PUNTIUS PADAMYA, A NEW SPECIES OF CYPRINID FISH FROM MYANMAR (TELEOSTEI: CYPRINIDAE)

Abstract

Puntius padamya, new species, is described from the type locality near Mandalay, in the Ayeyarwaddy River drainage, Myanmar. Referred specimens are reported from the lower Chindwin River. Puntius padamya is distinguished from other species of the P. con- chonius species group above all by the colour pattern. Males possess a broad red band from the head to the base of the caudal fin, abdominal scales with dark margins, and hyaline dorsal, anal and pectoral fins with conspicuous black spots and black distal margins. Both sexes pos- sess a vertically elongate dark humeral blotch and a small, inconspicuous dark blotch on the side of the caudal peduncle. Puntius padamya is a well known aquarium fish, commercialized as "Odessa barb".

Full text

Electronic Journal of Ichthyology
October 2008 2: 56 - 66
56
PUNTIUS PADAMYA, A NEW SPECIES OF CYPRINID FISH FROM MYANMAR
(TELEOSTEI: CYPRINIDAE)
Sven O. Kullander1 and Ralf Britz2
1 Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Swedish Museum of Natural History, PO Box 50007,
SE-104 05 Stockholm, Sweden. E-mail: sven.kullander@nrm.se.
2 Department of Zoology, The Natural History Museum, London, SW7 5BD, United King-
dom. E-mail: r.britz@nhm.ac.uk
Accepted: March, 6 2008
Abstract: Puntius padamya, new species, is described from the type locality near Mandalay,
in the Ayeyarwaddy River drainage, Myanmar. Referred specimens are reported from the
lower Chindwin River. Puntius padamya is distinguished from other species of the P. con-
chonius species group above all by the colour pattern. Males possess a broad red band from
the head to the base of the caudal fin, abdominal scales with dark margins, and hyaline dorsal,
anal and pectoral fins with conspicuous black spots and black distal margins. Both sexes pos-
sess a vertically elongate dark humeral blotch and a small, inconspicuous dark blotch on the
side of the caudal peduncle. Puntius padamya is a well known aquarium fish, commercialized
as “Odessa barb”.
Keywords: Cypriniformes – Taxonomy – Odessa barb – Ayeyarwaddy River – Chindwin
River
Introduction
The small-sized south Asian cyprinid
species contained in the Puntius conchonius
species group, diagnosed by Taki et al.
(1978), are popular ornamental fishes with
about 10 species regularly available. One of
these species is generally known as the
“Odessa barb” or “ruby barb” and was first
introduced in the aquarium hobby in the
early 1970s. It was said to have first ap-
peared in pet fish enthusiasts’ circles in
Odessa, Ukraine, from where it got the
name, and was treated later variously as an
undescribed species of unknown origin
(Sterba, 1988), as a subspecies of P. ticto
(Stallknecht, 1973), or as P. conchonius
(Axelrod et al., 1980). No wild material has
been known until recently, when the junior
author came across the species in the vicin-
ity of Mandalay, in central Myanmar. This
paper reports on the first known locality of
the “Odessa barb”, and provides a formal
description of the species.
Materials and methods
Morphometry. Measurements were taken
point to point with digital callipers measur-
ing to 0.01 mm, rounded to nearest 0.1 mm.
Standard length, head length, and snout
length are taken from the tip of the snout to
the caudal-fin base, posterior opercular mar-
gin, and anterior orbital margin, respec-
tively. Predorsal, prepelvic and preanal
lengths are taken from the tip of the snout to
the anterior base of each fin. Head depth is
taken immediately behind the orbit. Body
depth is taken at the origin of the dorsal fin.
Dorsal-, pectoral-, pelvic-, and anal-fin
lengths are taken from the base of the first
ray to the distal tip of the longest ray. Caudal
peduncle length is taken from the base of the
last anal fin ray to the middle of the base of
the caudal fin. Lateral line scale counts in-
clude only scales on the body. Scales in the
lateral row equates the lateral line scale
count, or, when the lateral line is abbrevi-
ated, includes the lateral line scales and pos-

