''Nemacheilus ruppelli'', also known as the mongoose loach is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

of fish in the genus ''Nemacheilus''. This fish is endemic to the Western Ghats of India. Recent evidence shows that there is only a marginal raw mitochondrial genetic distance between '' Nemachilichthys shimogensis'' and ''N. ruppelli''. Although morphometric difference occur at the population level, Keskar ''et al.'' conclude that there are no significant differences separating the two species. Therefore they treat ''N. shimogensis'' as a synonym of ''N. ruppelli''. The Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes follows this treatment. Nevertheless, '' Nemachilichthys shimogensis'' is listed as a separate species by the

IUCN The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natu ...

and

Fishbase FishBase is a global species database of fish species (specifically finfish). It is the largest and most extensively accessed online database on adult finfish on the web.

to this day.

Distribution

''N. ruppelli'' is presently reported from the Krishna River system in the Western Ghats, India. Specimen where found in the following rivers: Thunga,

Mula-Mutha The Mula-Mutha is a river in India, formed by the confluence of the Mula and Mutha rivers in the city of Pune, which later meets the Bhima River, which itself later meets the Krishna River and finally emptying to the Bay of Bengal. The river ...

, Krishna River, Indrayani, Hiranyakeshi, Nira River and Koyna.

Habitat

''N. ruppelli'' lives in moderate to fast-flowing rivers, usually on the bed. ''N. ruppelli'' prefers mud, small rocks, silt and pebbles. It frequently occurs in association with submerged roots of riparian plants and aquatic vegetation.

References

rueppelli Cyprinid fish of Asia Endemic fauna of India Freshwater fish of India Taxa named by William Henry Sykes Fish described in 1839 {{Nemacheilidae-stub