Taxonomy of Finfish (1+2)

4.2.34 Botia macracantha

Family: Cobitidae

Genus : Botia

English name: Clown loach

Origin: Indonesia, Sumatra, Borneo

Size: Approximately 30 cm in the wild but remains considerably smaller in captivity, up to about 12 cm.

Shape, coloring and markings:

The body is stocky laterally compressed, with a rounded back and straight belly. The basic coloration is a splendid orangey-red. There are three deep black, cone-shaped transverse bands across the body. The first runs across the head over the eyes, the second lies in front of the dorsal fin and the third round below the dorsal fin and on the caudal peduncle. The dark pigmentation of this third transverse band is carried through into the dorsal and anal fins. All the other fins are reddish or a dark red, and the ventral fins also often have some black pigmentation.

There are no known external sexual characteristics.