Taxonomy & naming
Described by Misra in 1976 and later moved to Erethistes, hence the parentheses. The type locality is given in the Catalog of Fishes as the Terai and Duars, West Bengal. It is a valid species there. The epithet is probably a tribute to the Indian ichthyologist Sunder Lal Hora, though the sources available to the atlas do not state the dedication.
Morphology
A small sisorid with rough skin, a stout spine at the dorsal and pectoral fins and barbels. FishBase gives a maximum of 3 in TL.
Habitat
Known from the Terai and Duars of north Bengal, India, the foothill belt of the northeastern Himalaya. FishBase classes it as a freshwater demersal fish of rivers and streams.
Feeding
A small benthic insectivore by family default; no species-specific data.
Mating
Mating behaviour is not documented for Erethistes horai in the sources available to the atlas. Sexes cannot be separated reliably from the information available.
Breeding
No spawning or breeding record is known to the atlas.
In the aquarium
Rare in the hobby. If kept, offer cool-to-moderate, clean, oxygenated, flowing water, rocks and shade, with small foods such as frozen bloodworm.
Conservation
The IUCN Red List assessed Erethistes horai as Least Concern in 2009. Hillstream fishes are sensitive to siltation, damming and altered flow.