Kullander & Britz, 2008 Puntius padamya, a new species of Cyprinid
57
terior scales in the same horizontal row.
Dorsal-, anal-, and caudal-fin ray counts,
and vertebral counts were obtained from ra-
diographs. Vertebral counts include the We-
berian apparatus (individual centra not dis-
tinguishable in radiographs, but considered
to be four, as known from other cyprinids),
and the last half-centrum. Vertebrae anterior
to the first interneural dorsal-fin pterygio-
phore are distinguished as predorsal verte-
brae, and are included in the count of pre-
caudal vertebrae. Homology interpretation
of infraorbitals follows Taki et al. (1978).
Molecular data. DNA sequences were
obtained as described in Rüber et al. (2007),
and Sevilla et al. (2007).
Toponomy. Local toponomy is used in
descriptions of collecting sites, but it should
be noted that local transliteration of Burmese
geographical names is not consistent.
Collection codes. NRM Swedish Mu-
seum of Natural History, Stockholm; USNM
National Museum of Natural History, Smith-
sonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
Comparative material. Same as in Kul-
lander & Fang (2005), and Kullander (2008).
Puntius padamya, new species
(Figures 1-3)
Holotype. USNM 385952, adult male,
44.1 mm SL; Myanmar: Mandalay Division,
Ayeyarwaddy River drainage, artificial pond
in Toe Gyi village, above Anisakan falls,
near Pyin Oo Lwin, on the road Mandalay-
Hsipaw; 21°58′36″N 96°23′24″E; 21 March
2003, R. Britz & R. Roesler.
Paratypes. USNM 392623, 12 males,
35.1-45.9 mm SL; 16 females, 32.2-46.4
mm SL; 5 juveniles, 21.2-25.5 mm SL; col-
lected with the holotype.
Non-types. USNM 3909101, 1 female,
31.9 mm SL; Myanmar: Mandalay Division,
Chindwin River drainage, from fishermen at
shore of Chindwin River, altitude 250 ft.,
22°40′44″N 94°46′29″E; 27 Mar 2007, R.
Britz & R. Roesler. - USNM 390103, 18, not
sexed, 13.1-34.2 mm SL; Myanmar: Man-
dalay Division, Chindwin River drainage,
Maukkataw, small pond about 500 m from
Chindwin River shore, 257 ft. above sea
level, 22°58′30″N 94°40’26″E; 27 Mar
2003, R. Britz & R. Roesler. - NRM 51972,
1, 27.3 mm SL; Myanmar, wild fish from
Shan State sampled in Hein Aquarium, Yan-
gon, Myanmar; 31 Oct 2004, F. Fang. -
NRM 52535, 1, 32.9 mm SL; Aquarium,
wild import, sampled in ornamental fish im-
porter stock, IMAZOO, Vara, Sweden; 9
Nov 2005, S.O. Kullander.
Diagnosis. Puntius padamya belongs to
the Puntius conchonius species group and is
distinguished from all species in that group
by a combination of characters: maxillary
barbels present, minute; lateral line abbrevi-
ated, on 5-8 scales; circumpeduncular scales
12; dorsal, anal and pelvic fins in adult
males hyaline, margined with black and
crossed by two or three rows of contrasting
deep black spots; humeral spot vertically
elongate, three or more scales deep; caudal
peduncle blotch covering parts of one or two
scales, and indistinct in adult males. Similar
only to P. didi, sharing abbreviated lateral
line, presence of maxillary barbels, 12 cir-
cumpeduncular scales, and colour pattern in-
cluding both vertically extended humeral
blotch and caudal peduncle blotch, other
vertical bars absent. Distinguished from P.
didi in extension of humeral blotch which
reaches ventrally to lateral line scales, vs.
extending down to level of pectoral fin base
in P. didi; in colour pattern of adult males in
which sides yellowish white with contrasting
brown blotches at scale bases and abdomen
dark pigmented, vs. sides lightly pigmented,
gradually lighter ventrally, abdomen whitish
in males of P. didi; pelvic fins in males hya-
line with two rows of deep black spots and
deep black marginal band vs. pelvic fins ei-
ther without dark markings or blackish mar-
ginal stripe and single row of black spots
across middle of fin in P. didi; anal fin in
males hyaline with deep black margin and
two or three rows of deep black spots, vs.
blackish margin and at most one row of
blackish spots in P. didi; males with con-
spicuous red colour along middle of side
from opercle to base of caudal fin vs. red
colour absent from sides in males of P. didi.

