are arranged short and thin barbels. The head and cheeks are no scales, while the smooth -looking body is covered with numerous very small scales.

Fins formula: Dorsal II/9-10, Anal I/6-7, pectoral 13-14, Ventral 8

The coloring of the Zebra Loach consists of a pattern of very narrow vertical stripes in light and dark brown and green tones. In adult specimens can appear reddish some of the strips. At the top, the transverse bands in the direction of the mouth. The fins carry some composite of dots longitudinal bands. Your Suborbitaldorn is below the eye, is bicuspid and can be erected. All Prachtschmerlenarten can produce crackling sounds with which they indeed no express claims area but obtain personal space.

Occurrence and risk

Botia striata is native to the clear and fast-flowing mountain streams and rivers, especially in Thunga River, in the Western Ghats and in the southern Indian states of Maharashtra and Karnataka.

The Zebra Loach is a habitat specialist, her previously known habitat is therefore limited to less than 400 km ². She is still fragmented in 4 areas. Their habitat is threatened by siltation due to deforestation and pollution. From the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources ( IUCN), the Zebra Loach is classified as endangered ( Endangered, EN).

Way of life

Little is known about the lifestyle, food, behavior, and reproduction in nature. Botia striata takes their food preference from the ground, preferably sandy or gravelly subsoil. Because of aquarium observations can be assumed that water snails are part of the natural diet of.

System

The Zebra Loach 1920 was described by the Indian zoologists Narayan Rao scientifically. The five captured in Shimoga types are deposited in the British Museum of Natural History under the Katalognummerm 1919.11.19.8-12. In 1958 described by Kalawar & Kelkar Botia kolhapurensis var, is an invalid synonym description.

Relevance to humans

The Zebra Loach is a regularly traded as young fish aquarium fish. Under aquarium conditions, reproduction has not yet succeeded.