Schistura nicholsi (Smith 1933)

Has 8-10 dark, quite irregular, vertical bars somewhat wider than interspaces; a complete black bar at caudal-fin base; in life, a black spot at the anterior base of the dorsal fin followed by an orange to red spot; an elongated dark blotch; an incomplete lateral line reaching at most to vertical of anal-fin origin; no median incision in upper lip (Ref. 27732). Caudal fin emarginate (Ref. 39226); caudal peduncle length 6.5-7.5 times in SL, depth 0.8-1.2 times in length (Ref. 43281). Dorsal-fin origin above or in front of pelvic-fin insertion; top of head spotted; scales absent on belly in front of tip of pectoral fin (Ref. 12693).

Dorsal soft rays (total): 12; Analsoft rays: 8

Occurs in shallow riffles in small streams with fast flowing water over pebbled bottom. It probably feeds on insect larvae and small amounts of algae (Ref. 12693). A female 7.84 cm SL with ovulae 1.0-1.2 mm in diameter (Ref. 39226).

Schistura nicholsi is a species of ray-finned fish, a stone loach, in the genus Schistura. It is found in the Mekong basin of north eastern Thailand, Laos and it is also likely to be found in Cambodia. It occurs in shallow riffles with moderate to fast flows. Human modification of the rivers' morphology through such activities as logging and agriculture are affecting this species range. However, its distribution covers a wide geographic range and it is assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN. The specific name honors John Treadwell Nichols (1883-1958) who was curator of fishes at the American Museum of Natural History and who made an important contribution to the ichthyology of China, and especially to the knowledge of loaches.