Kottelatlimia hipporhynchos Kottelat & Tan, 2008

Family:  Cobitidae (Spined loaches)
Max. size:  5.21 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  South East Asia: Borneo, Malaysia. Known only from southern Borneo (Kalimantan Tengah province), in Kahayan, Sampit and Kapuas basins (homonym of the much larger Kapuas of Kalimantan Barat) (Ref. 79884).
Diagnosis:  Vertebrae: 34-36. Kottelatlimia hipporhynchos is distinguished from congeners by the extreme development of papillae on all mouth parts (lips, barbels, lobes), including very long papillae along the anterior edge of the main digitation of the median lobe of the lower lip (vs. smooth mouth parts, no papillae along edge of main digitation. Further, in males, K. hipporhynchos is distinguished from K. pristes by the posterior projections of the upper hemitrichium of the first branched pectoral-fin ray being broad, contiguous and forming a blade-like structure. In K. pristes, these projections (except the proximal ones) are pointed and directed backwards, spine-like, not contiguous, appearing as a saw-like structure. In K. katik, the projections of the upper hemitrichium of the first branched pectoral-fin ray are narrow and form 6–7 fine serrae (Ref. 79884).
Biology:  Found in various habitats, with different substrates (including peat), but most abundant in streams with clear tannin-stained water on white sandy bottom; observed resting on the sand substrate or diving into it. This species has occasionally been collected at the same localities as Kottelatlimia pristes, but it does not occupy the same habitat, the latter was not observed on sandy substrate but on or inside peat, soil and leave litter (Ref. 79884).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 28 November 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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