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 Edit this 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]
  • Cobitis rueppelli (Sykes, 1839)
  • Nemacheilus ruppelli (Sykes, 1839)
  • Nemachilichthys rueppelli (Sykes, 1839)
  • Noemacheilus rueppelli (Sykes, 1839)
  • Nemachilichthys shimogensis (Rao, 1920)

Nevertheless, Nemachilichthys shimogensis is listed as a separate species by the IUCN and Fishbase to this day.[1][5][6]

Distribution

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N. 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

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N. 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

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "Synonyms of Nemacheilus rueppelli (Sykes, 1839)". Fishbase. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  4. ^ William Eschmeyer, ed. (2023). "Species that contain: Nemacheilus and rueppelli". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  5. ^ Rainer Froese; Daniel Pauly, eds. (2023). "Nemacheilus rueppelli (Sykes, 1839)". Fishbase. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  6. ^ Rainer Froese; Daniel Pauly, eds. (2023). "Nemachilichthys shimogensis (Narayan Rao, 1920)". Fishbase. Retrieved 17 April 2023.