Nemacheilidae

Kura Loach

Oxynoemacheilus brandtii

Common in midstream riffles rapids

• Tropical
• Regional distribution
• Freshwater fish
• West Asia
• Elongated
• Small
• Tropical fish

The Kura loach (Oxynoemacheilus brandtii), also known as the Caspian sportive loach, is an Asian species of freshwater fish, occurring in the drainage basin of the Kura in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Iran. It prefers fast to very fast flowing streams and rivers which have a gravel or rocky substrate and is most frequently recorded among riffles and rapids in the middle of stream. It is widespread and locally abundant but populations have been lost due to the construction of dams for hydroelectric power and for abstraction.