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Tibetan stone loach (Triplophysa stoliczkai) — Nemacheilidae

Tibetan stone loach

Triplophysa stoliczkai
Family: Nemacheilidae

The Tibetan stone loach (Triplophysa stoliczkai) is a fish of the family Nemacheilidae that grows up to 16 cm.

Length
16.2 cm
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Central Asia (Tibetan Plateau)
Edibility
Not eaten

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Description

The Tibetan stone loach is a stone loach (Nemacheilidae) from cold, fast-flowing waters of the Tibetan Plateau and Central Asia, up to high altitude. The species grows to about 16 cm and has an elongate, sparsely scaled, brown-mottled body with three pairs of barbels around the inferior mouth. As a bottom-dweller it shelters among stones and gravel and searches for insect larvae, small crustaceans and detritus. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Tibetan stone loach?

The Tibetan stone loach is mainly brown and shows a marbled pattern. Sparsely scaled body and three pairs of barbels; highland loach

Where does the Tibetan stone loach live?

The Tibetan stone loach is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Central Asia (Tibetan Plateau)

How big does the Tibetan stone loach get?

The Tibetan stone loach grows to a maximum of about 16 cm. On average the species is around 10 cm.

Is the Tibetan stone loach dangerous to humans?

No, the Tibetan stone loach is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Tibetan stone loach edible?

The Tibetan stone loach is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

English name
Tibetan stone loach sourced
Scientific name
Triplophysa stoliczkai
Family
Nemacheilidae
Other names
Stoliczka's loach; Stoliczka triplophysa-loach sourced

Appearance

Size class
Medium
Max length (cm)
16.2 verified
Average length (cm)
9.7 sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Marbled sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
Yes sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Natural range
Central Asia (Tibetan Plateau) sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Insect larvae, small crustaceans and detritus inferred
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Highland mountain-stream loach; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Sparsely scaled body and three pairs of barbels; highland loach sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Not a target species for angling; at most an incidental catch or usable as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Triplophysa

More from the family Nemacheilidae

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