Pseudohomaloptera is a genus of hillstream loaches, part of the flattened, sucker-bodied group of loaches built for gripping rock in fast, well-oxygenated streams rather than swimming freely against the current. Atlas species measure 2–3 in, with the broad head, depressed body, and outstretched paired fins typical of the hillstream loach body plan, which act together almost like a suction disc against the substrate. In the atlas the genus spans mainland and island Southeast Asia - Laos, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Myanmar - always tied to clear, swift, rocky rivers and streams.
As with other hillstream loaches, Pseudohomaloptera needs cool, fast-moving, highly oxygenated water in the aquarium - still, warm tanks are a poor match for a fish built for torrent life. Pseudohomaloptera leonardi and Pseudohomaloptera sexmaculata both carry the trade name spotted lizard loach and are the species most likely to reach specialist hillstream-loach keepers, valued as peaceful algae grazers for high-flow, planted or hardscape setups. The remaining atlas species are little known outside regional ichthyology. Conservation data is sparse across the genus - four of the six atlas species are Not Evaluated, with one Least Concern and one Data Deficient.