Acantopsis dialuzona
Acantopsis dialuzona is a loach native to the swift, clear streams and rivers of mainland and archipelagic Southeast Asia, from India to Indonesia through the Chao Phraya and Mekong river basins. It can also be found in flooded fields.[2][3]
| Acantopsis dialuzona | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Cypriniformes |
| Family: | Cobitidae |
| Genus: | Acantopsis |
| Species: | A. dialuzona |
| Binomial name | |
| Acantopsis dialuzona van Hasselt, 1823 | |
| Synonyms | |
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The horseface loach or horsehead loach, formerly known as Acantopsis choirorhynchos, is now recognized as belonging to this species.[4]
Taxonomy
Under Maurice Kottelat's review and revision of the loaches in 2012, this species name is considered to be a junior synonym of A. dialuzona.[4]
Aquarium Keeping
A very similar species is the unofficially named longnose loach, Acantopsis octoactinotos, from which the horseface can be distinguished by the latter's down-turned (horse-like) nose. Additionally, the horseface loach buries itself in the bottom substratum (if silt or fine sand); the longnose loach does not. The horseface loach is fast moving; the longnose is rather slow. However, the longnose is more aggressive, regularly feeding on juvenile fishes.
The horseface loach's native substrate is one of sand or gravel, wherein it will characteristically burrow itself. These loaches spend much of their time buried in the substrate, leaving only their eyes uncovered. Due to this incessant burrowing, any live plants should be potted to avoid uprooting. The use of floating plants is recommended, as these loaches prefer subdued lighting. Horseface loaches are not picky eaters, but live food (such as tubifex) is relished.
The horseface loach is most active at night and mostly keeps to itself. It attains a maximum size of 30 centimetres (12 in) in length, but is considered mature from 6 centimetres (2.4 in). As of 1997, it had not been bred in captivity. It was first imported into Europe in 1929 by Edmund Riechers of Hamburg, Germany.
References
- Allen, D. (2013). "Acantopsis dialuzona". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T181193A1708206. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T181193A1708206.en.
- Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2012). "Acantopsis dialuzona" in FishBase. December 2012 version.
- Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2012). "Acantopsis choirorhynchos" in FishBase. December 2012 version.
- Kottelat, M. (2012): Conspectus cobitidum: an inventory of the loaches of the world (Teleostei: Cypriniformes: Cobitoidei). Archived 2013-02-11 at the Wayback Machine The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, Suppl. No. 26: 1-199.
Bibliography
- Baensch, Hans A., and Riehl, Rudiger. (1997). Baensch Aquarium Atlas, Vol. 1. (6th ed.), p. 366. Microcosm Ltd.; Shelburne, Vermont. ISBN 1-890087-05-X
- Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2005). "Acantopsis choirorhynchos" in FishBase. May 2005 version.
- "Acantopsis choirorhynchos". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved June 23, 2005.