Kullander & Britz, 2008 Puntius padamya, a new species of Cyprinid
58
Figure 1. Puntius padamya, holotype, USNM 385952, male, 44.1 mm SL; Myanmar: artificial pond in
Toe Gyi village.
Figure 2. Puntius padamya, paratype, USNM 392623, female, 44.3 mm SL; Myanmar: artificial pond
in Toe Gyi village.
Figure 3. Puntius padamya, paratypes, USNM 392623, adult male specimens not individually identi-
fied, photographed alive immediately after capture at type locality. Photo by R. Roesler.

Kullander & Britz, 2008 Puntius padamya, a new species of Cyprinid
59
Description. Based on the holotype and
paratypes. Refer to Table 1 for summary of
morphometric data. Morphometric analysis
did not find any differences between sexes.
Moderately deep, slightly elevated, com-
pressed laterally. Predorsal contour ascend-
ing, almost straight, nape slightly elevated.
Dorsal contour straight slanting from dorsal-
fin base to caudal-fin base. Prepelvic con-
tour about straight to below about pectoral-
fin base where curved, continued straight
horizontal to pelvic fin bases, from pelvic-
fin base slanting to anal-fin base, which
forms a gently concave outline continuous
with caudal peduncle outline. In some fe-
males abdomen distended and curvature of
ventral contour at pelvic-fin insertion.
Head short, laterally compressed. Orbit
in anterior half of head. Snout rounded.
Mouth subterminal, not reaching to vertical
at anterior margin of orbit. Lips exposed,
moderately thick, upper lip curved; lower lip
interrupted symphysially, straight. Lateral
fold on snout present. Rostral barbels absent;
pair of maxillary barbels present, minute. In-
fraorbital 3+4 broad, anterior end at or ante-
rior to middle of orbit, anteriorly extending
to middle of depth of cheek, posteriorly ex-
tending to preopercle. Breeding tubercles
short, numerous on top of head in males, ab-
sent in females. Gill rakers 2 on epibran-
chial, 1 in angle, and 5 (17), 6 (3) on cerato-
branchial.
Dorsal-fin origin opposite pelvic-fin origin;
distal margin straight or slightly convex an-
teriorly, concave posteriorly, anterior and
posterior corners rounded; last ray reaching
to vertical from slightly posterior to middle
of anal fin base. Last unbranched dorsal-fin
ray almost as long as first branched ray;
proximal 2/3 compact, much thicker than
first branched ray, rigid, strongly serrated,
with 13-21 pairs of serrae; apical 1/3 flexi-
ble, segmented, without serrations. D. iii.8
(1), iv.8 (19). Pectoral fin rounded, not
reaching to vertical at base of pelvic fin, ex-
cept in juveniles. P. i.13 (1), i.14 (10). Pelvic
fin rounded, reaching vent. V. i.8 (20). Anal-
fin base posterior to vertical at dorsal-fin
base, distal margin straight with acute or sub-
Table 1. Standard length (in millimeters) and proportional measurements in percents of standard
length of Puntius padamya (USNM 385952, 392623). SD = standard deviation. Regression line pa-
rameters, a (intercept), b (slope), and r (Pearson’s correlation coefficient) are calculated from meas-
urements expressed in millimeters. The holotype is included in calculated values.
Holotype n min max mean SD a b r
Standard length (mm) 44.1 20 32.2 46.4 40.9 3.57
Head length 27.0 20 25.7 27.7 26.7 0.55 0.814 0.247 0.971
Snout length 7.5 20 6.2 7.5 7.0 0.32 -0.629 0.085 0.941
Orbit diameter 9.1 20 8.8 10.3 9.3 0.37 1.274 0.062 0.935
Interorbital width 11.3 20 10.2 12.0 11.2 0.35 -0.364 0.121 0.961
Head width 15.2 20 14.4 15.5 14.8 0.31 0.021 0.148 0.973
Head depth 20.6 20 19.8 22.2 20.9 0.64 -0.371 0.218 0.948
Body depth 38.1 20 38.1 44.6 41.2 1.53 1.250 0.381 0.908
Predorsal length 55.1 20 53.4 55.9 54.4 0.76 -1.761 0.587 0.992
Prepelvic length 51.9 20 48.6 51.9 50.2 0.94 0.834 0.482 0.976
Preanal length 74.6 20 71.0 75.7 74.1 1.07 0.511 0.728 0.985
Caudal peduncle depth 16.6 20 14.8 16.8 15.8 0.61 -0.357 0.167 0.921
Caudal peduncle length 17.5 20 17.5 20.6 19.4 0.83 -2.022 0.144 0.872
Dorsal fin length 26.3 20 23.3 27.2 26.0 0.90 1.372 0.226 0.909
Anal fin length 17.7 20 16.1 20.4 18.4 0.96 0.866 0.162 0.829
Pectoral fin length 22.0 20 19.8 23.4 21.4 0.83 -0.692 0.231 0.937
Pelvic fin length 21.5 20 19.5 22.6 21.0 0.91 -0.037 0.211 0.897

