BOTIA SPLENDIDA, A NEW SPECIES OF LOACH (PISCES, COBITIDAE) FROM THE MEKONG BASIN IN LAOS

Botia splendida, new species, recently discovered in the Se Kong water shed of the Mekong basin in southern Laos, is most similar and presuma bly most closely related to the widely distributed Southeast Asian mai nland species Botia morleti Tirant, 1885. It differs from B. morleti m ainly in having no dorsomedian dark stripe; a complete pale ring immed iately anterior to dark ring on caudal peduncle; larger dark spots on caudal fin; and in other details of coloration.