Stoneloach

Scientific name: Barbatula barbatula ((Linnaeus, 1758))
Family:Balitoridae
Order: Cypriniformes
Class: Actinopterygii
Irish name: Cailleach Rua
Irish angling record: Not recorded
Native species: No; introduced sometime after the 12th Century; no historical documentary data⁵;
Hybrids: None

Identifying features

Rather elongated body; three pairs of barbels around mouth; tailfin square-cut or slightly concave; eye very small; mottled olive or greenish-olive; grows to about 13cm, usually much smaller³.

Environment and Habitat

Migrate within freshwater only;¹; usually found in small rivers and occasionally on  gravel-shores of lakes; prefers clean, well-oxygenated conditions²;

European distribution

Native to central Europe and Britain; Widespread; Not found in Italian or Iberian peninsula. Scattered distribution in Ireland;

Economic value in Ireland

No commercial value

Red list status

Least concern

Irish legislation status

Protected by Coarse Fish bye-law No. 806, 2006: maximum 4 fish per angler per day; no killing of coarse fish > 25cm.

EU legislation status

Unprotected