Lepidocephalichthys thermalis

Lepidocephalichthys thermalis, known as common spiny loach or spotted loach, is a species of freshwater fish found in India and Sri Lanka.
They are found usually in quiet, flowing waters with a sandy substrate. It grows to standard length.
The species name, thermalis, references the fact that the type locality of this species was the Kanniya Hot Springs from Sri Lanka. However, this species is not exclusively restricted to hot springs.

Related species and diagnosis

Also endemic Lepidocephalichthys jonklaasi is found in Sri Lanka. Jayaram reports that at least six other species occur in the north-eastern part of India. Tilak and Hussain have written a review on the systematics of the Indian members of the genus.
Lepidocephalichthys jonklaasi is distinguished from L. furcatus, L. micropogon, L. manipurensis, and L. goalparensis by rounded/truncated caudal fin, from L. irrorata and L. kranos by absence of scales on top of head, from L. guntea, L. hasselti, L. tomaculum, L. alkaia, and L. annandalei by broad regularly spaced dark bars on caudal fin, from L. thermalis, L. arunachalensis, L. coromandelensis, and L. berdmorei by vertically elongated, dark spots on side that form irregular, thin bars, and from L. lorentzi by thinner, more irregularly spaced dark side bars, dorsal-fin origin anterior to pelvic-fin origin, and larger size,.
The two Sri Lankan species, L. jonklaasi and L. thermalis, are not very closely related. They are easily differentiated by body shape and proportions, colour pattern, and form of sexual dimorphism that is unique to L. jonklaasi. Further, a mature adult L. jonklaasi is significantly longer than L. thermalis. It is not easily confused with L. thermalis owing to its distinctive colour pattern and robust, tubular body.