Imotzki Spined Loach

Can be diagnosed from other congeners in Europe by the combination of the following characters: one lamina circularis; caudal peduncle 1.9-2.3 times longer than deep; upper caudal-fin base with a single, indistinct black spot or without black spot; back with 1-3 postdorsal blotches, almost roundish with convex lateral margins; zone Z1 indistinct with few very small to small spots, narrower than zone Z2; on predorsal body, zone Z3 formed by few very small spots in males, narrower or as wide as Z2; on postdorsal body, zones 1-3 confluent in males; distance between tip of pectoral fin and origin of pelvic 73-82% of pelvic-fin length (Ref. 75104).Description: dorsal fin with 3 simple and 6½ branched rays; anal fin with 3 simple and 5½ branched rays; pectoral fin with 8 and 9 branched rays; and pelvic fin with 6 branched rays (Ref. 75104).

During courtship, 'the male follows the female and, after both enter dense vegetation (e.g. filamentous algae), the male forms a complete ring around the female's body behind the dorsal as the female releases the eggs' (Ref. 59043).

Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Analsoft rays: 9

Found in still waters of lakes on mud bottom (Ref. 59043). Congeners are oviparous, possibly with distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).