Roger's Angling Pages
The Spined Loach Cobitis taenia		Loach family Cobiditae

Although this fish has 6 barbels like the Stone Loach and also belongs to the Cobitidae family, it is distinguished by its characteristic two-pronged retractable spine under each eye, which is controlled by special muscles. Anglers can easily be injured by the sharp movements of this fish after it has been caught. The basic coloration of its body is a yellow-brown to orange, with 10 to 181arge dark flecks along its sides. The male can be distinguished from the female by the reinforced second ray of its pectoral fins, at the base of which there is also a special scale.

The Spined Loach is found almost everywhere in Europe, but often its presence is not known. It is absent from Scotland, Ireland, and Norway. Only modern fishing methods using electrical apparatus have shown, that this Loach is fairly numerous in streams. It lives a secluded existence and takes pleasure in places where there is fine sand, when only its head and caudal fin are to be seen sticking out from the bed. It inhabits slow-flowing and still waters, where it breeds on plant remnants or flooded vegetation. It reaches a length of6 to 12 cm.

It has no sporting value, as its exceptionally small mouth makes it difficult to catch on a hook. Sometimes it is kept in aquaria.