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Glyptothorax macromaculatus Li, 1984

Image contributors to this species:

Freshwater Fishes of China in Coloured Illustrations (2) Nonn Panitvong (2) Drake Shaw (3)

ScotCat Sources:

Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

Description: Distinguishable by its two dark saddles on the body (at dorsal fin origin and under the adipose fin), becoming indistinct in specimens >10 cm SL; the rest of the body usually covered by irregular spots and blotches; neural spines distally pointed; absence of ridge or series of bumps along dorsal mid-line between the dorsal and adipose fins. Glyptothorax is distinguished from all other sisorid genera by having an adhesive apparatus on the thorax with with grooves parallel or oblique to the longitudinal axis of the body (vs. thoracic adhesive grooves transverse to the longitudinal axis of the body in Pseudecheneis, and thoracic adhesive apparatus absent in all other genera). Habitat: Usually associated with fast flowing streams and headwaters. Etymology: The specific name macromaculatus: macro-, from makrós, long or large; maculatus (L.), blotched, referring to saddle-like vertical bands or blotches on sides.

Common Name:

None

Synonyms:

None

Family:

Sisoridae

Distribution:

Asia: Mekong drainage, China and Laos. Type locality: Yangbi Xian (Mekong drainage), Yunnan, China.

Size:

15.0cm. (6ins)

Temp:

22-25°c (71-77°f.)

p.H.

6.0-7.0.

IUCN Red List

This species is known from the Mekong basin in Yunnan, Myanmar and Lao PDR, and probably Thailand. It inhabits stretches of streams with fast water and rapids, in the upper parts of drainages. Parts of its range are in protected areas. Little in known about its ecology. Anthropogenic modification of river morphology impacts this species by reducing or interrupting fast water flow. Several dams exist or are planed in its EOO. Logging, deforestation and agriculture occurs in the area, with associated impacts on the aquatic environment (M. Kottelat per. comm. 2011). Because the species covers a wide extent of occurrence (EOO) it is listed as Least Concerned, but does need updating, (IUCN 2012).

Reference:

Alfred W. Thomson & Lawrence M. Page; 30 October 2006. Genera of the Asian Catfish Families Sisoridae and Erethistidae (Teleostei: Siluriformes) (Zootaxa 1345).
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2008. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version (10/2008).
Kottelat, M. 2012. Glyptothorax macromaculatus (errata version published in 2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2012.
Kottelat, M., 2013. The fishes of the inland waters of Southeast Asia: a catalogue and core bibliography of the fishes known to occur in freshwaters, mangroves and estuaries. The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 2013 (Suppl. 27):1-663.
The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database © Christopher Scharpf.

Family: Sisoridae Back to Ident-A-Cat Click on Thumbnails

Glyptothorax macromaculatus

Glyptothorax macromaculatus
Showing the thoracic disk

Glyptothorax macromaculatus

Glyptothorax macromaculatus
"Yellow Top"

Glyptothorax macromaculatus
Dorsal view

Glyptothorax macromaculatus
Head view

Glyptothorax macromaculatus

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