Eidinemacheilus smithi
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Eidinemacheilus smithi faces significant pressure from habitat degradation in its limited range within the Western Ghats of India. The species is particularly vulnerable to water pollution from agricultural runoff and domestic waste, which affects the water quality of the streams it inhabits. Dam construction and water extraction for irrigation further threaten the natural flow regimes essential for this loach's survival. Climate change-induced alterations to monsoon patterns may also impact the seasonal flooding cycles that this species depends upon for breeding.
Habitat
Eidinemacheilus smithi inhabits clear, fast-flowing streams and rivers in the Western Ghats mountain range of southwestern India. This endemic loach prefers rocky substrates with good water flow and is typically found in areas with moderate to high elevation where water quality remains relatively pristine.
