• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.107-116
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• 2021

Two stone loaches (Nemacheilidae, Cypriniformes), Barbatula toni (Dybowski, 1869) and B. nuda (Bleeker, 1864), have been recognized in the Korean waters to date. Recently, due to indiscriminate artificial introduction as well as the change of their habitats induced by natural disasters, it seems to be concerned about the damage of species-specific geographic boundaries. We examined the genetic difference of two Korean Barbatula species by the haplotype network based on the Cytochrome b sequences of mitochondrial DNA and the phylogenetic relationships among them including Barbatula fishes occurring around the Korean peninsula. As a result, three and 29 haplotypes were obtained from B. toni and B. nuda, respectively, and totally three clades comprising "toni group", "nuda hangang group", and "nuda donghae group" were identified. The sequence variable sites among them was 10~24%, showing a difference of interspecific level. Phylogenetic relationships of the latter group, especially, forms an independent cluster discriminating with other two groups as well as the Chinese, Japanese, Russian, and European Barbatula species, suggesting the possibility of the specific level divergence.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.20-29
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• 2023

In order to identify the spawning characteristics of Barbatula nuda, seven surveys were conducted from March to May 2021 in the Sangcheoncheon Stream, a tributary of the Bukhangang River, Korea. During the survey period, 890 individuals were collected, and the sex ratio of female to male was 1 : 1.34. B. nuda spawned 15 March to 24 April, when temperature was 12~15.7℃. Total length of the individual with minimum maturity was 56.7 mm, and it was a 1-year-old. Spawning was observed from individuals with a total length of 80.5 mm more, and it was 2-year-old. The total length at 50% group maturity was 67.2 mm. As a result of injecting 10 IU/g of HCG hormone into B. nuda, about 15 hours later, spawning behavior in which the male wrapped around the body of the female in a circle was observed. After spawning, females and males rested, and fertilized eggs were feed by individuals not participating in spawning.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.117-125
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• 2021

According to the character states of nostrils in the Barbatula species comprising 1,366 specimens collected from the major river system in Korea, distribution pattern of the two Korean Barbatula species was reviewed. The taxonomic character related to nostrils in Barbatula was very stable and two character states (widely separated and closely set) were observed in the present materials. B. toni (Dybowski, 1869) with widely separated nostrils distributes in the streams flowing into the East Sea north of Sokcho, Gangwon-do Province; Eogokcheon Stream, a tributary of Namhangang River; and Anseongcheon Stream, Gyeonggi-do Province, whereas B. nuda (Bleeker, 1864) with closely set occurs in most rivers flowing into the Yellow Sea including Nakdonggang River as well as in the Yangyangnamdaecheon Stream, Gangwon-do Province south to Bangyulcheon Stream, Gyeongbukdo Province, flowing into the East Sea as previously reported with some exception. Especially, both Barbatula species were co-occurred in the Yeongokcheon Stream, Gangwon-do Province and Eogokcheon Stream. The present results will provide a useful guide to study the regional fish fauna or fish community analysis as well as to clarify the taxonomical status of the Korean Barbatula species.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.25-33
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• 2022

We investigated to elucidate the early life history of siberian stone loach, Barbatula nuda (Pisces: Nemacheilidae). Adult fish were collected using net in the Sangcheoncheon Stream, Cheongpyeong-myeon, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do, Korea, 26th April 2020. HCG 10 IU/g was injected to female and male fish and fertilized by dry method in the laboratory. The number of eggs of B. nuda was 1,308±293 (TL: 70.64~79.24 mm), and the egg color was yellowish grey. Fertilized eggs measured 1.13±0.01 mm (n=10) in diameter and showed adhesion. The fertilized eggs started hatching after 104 hours. At the time of egg development, the 15℃ group showed an average hatching rate of 80.1±1.2% and the 20℃ group showed 61.5±6.8%, so the 15℃ group was suitable (p<0.05). Newly hatched larva an average were 3.12±0.06 mm (n=10) in total length. At 4 days after hatching, the total length was 4.89±0.09 mm (n=10), and feeding began with the mouth and anus opened, and entered to preflexion larvae stage. At 21 days after hatching, the total length was 10.98±0.40 mm (n=10), and the distal part of the notochord was bent to 45°, and entered to postflexion larvae stage At 26 days after hatching, the total length was 13.47±0.37 mm (n=10), and entered the juvenile stage.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.278-286
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• 2021

The habitat characteristics and feeding ecology of the Siberian stone loach Barbatula toni were investigated in Bukcheon (Stream), Eocheonri, Ganseong-eup, Goseong-gun, and Gangwon-do, Korea from January to December 2013. B. toni lived in rapids or slow rapids from the upper stream to downstream, with the largest number of inhabitants in the middle-downstream regions. As a result of analyzing habitat preferences by age, 0+ and 1+ to ≥3+ showed differences. Ages of 0+(juveniles) lived mainly in rapidly flowing water (37.6±26.79 cm/sec) and low water depths (13.3±9.47 cm) in the pebble bottoms (substratum particle size 9.5±6.66 cm), but ages 1+ to ≥3+ lived mainly in relatively slowly flowing water (13.3±17.33 cm/sec) and relatively deep depths (25.9±10.31 cm) in stone and large stone bottoms (substratum particle size 18.0±7.63 cm). B. toni was mainly eaten from March to December when the temperature was above 5℃, and the amount of food eaten peaked in June and October. Their main food sources analyzed by the index of relative importance (IRI) included Diptera (57.0%), Ephemeroptera (29.3%), and Trichoptera (13.5%). The juveniles (age 0+) fed on small-sized prey such as Diptera and Trichoptera whales, but as they grew, they mainly ate large-sized Ephemeroptera. These feeding habits and changes in food according to the growth of B. toni were very similar to those of sibling species, B. nuda.