Balitora burmanica Hora, 1932
Burmese stone loach
photo by Vidthayanon, C.

Family:  Balitoridae (River loaches)
Max. size:  10 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater; pH range: 7 - 7.5; dH range: 8
Distribution:  Asia: Irrawaddy, Salween and Tenasserim basins.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-11; Anal soft rays: 6-8. Distinguished from all other species of Balitora except B. brucei by its thin caudal peduncle (3-4 times longer than deep, vs. 1.9-2.8; length 16-21% SL, vs. 13-16% and 72-106% lateral HL, vs. 65-82); it differs from B. brucei by a larger eye (3.0-4.0% SL, vs. 2.3-3.3), thinner head (73-85% HL, versus 86-105) and shorter interorbital width (37-42% HL, versus 40-44) (Ref. 37826).
Biology:  In fast-flowing mountain creeks on rocky bottom; feeds on algae (Ref. 13371).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 19 April 2010 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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