This species has been available in the trade for decades during which time it’s been widely misidentified as the valid congeners K. bicirrhis or, more recently, K. minor.

Its identity was not resolved until early 2013 meaning you will find it under one of these two names in the majority of literature published prior to that date.

Other trade names include ‘Asia…

This is the most commonly-encountered representative of the genus in the aquatic trade though is by no means common. As in other members of the genus body colouration is highly variable, even among individuals collected from a single locality, although a few useful regularities have been observed which can be used to distinguish certain species. This is thought related to the fact that Acrochordonichthys spp. periodically shed their skins and appear paler post-moulting.

A. rugosus lends its …