Batang ai sp was first discovered by Mikael Lo a couple a years ago but it identity is still a myth until today. I believed sample was send to some researchers in Europe for identification and very likely it will be described as a new species instead. The biotope of this species is no ordinary, a very distinct combination tributary that basically made up of black water and fresh water. That very much explained why we found C. striolata living side by side with this species. The population is rather small, so far no other locality containing this species and we are doubt of it sustainability and it also facing an uncertain fate.

We are expected to find Striolata at the pure fresh water river and the other at the black water river but strangely, none of them can be found beyond the crossing point.

Fresh water river.

Black water river.

Because of the extraordinary weather, we only able to find them on the second visit. This photo explain why we can’t find them at first, the river was swollen and murky.

We were back two days later and the situation seem much promising. Here is the biotope of the crypts.

And yes, the crypts.

C. striolata in black water river.

Some photos taken in 2007