Spined loach | Cobitis taenia

Cobitis taenia

Avg Lifespan

3-5 years

Size

8-10cm some females known to reach 12cm

Status

Native and threatened, potentially rare; Listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Listed on Appendix III of the Bern Convention and Annex II of the European Commision Habitats and Species Directive.

Surveying Services

eDNA Analysis

Overview

Spined loach is a bottom-dwelling fish species that is restricted to a specific microhabitat due to its specialised feeding mechanism. They filter feed in fine, well-oxygenated sediments and tend to reside under the cover of submerged macrophytes that provide an ideal habitat for spawning.

Inclusion of the species under protection measures has resulted in an increased interest in its conservation and establishment of Special Areas of Conservation. The UK distribution of spined loach is predominately restricted to the Great Ouse, River Nene, Trent, Welland and Witham. Patchy occurrence within these waterways in streams, larger river sections and drainage ditches. Limited dispersal mechanisms mean that many of these UK populations are genetically isolated from one another.

Sampling Advice

They are nocturnal – they bury themselves for protection during the day and are more active at night.
Spined loach prefer oxygen-rich water and can be found near flat sandy or stony areas.
Due to their small size, spined loach prefer slower flowing water, and would struggle to migrate upstream to more turbulent waters.

Surveying Season

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eDNA

Spined loach spawning season is typically between April to June, and so this is when sampling would likely produce more reliable results. It is unlikely that they migrate very far during the winter months (in the UK) due to their small size and inability to swim in more turbulent flowing waters.

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Spined Loach (Cobitis taenia)