Nemacheilus ruppelli, also known as the mongoose loach is a species of fish in the genus Nemacheilus. This fish is endemic to the Western Ghats of India. Recent evidence shows that there is only a marginal raw mitochondrial genetic distance between Nemachilichthys shimogensis and N. ruppelli.[2] Although morphometric difference occur at the population level, Keskar et al. conclude that there are no significant differences separating the two species.[2] Therefore they treat N. shimogensis as a synonym of N. ruppelli. The Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes follows this treatment.[4]
| Nemacheilus rueppelli | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Cypriniformes |
| Family: | Nemacheilidae |
| Genus: | Nemacheilus |
| Species: | N. rueppelli
|
| Binomial name | |
| Nemacheilus rueppelli (Sykes, 1839)
| |
| Synonyms[2][3] | |
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Nevertheless, Nemachilichthys shimogensis is listed as a separate species by the IUCN and Fishbase to this day.[1][5][6]
Distribution
editN. ruppelli is presently reported from the Krishna River system in the Western Ghats, India. Specimen where found in the following rivers: Thunga, Mula-Mutha, Krishna River, Indrayani, Hiranyakeshi, Nira River and Koyna.[2]
Habitat
editN. ruppelli lives in moderate to fast-flowing rivers, usually on the bed. N. ruppelli prefers mud, small rocks, silt and pebbles. It frequently occurs in association with submerged roots of riparian plants and aquatic vegetation.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b Dahanukar, N. (2011). "Nemacheilus rueppelli". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2011: e.T172315A6865942. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T172315A6865942.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Keskar A.; Kumkar, P.; Katwate, U.; et al. (2015). "Redescription of Nemachilichthys rueppelli, a senior synonym of N. shimogensis (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae)". Zootaxa. 4059 (3): 555–568. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4111.1.9. PMID 27394901.
- ^ "Synonyms of Nemacheilus rueppelli (Sykes, 1839)". Fishbase. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ William Eschmeyer, ed. (2023). "Species that contain: Nemacheilus and rueppelli". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ Rainer Froese; Daniel Pauly, eds. (2023). "Nemacheilus rueppelli (Sykes, 1839)". Fishbase. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
- ^ Rainer Froese; Daniel Pauly, eds. (2023). "Nemachilichthys shimogensis (Narayan Rao, 1920)". Fishbase. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
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