Poklesnout

Poklesnout is a fictional freshwater fish often used in educational materials to illustrate how elongated, highly mobile snouts can support benthic foraging.

In the imagined anatomy, Poklesnout typically reaches 12 to 14 centimeters in length. The body is slender and olive-brown with faint dorsal mottling. The defining feature is a long, protrusible snout that extends well beyond the mouth. The snout is flexible and composed of cartilage and soft tissue, enabling it to probe into crevices and under stones without exposing the rest of the body. Jaws are small, bearing tiny teeth suited to capturing aquatic invertebrates.

Habitat and distribution are tropical freshwater systems with rocky or rubble substrates. In textbooks it is described as occurring in several fictional river basins where clear water and slow to moderate currents prevail. The diet is mainly aquatic invertebrates such as insect larvae and crustaceans, supplemented by small snails.

Behavior and reproduction: Poklesnout is largely nocturnal and solitary. It forages by slow, deliberate probing of the substrate. Breeding is described as seasonal, with adhesive eggs laid among vegetation or substrate; parental care is minimal.

Taxonomy and conservation: The name Poklesnout is a descriptive common name rather than a formally published species; there is no real-world taxonomic authority. In the fictional setting, threats include habitat loss, pollution, and dam construction, which can reduce suitable rocky habitats.