Alagon spined loach

The Alagon Spined Loach is a freshwater fish belonging to the family Cobitidae, a diverse group of small bottom-dwelling fishes distributed across Eurasia. Described scientifically as <em>Cobitis vettonica</em>, this loach typically reaches a maximum length of around 6 cm. As its common name implies, the species is associated with the Alagon River system in the Iberian Peninsula, where it is considered endemic to a relatively restricted geographic range. Spined loaches of the genus Cobitis are named for the small bifid suborbital spine beneath each eye, a characteristic defensive structure. These fish are primarily benthic, spending most of their time in close contact with sandy or fine-graveled substrates in clear, well-oxygenated rivers and streams. They feed on small invertebrates, algae, and organic detritus sifted from the substrate. <em>Cobitis vettonica</em> is adapted to the cool, fast-flowing rivers typical of its native Iberian watershed. Details of habitat and range for this species remain limited in the ichthyological literature beyond its known occurrence in the Alagon drainage. Its endemic status and limited distribution make it a species of interest to conservation biologists monitoring freshwater biodiversity in the Iberian Peninsula.