noun
kissing loach
A freshwater fish native to Japan, Leptobotia curta. Often written in katakana as アユモドキ.
アユモドキは絶滅危惧種に指定されている。
The kissing loach is designated as an endangered species.
Compound of 鮎 (ayu, 'sweetfish') + 擬き (modoki, 'pseudo-'), literally 'false sweetfish', referring to its resemblance to the ayu.