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Oriental Weatherloach
Misgurnus anguillicaudatus Cantor, 1842
An Oriental Weatherloach from Tuppal Creek.
An Oriental Weatherloach from Tuppal Creek.
The Tuppal Creek collecting site.
The Oriental Weatherloach is native to Europe and Asia but has been introduced to Australia, probably as a result of release by aquarists or escape from ponds. This species was first recorded in Australia from the Yarra River, Victoria in 1984. Since then, it has been recorded from numerous freshwater localities in Victoria, Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and Queensland. There are also unconfirmed reports from Western Australia and South Australia. The 13cm fish in the images was collected in Tuppal Creek, New South Wales in March 1999.
This species is recognised by its cylindrical body, five pairs of barbels around its mouth and its single short-based dorsal fin. Mature males are easy to identify because the second pectoral ray is long and thick. The pectoral fin is triangular rather than rounded. Oriental Weatherloach are usually a mottled yellow-brown colour with black spots and a pale undersurface.
The Oriental Weatherloach grows to a maximum length of 25cm, although in Australia it only grows to 20cm. It is omnivorous, eating a range of food including insect larvae, crustaceans, algae and detritus.
It can tolerate a wide range of water conditions, but prefers still waters with a muddy or sandy bottom into which it can burrow. This species can survive out of water by swallowing air and absorbing atmospheric oxygen through the hind gut.
The Oriental Weatherloach is not eaten in Australia, but is a food fish in many Asian countries. The lower image shows two barrels of loach for sale in the Tokyo Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market: Tsukiji Market. The loach were sorted for sale by size.
The common name refers to this species reportedly becoming restless during changes in barometric pressure.
Further reading
- Lintermans, M. & J. Burchmore in McDowall, R.M. 1996. Freshwater Fishes of South-Eastern Australia. Reed Books. Pp. 247.
