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Definition of kuhli loach

kuhli loach

Plural:kuhli loaches
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kuhli loach Lexical Profile

• noun

1

A small, eel-like freshwater fish native to Southeast Asia, widely kept in home aquariums and known for its distinctive dark and light vertical banding and nocturnal scavenging behavior.

Example

"The kuhli loach is a popular addition to community aquariums because it peacefully scavenges the tank bottom for uneaten food."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for kuhli loach

Word Nuance & Usage

Frequently misspelled as 'coolie loach' in the aquarium trade due to phonetic similarity, though 'kuhli' correctly honors the 19th-century naturalist Heinrich Kuhl.

• Nearby Words

kudu
kudzu
kugel
kuhli loach
kukri snake
kumasi
kumquat

Word Origin & Etymology

The specific name 'kuhli' honors German zoologist Heinrich Kuhl. 'Loach' derives from the Old French 'loche', referring to various small, bottom-dwelling freshwater fishes.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Kuhli loach. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/kuhli loach
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