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Vigna's crystal loach (Paracobitis vignai) — Nemacheilidae

Vigna's crystal loach

Paracobitis vignai
Family: Nemacheilidae

The Vigna's crystal loach (Paracobitis vignai) is a freshwater fish of the family Nemacheilidae that grows up to 14 cm.

Length
14.2 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Carnivore
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

Vigna's crystal loach is a stone loach (Nemacheilidae) from streams and springs of the interior of the Middle East around Iran in West Asia. The species grows to about 8 cm and has a slender, elongate, yellow-brown body with fine marbling and barbels around the mouth. As a bottom-dweller it lives among gravel and stones and snaps at insect larvae and small invertebrates. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Vigna's crystal loach?

The Vigna's crystal loach has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a marbled pattern.

Where does the Vigna's crystal loach live?

The Vigna's crystal loach lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Vigna's crystal loach get?

The Vigna's crystal loach grows to a maximum of about 14 cm.

Is the Vigna's crystal loach dangerous to humans?

No, the Vigna's crystal loach is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Vignas kristal-bermpje sourced
English name
Vigna's crystal loach sourced
Scientific name
Paracobitis vignai
Family
Nemacheilidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
14.2 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Marbled sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Barbels
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

More from the family Nemacheilidae

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