Edit Homalopteroides weberi

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Name

Scientific name

Homalopteroides weberi

Described by

Authority Hora, Year 1932, Bracketed

Family

Balitoridae

Common names

Not recorded

Photograph credits

All 3 credited

Summary

Homalopteroides weberi is a hillstream loach from Sarawak in Malaysian Borneo, described from the Akar River and possibly endemic to the st…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

50mm, standard length

Aquarium size

Minimum length 60 cm, Minimum depth 30 cm, Water movement High: fast-flowing river or riffle

Water

Water conditions

Temperature 20–25°C, pH 6–7.5

Hardness

2–12dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Peaceful

Community suitability

Not for a community

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Malaysia, Borneo, Akar, Sadong

Writing

Etymology

Homalopteroides: From the ancient Greek εἶδος, eîdos (= form, likeness, resemblance) and the generic Homaloptera. weberi: in honor of ichthyologist Max Weber (…

Distribution

Type locality is 'Akar River, Sarawak state, Borneo, East Malaysia', and this species may be endemic to the Malaysian state of Sarawak in western Borneo.

Habitat

An obligate dweller of swiftly-flowing streams and headwaters containing clear, oxygen-saturated water. It often inhabits riffles and runs and is likely to dis…

Aquarium size

An aquarium with base dimensions of 60 ∗ 30 cm or equivalent is required for long-term maintenance.

Maintenance

Most importantly the water must be clean and well-oxygenated so we suggest the use of an over-sized filter as a minimum requirement. Turnover should ideally be…

Water conditions

Not written yet

Diet

Homalopteroides spp. are specialised micropredators feeding on small crustaceans, insect larvae and other invertebrates. In captivity some sinking dried foods …

Behaviour and compatibility

Not an aggressive fish although its particular requirements limit the choice of suitable tankmates. Species inhabiting similar environments include Barilius, D…

Sexual dimorphism

Unrecorded, but in congeners sexually mature females are usually a little larger and fuller-bodied than males.

Reproduction

Unrecorded

Notes

This species is poorly known in the aquarium hobby and may not yet have been traded. Kottelat (2012) questioned that this species might be synonymous with Bali…

This species is poorly known in the aquarium hobby and may not yet have been traded.

Kottelat (2012) questioned that this species might be synonymous with Balitoropsis stephensoni (Hora 1921) but Randall and Page (2012, 2014, 2015) consider it distinct and in Homalopteroides.

Following Randall and Page (2012) it possesses: 2 dark bands on the caudal-fin; 16 total pectoral-fin rays; pectoral-fin length greater than head length; scale count above and below line to pelvic-fin 6-7½/7-8½; 46-48 pored lateral-line scales; presence of an axillary lobe; pelvic-fin extending to or past anus; orbital length equal to interopercular width.

The genus Homalopteroides was itself revalidated by Randall and Page (2012) and is told apart from the related Homaloptera by the following character combination: dorsal-fin origin above pelvic-fin; ≤ 60 lateral-line scales; ≤ 30 predorsal scales; oral morphology consisting of two thin and widely separated rostral barbels on each side of the mouth, thin crescent-shaped lips, the absence of any structure such as a mental pad or lobes between the lateral portions of the lower lip, and a chin that extends anterior to the lateral portions of the lower lip.

Homalopteroides currently (February 2016) contains H. wassinkii, H. modestus, H. nebulosus, H. rupicola, H. smithi, H. tweediei, H. stephensoni, H. indochinensis, H. weberi, H. yuwonoi, H. avii and possibly H. manipurensis. These are all former members of Homaloptera, a polyphyletic grouping which following Randall and Page (2015)[4] was split into the genera Homaloptera, Homalopterula, Pseudohomaloptera, Homalopteroides, Balitoropsis, and Ghatsa.

Homalopteroides spp. are sometimes referred to as 'lizard' or 'gecko' loaches due to their behaviour and appearance. Like all balitorids they have morphology specialised for life in fast-flowing water, i.e., the paired fins are orientated and extended horizontally, head and body flattened, belly depressed.

These features form a powerful sucking cup which allows the fish to cling tightly to solid surfaces. The ability to swim in open water is greatly reduced and they instead appear to crawl and hop their way over rocks and other surfaces.

The family Balitoridae is widely-distributed across most of Eurasia with the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia and China representing particular centres of species diversity.

It was first proposed as a genetically distinct grouping in 2006, and according to current knowledge contains over 32 genera of which the most well-known in the aquarium hobby include Annamia, Beaufortia, Gastromyzon, Homaloptera, Liniparhomaloptera, Pseudogastromyzon, Sewellia, Sinogastromyzon and Vanmanenia.

These were previously considered members of the family Balitoridae, subfamily Balitorinae, but phylogenetic studies have revealed that though closely related Balitorid and Nemacheilid loaches did not evolve from the same common ancestor and represent separate genetic lineages.

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References

5 on this profile

Name

Scientific name

Described by

Family

Common names

Photograph credits

Summary

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

Aquarium size

Water

Water conditions

Hardness

Conductivity

Behaviour

Temperament

Social needs

Community suitability

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Writing

Etymology

Distribution

Habitat

Aquarium size

Maintenance

Water conditions

Diet

Behaviour and compatibility

Sexual dimorphism

Reproduction

Notes

References

References