Tachysurus spilotus Ng, 2009
photo by Ng, H.H.

Family:  Bagridae (Bagrid catfishes)
Max. size:  6.93 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  Asia: central Vietnam. Da Nang province, Song Thuy Loan drainage, Suoi Mo, Ba Na foothills (Ref. 82737).
Diagnosis:  Tachysurus spilotus can be distinguished from congeners except T. argentivittatus, T. longispinalis and T. virgatus in having a color pattern consisting of black longitudinal stripes on a pale body (vs. with a uniform-colored body, with pale patches or transverse bands on a dark body, or with dark rectangular patches on a pale body). It differs from T. argentivittatus in having a less bulbous snout, a notched (vs. uninterrupted) dark dorsal band and gently convex (vs. straight) posterior edges of the caudal-fin lobes; from T. longispinalis in having a shorter dorsal-fin spine (ca. 27% SL vs. 15.1–19.0) and maxillary barbels shorter (vs. longer) than head; and from T. virgatus in having a gently convex (vs. straight) posterior edges of the caudal-fin lobes, the presence of dark spots at the basal third of the caudal-fin lobes (vs. a dark line running through the middle of each caudal-fin lobe), and a more broadly convex snout when viewed dorsally or ventrally (Ref. 82737).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 04 April 2011 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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