Nemacheilus stigmofasciatus Arunachalam & Muralidharan 2009

Distinguished from the other two peninsular Indian species N. anguilla and N. monilis by its colouration and a set of morphometric characters. The species differs in having a lateral line that extends to the pelvic fin base below (vs. reaching up to anal fin in N. anguilla and complete in N. monilis), shorter snout length (35.9-39.4% HL vs 46.8% HL in N. anguilla and 40.5-48.1% HL in N. monilis), bigger eye (28.1-31.3% HL vs 23.0% HL in N. anguilla and 15.9-19.9% HL in N. monilis), caudal peduncle shorter than N. anguilla (12.4-13.1% SL vs 15.5% SL) and shallower than N. monilis (9.5-10.2% SL vs 12.0-14.5% SL). Vent to anal distance is reduced compared to N. anguilla (29.7-34.5% vs 40.6% Pelvic to anal distance) and greater than N. monilis (29.7-34.5% vs 16.9-25.9% Pelvic to anal distance). Notable colour variations are the lesser number of bands on dorsal (back) 11-13 (vs 19-20 in N. anguilla and N. monilis), 6-8 blotches evently spaced along the lateral line (vs. band formed of coalescing blotches extending to caudal base in N. anguilla and monoliform band in N. monilis (Ref. 80640).

The Seethanathi is a small west-flowing river in Karnataka with many cascades and waterfalls in the upstream portion. The elevation of the stream at the type locality is 199m above sea level. The habitat in the study area is dominated by the presence of pebbles and boulders, gravels are lesser, sand constitutes about 5% of the total substrate. Riparian cover is about 20% and gradient is 3% and the banks are highly stable, left bank with thick vegetation while right bank is sparsely vegetated. Feeding was not observed in the field. Gut content were not examinated due to the lesser number of specimens collected (Ref. 80640)

Nemacheilus stigmofasciatus, the Thuttinjet stone loach, is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Nemacheilus which has been recorded from just one locality in the west flowing river Seethanathi at Thuttinjet in Karnataka. This locality is at an altitude of 199m above sea level and has many cascades and waterfalls in its upstream portion. The stream is dominated by the presence of pebbles and boulders with gravel and sand making up approximately 5% of the substrate.