Balitoridae

Cave angel fish

Cryptotora thamicola

Walking with a tetrapod like gait

• Tropical
• Regional distribution
• Freshwater fish
• Southeast Asia
• Small
• Tropical fish

The waterfall climbing cave fish (Cryptotora thamicola), also known as the cave angel fish, is a species of troglobitic hillstream loach endemic to Thailand. It reaches a length of 2.8 centimetres (1.1 in) SL. This fish is known for its fins, which can grapple onto terrain, and its ability to climb. In 2016 it was reported that the waterfall climbing cave fish walks with a tetrapod-like diagonal-couplets lateral sequence gait, displaying a robust pelvic girdle attached to the vertebral column.