Lepturichthys is a small genus of river loaches native to fast-flowing tributaries of the Yangtze system in China, sometimes known in older literature as prickly loaches. The genus has an elongated, almost eel-like body plan with fringed or feathered pelvic fins, an adaptation shared with several other hillstream-dwelling loaches for gripping the substrate in strong current. Atlas species span a wider size range than most river loaches, from about 3 in up to 6 in as adults.
Lepturichthys dolichopterus and L. fimbriatus are both little known outside specialist loach circles and regional surveys — the genus has essentially no established presence in the mainstream aquarium trade. Conservation status is only partly resolved: L. fimbriatus is assessed Least Concern while L. dolichopterus has not been evaluated, leaving open how the pair is faring against the heavy damming and water-quality pressure affecting Yangtze-basin rivers generally. Breeding and husbandry information for the genus in captivity is essentially absent.