Erromyzon kalotaenia Yang, Kottelat, Yang & Chen 2012

Differs from all congeners by the combination of the following characters: a small median lobe of the rostral fold; lower lip distinctly covered with melanophores; 9-12 squarish blotches on side of body, their height about one-third body depth; and 85-89 lateral line scales. Can be diagnosed from Erromyzon sinensis by having 9-12 irregular blotches on body (vs. 17-21 very irregular bars or a mottled pattern); from E. compactus by having lower lip with two or three folds (vs. folds absent), a midlateral row of squarish blotches on flank (vs. bars continuous across dorsum), and four rows of blackish spots on dorsal-fin rays, six rows on caudal-fin rays (vs. two rows on both dorsal and caudal-fin rays); and from E. yangi in having 85-89 lateral-line scales (vs. 96-99) and by its color pattern consisting of 9-12 blotches on flank (vs. a black midlateral stripe dark brown dorsum and an incomplete lower black stripe) (Ref. 93072).

Dorsal soft rays (total): 11; Analsoft rays: 7

Inhabits shallow water at depths of 0.1-0.5 m among boulders and cobbles mixed with sand on the river bed. In Dishui River, other fishes found together with this species include cyprinids (Opsariichthys bidens, Acrossocheilus parallens), balitorids (Pseudogastromyzon fangi, Vanmanenia pingchowensis, Yaoshania pachychilus, Schistura fasciolata) and sisorids (Glyptothorax fokiensis, Pterocryptis anomala). In Liuding River, this species occurs together with Zacco platypus, Puntius semifasciolatus, Pseudorasbora parva, Carassius auratus, Oreonectes platycephalus, Traccatichthys pulcher, Cobitis sinensis and Tachysurus adiposalis (Ref. 93072).