Loaches in families under superfamily Cobitidea

Positions of fishes commonly known as loaches in families under superfamily Cobitidea (Teleostei: Cypriniformes)

Nelson (2006) divided Order Cypriniformes into two superfamilies following Siebert (1987): the Cobitoidea (loaches and allies) and the Cyprinoidea (barbs, carps, minnows and allies). Traditionally, three distinct groupings within the superfamily have been recognized, including the Gyrinocheilidae (algae eaters), Catostomidae (suckers) and the most diverse group, the loaches (Cobitidae and Balitoridae) (Nelson, 2006). In Peninsular Malaysia, loaches formed a relatively large group of fishes – at least 18 species under the family Balitoridae and 22 species under the family Cobitidae. Recently, several researchers had successfully producing a phylogenetic classification of fishes within the Cobitoidea using molecular data. Evidence from various studies pointing toward supporting eight cobitoid families: Gyrinocheilidae, Catostomidae, Cobitidae, Botiidae (formerly included in Cobitidae), Balitoridae, Nemacheilidae (formerly included in Balitoridae) and Vaillantellidae and Ellopostomatidae.

At least six of the eight families under the superfamily Cobitidea found in Malay peninsula, and Peninsular Malaysia has at least five families: Cobitidae (19 species), Botiidae (3 species), Balitoridae (14 species), Nemacheilidae (2 species) and Vaillantellidae (2 species). Family Ellopostomatidae currently has two species; Ellopostoma megalomycter and E. mystax, of which the latter species was reported and probably endemic in southern Thailand but its member is yet to be recorded in Peninsular Malaysia. The former is found in Borneo but was thought to be found in Malay peninsular by several authors. Ellopostoma megalomycter was not included in the checklist of freshwater fishes in Peninsular Malaysia compiled by Lim and Tan (2002).

List of fishes under superfamily Cobitidea in Peninsular Malaysia.

1. Family Balitoridae (14 species): Acanthocobitis zonalternans, Barbucca diabolica, Homaloptera leonardi, H. nebulosa, H. nigra, H. ogilviei, H. parclitella, H. smithii, H. tweediei, H. zollingeri, Neohomaloptera johorensis, Schistura robertsi, Sundareonectes tiomanensis and Tuberoschistura baenzigeri

2. Family Botiidae (3 species): Syncrossus beauforti, S. hymenophysa and Yasuhikotakia morleti

3. Family Cobitidae (19 species): Acanthopsoides molobrion, Acantopsis dialuzona, Lepidocephalichthys furcatus, L. hasseltii, L. tomaculum, Lepidocephalus macrochir, Kottelatlimia katik, K. pristis, Pangio alcoides, P. anguillaris, P. cuneovirgata, P. doriae, P. filinaris, P. malayana, P. muraeniformes, P. oblonga, P. piperata, P. semicincta and P. shelfordii

4. Family Nemacheilidae (2 species): Nemacheilus masyae and N. selangoricus

5. Family Vaillantellidae (2 species): Vaillantella eupiptera and V. maassi

Note. Transcribed from unpub. manuscript (A. Ahmad. Positions of fishes commonly known as loaches under superfamily Cobitidea (Teleostei: Cypriniformes) in Peninsular Malaysia with notes on fish status, species endemism and zoogeography)