[Freshwater fish] Order Siluriformes Family Amblycipitidae(Torrent catfishes) Korean torrent catfish Liobagrus andersoni(Regan, 1908). Max length: 15.0 cm TL Korean name/Tung-ga-ri(퉁가리) D/spine 2, soft ray 6. A/spine 0, soft ray 16~19. Vertebrae/38~40. GR/7~8
Distribution; Asia/Endemic to Korea. Streams flow to west and east coasts in central area of Korean peninsula. Also known in North Korea. General; With a shape similar to Amur catfish, but different in yellowish coloration and small size. Body elongated, fore body rather cylindrical, compressed posteriorly and peduncle strongly and vertically compressed. Snout depressed, lengths of both jaws almost equal. Eye small, covered with membrane and located at anterior part of head. Mouth posited at the tip of snout, broadly ripped, open upward and with teeth. 4 pairs of barbels, 2pairs almost equal to head length, the rest 2 pairs shorter. Usual body length 14∼15㎝.
Dorsal fin located at far anterior body and very closer to pectoral fin rather than pelvic fin. Dorsal fin covered with skin and followed by adipose fin that connected with caudal fin, a notch between adipose and caudal fins. Base line of dorsal fin short. The spine of dorsal fin weak. Spine of pectoral fin is thick, with sharp point and covered with skin. 1∼3 small spines attached beneath the pectoral spine, this attached spines diminish with growth. Pelvic fin small and with rounded margin. Absent in scales. Lateral line absent or rudimentary. Body color solid brown without mottles, dorsally darker and yellowish ventrally. Margins of pectoral, dorsal and caudal fins with pale coloration and inside of them with dark colors.
Endemic to Korea. Found in streams flow to west and east coasts of central region of the peninsula. Also known in North Korea. Inhabit gravel bottoms in mid to upper reaches of clear streams. Hide under or crevices of stones in day time, feed at night. Feed on aquatic insect and small fishes. Spawn in May to June, female attach eggs onto lower side of boulders, then male fertilize and protect the eggs. Eggs hatch in 8 days, get adult form in 1.5cm, grow to 7~10cm in 2 years. Being pricked by pectoral fin spine may cause serious pain.
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