New 🐟 Mercury Safety Guide & Omega-3 Rankings Updated for 2026. View Omega-3 Rankings →

💧 Freshwater Endangered 🌡️ Temperate

Spotted spined loach

Cobitis puncticulata Ekmekçi & Nalbant, 1998
Max Length
6.2 cm
Max Weight
Lifespan
Trophic Level
3.2
Depth
Climate
Temperate
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
26.00/100
Typical Length
Depth Zone

📖 Overview

Found in streams with still to moderately flowing clear water and mud bottom . Oviparous, possibly with distinct pairing during breeding similar to congeners .

Scientific Name
Cobitis puncticulata
Authority
Ekmekçi & Nalbant, 1998
Habitat
Freshwater
Climate
Temperate
Body Shape
Elongated
IUCN Status
EN
Max Length
6.2 cm
Trophic Level
3.2
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
26.00/100
Salinity
0–0.5 ppt

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 5. Body relatively high, head small, eyes placed in anterior part. Unusual color pattern, consists of small dark-gray dots, throughout body and head. Mouth slightly arched with three pairs of long barbels. Lips finely furrowed. Mental lobes developed, with pointed tips. Appears unique in its morphological features. Pigmentation (Gambetta's longitudinal zone of pigmentation): blotches of zone Z2 and Z4 very small, indistinct or confluent; flank pigmented below zone Z4. One lamina circularis .: elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Spotted spined loach is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Spotted spined loach is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

During courtship, 'the male follows the female and, after both enter dense vegetation (e.g. filamentous algae), the male forms a complete ring around the female's body behind the dorsal as the female releases the eggs' .

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; benthopelagic. Temperate

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
💧 Freshwater
Trophic Level
3.2±0.4

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00513 × L3.08 (TL)
Max TL
6.2cm
Dorsal Spines
3
Dorsal Rays
6
Anal Spines
2
Anal Rays
5

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
0–0.5ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Endangered
Assessment Date
2022

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Medium
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
26.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.2
Predator
Body Shape
Elongated
Climate Zone
Temperate
Described By
Ekmekçi & Nalbant, 1998

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
0 Observations logged on Aquareap

No observations yet — be the first to log one!

View all observations for Spotted spined loach ↗
Suggest an Edit

Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.

Link to a scientific paper, FishBase, or other authoritative source
Report an Issue

Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.