Jonklaas's Loach

About

Jonklaas's loach (Lepidocephalichthys jonklaasi) is a small, rarely encountered cobitid known from only a handful of localities in Sri Lanka, including the type locality near Akuressa and parts of the Kalu River basin. In the wild it occupies shallow, slow-moving rivulets that are heavily shaded and carpeted with fallen leaf debris. This fish spends its time concealed beneath that litter rather than out in open water. It can be identified among its relatives by the combination of a truncate or rounded caudal fin bearing three to six broad, evenly spaced dark bars, a series of large vertically elongated black spots along the flanks that often merge into irregular bars, and the absence of scales on top of the head. Like all cobitids, it carries sharp sub-ocular spines that normally lie flat against the face but extend when the fish is stressed. Worth knowing if you ever need to net one, as the spines can snag in mesh. Despite being listed as aggressive and territorial in care references, broader notes on the genus suggest these loaches are generally tolerant of tankmates, though they may target eggs or fry. The species is essentially absent from the aquarium trade and its rarity in the wild makes that unlikely to change, so encounters outside of specialist collections are very uncommon.