Cobitis minamorii is a species of fish in the family Cobitidae found in Honshu, Japan. Five subspecies have been proposed. Japanese name is kogata-suji-shima-dojyô. English name is Small stripe spined loach. This species is listed as a new species in 2012.
They inhabit sandy-mud bottoms of the lower reach of rivers and small lowland stream. The number of current population is decreasing because these habitable environment is decreasing.Nakajima 『LOACHES OF JAPAN Natural History and Culture』 山と渓谷社 (2017) They are found in western Honshu:Okayama, Shimane, Tottori, Hiroshima, Hyogo, Osaka, Kyoto, Shiga, Mie, Gihu, Aichi, Shizuoka.
Their spawning season is May-August. They invade a temporary wetland such as rice field and lay eggs at the bottom of the mud. These eggs hatch during one day. They mature in one year and live in approximately 3-5 years under breeding. They grow up to 10 cm in total length.hosoya『増補改訂 日本の淡水魚』 山と渓谷社 (2019) p.188-192. Minamorii, their specific name, comes from Japanese researcher who study speciation of Japanese loaches first. Nakajima, J. (2012): Taxonomic study of the Cobitis striata complex (Cypriniformes, Cobitidae) in Japan. Zootaxa, 3586: 103–130.
Subspecies There are currently 5 recognized subspecies: Cobitis minamorii minamorii Nakajima, 2012 Cobitis minamorii oumiensis Nakajima, 2012 Cobitis minamorii saninensis Nakajima, 2012 Cobitis minamorii tokaiensis Nakajima, 2012 Cobitis minamorii yodoensis Nakajima, 2012
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