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Abstract
Morphological characters of the stone loach, Schistura cf. nicholsi, were studied. Twenty-eight specimens of the stone loach fish were collected by scoop nets from Salad Dai Waterfall, Nakon Nayok Province, Bangpakong River Basin, Thailand. Some morphological characteristics, for instance a black spot at the base of the dorsal fin, the lateral line complete, lips thick, and the lower lip with a median sulcus were observed, measured, and then compared with morphological characteristics of Schistura nicholsi (Smith, 1933), a closely related species. The results show that the specimens collected from Salad Dai Waterfall agreed well with Schistura nicholsi but only a few variations have been found. The characteristic to distinguish S. nicholsi from other species in the genus is the presence of the median incision on the upper lip. This character was found in all specimens examined. However, the character was not documented in the original description of S. nicholsi. For the moment, we roughly identify these specimens as S. nicholsi. Moreover, this stone loach fish is recorded for the first time in the Bangpakong River Basin.
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References
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