Loach Minnow (Rhinichthys (Tiaroga) cobitis) is a small (up to 6 cm) minnow that occurs in the Gila, San Francisco, Blue, White and Tularosa rivers and their tributaries, and also some creeks in western New Mexico and eastern Arizona. They are bottom-dwellers that inhabit the riffles of creeks and small rivers with good water quality and moderate to high flow and cobble or gravel bottoms. Eggs are laid on the undersides of cobble and rubble and are defended by males and possibly by females.