Taxonomy & naming
Described by Hugh McCormick Smith in 1945. The type locality is Metum, a small swift affluent of the Mechem, a tributary of the Meping (Ping), northern Thailand. It is a valid species in the Catalog of Fishes. The epithet is a Latinised surname; the dedication is not recorded here.
Morphology
Glyptothorax have a flattened underside with a thoracic adhesive pad of skin folds, an elongate body and spined fins. FishBase gives a maximum of 2 in SL for this species.
Habitat
FishBase records the Chao Phraya basin of Thailand and classes it as a freshwater benthopelagic fish. Glyptothorax live on rocks in fast, clear, oxygenated streams.
Feeding
A benthic insectivore, taking larvae from the stones; no species-specific data.
Mating
Mating behaviour is not documented for Glyptothorax buchanani 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
Needs cool-to-moderate, well-oxygenated flowing water and rock cover. It is secretive and best with other peaceful rheophiles. Rarely available.
Conservation
The IUCN Red List assessed Glyptothorax buchanani as Data Deficient in 2011, meaning there was too little information to judge its extinction risk. Hillstream fishes are sensitive to siltation, damming and altered flow.