Eastern Carpathian Golden Loach

Presence of a midlateral row of dark blotches along flank. Ventral adipose crest on caudal peduncle absent or less developed than dorsal one. Row of small spots directly below midlateral blotches absent. Dorsal origin in front of pelvic origin. Distance between the two dark spots at caudal base greater than their diameter. Interspaces between midlateral blotches with very little or no dark pigmentation.

Found in sandy streams with clean water and moderate to fast current, in sand burrows, rarely in gravel (Ref. 59043). Spawning occurs in spring where eggs are laid in batches (Ref. 59043). Eggs measuring 0.9-1.1 mm are scattered over sand, gravel or other substrate. Larvae at 3.0-3.4 mm TL start to feed after 6 days. These larvae lack external gill filaments but are characterized by a bump on forehead (Ref. 59043). Population is gradually getting threatened because of very limited distribution (Ref. 59043).