[Freshwater fish] Order Siluriformes Family Amblycipitidae(Torrent catfishes) South Torrent Catfish Liobagrus mediadiposalis(Mori, 1936)). Max length: 14 cm TL Korean name/ja-ga-ri(자가사리), Synonym/nam-bang-ssol-ja-gae(남방쏠자개) D/spine 2, soft ray 6. A/spine 0, soft ray 15~19. Vertebrae/40~44. GR/7~11
Distribution; Asia/Endemic to Korea. Rivers in southern regions of Korea; Geum, Nak-dong, Seom-jin, Tam-jin, Mil-yang, Nam Rivers and small streams in Nam-hae and Geo-jae Islands. General; Body length usually 10∼14cm. Similar to Liobagrus andersoni in shape; can be differentiate by lengths of jaws; both jaws of L. andersoni almost equal in length; whereas Liobagrus mediadiposalis’ upper jaw longer than lower jaw. Body elongated and slender, head depressed, torso cylindrical but slightly compressed and peduncle compressed. Area behind eye bulged. Eye very small, covered with membrane and located ahead of head center. Both nostrils apart each other, posterior nostril with slanted posture and located ahead of eye socket.
Mouth ripped wide, with thick lips. Front upper jaw with broad band of slender teeth, narrow teeth band at lower jaw. Teeth absent in vomer and palatine bones. 4 pairs of barbels; 2 pairs longer than the other 2 pairs. Scales absent. Dorsal fin placed at anterior body. Spine of dorsal fin thick, smooth and covered with skin. Spine of pectoral fin thick, with sharp tip, and also covered with skin. 4∼6 serrates at backside of the spine, these small spines not diminish in numbers with growth. Adipose fins low and with long base line and connected to caudal fin. Margin of caudal fin rounded. Lateral line absent or vestigial. Scales absent.
Body color brown, deep brown dorsally, yellowish ventrally. Dorsal, adipose, caudal, anal, pectoral fins with broad pale yellowish margins, and their inner parts dark brown. Serrations on back side rim of pectoral spine. Inhabit gravel bottoms in clear streams. Hide beneath stones in day time, act at night. Feed on aquatic insects and small creatures. Spawn in May to June, about 100 eggs per gravid female. Male protect the nest. If pricked by pectoral fin spine, experience considerable pain.
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