Kullander & Britz, 2008 Puntius padamya, a new species of Cyprinid
60
acute corners, last ray reaching about middle
of caudal peduncle; anal-fin rays iii.5 (20).
Caudal fin deeply emarginated; lobes mak-
ing up slightly less than half of fin length,
tips rounded. Principal caudal-fin rays 9+9
(2), 10+9 (18); procurrent rays dorsally 6
(20), ventrally 5 (19), 6 (1).
Lateral line abbreviated, lateral-line scale
row straight horizontal for 4-5 scales, then
descending due to insertion of additional
horizontal scale row above, running in a
smooth curve ascending to a median position
on side of caudal peduncle. Scales in lateral
row 19 (6), 20 (16), 21 (2); lateral-line scales
5 (3), 6 (8), 7 (8), 8 (1). Predorsal scales 8
(19), 9 (1); prepelvic scales 9 (5), 10 (15);
circumpeduncular scales 12 (20). Scales in
transverse row ½4 /1/3½ (20). Pelvic axil-
lary scale reaching to 1/3 of adpressed pelvic
fin.
Predorsal vertebrae 4+4 (17), 4+5 (3),
abdominal 4+12 (2), 4+13 (10), 4+14 (8),
precaudal+ c a udal 4+12+12=28 (1), 4+12+13=29
(1), 4+13+13=30 (1), 4+14+11=29 (1), 4+14+12=30
(11), 4+15+11=30 (1). Ve r tebrae con t a i ned in
caudal peduncle 5 (1), 6 (11), 7 (8). One
specimen dissected, 42.5 mm SL (USNM
392623) with pharyngeal teeth 5,3,2.
Coloration in preservative. Adult males
(Figure 1) ground colour pale yellowish.
Dorsum light brownish, predorsal midline
dark grey. Top of head and snout greyish
brown; sides of head slightly pigmented,
brownish on pale yellowish ground. Scale
margins dorsally on side narrowly margined
with brown; from 3rd horizontal scale row
below dorsal fin, and emphasized from 4th,
dark brown blotch present at each scale base,
contrasting with otherwise pale yellowish
scales. Dark pigmentation absent from mid-
dle sides of caudal peduncle from about
caudal peduncle blotch caudad. Abdomen
duskied, mainly from pigmentation along
margins of scales.
Dark brown to blackish vertical blotch
crossing lateral line scales 3-4; blotch most
intensely pigmented on dorsal half of lateral
line scales 3-4, and two scales immediately
above, but brown pigmentation extending to
almost predorsal midline dorsally, ventrally
to include lateral line scales and occasionally
scales immediately below lateral line scales;
in juveniles not reaching below lateral line
scales. Caudal peduncle blotch greyish or
brownish, small, rounded, positioned on
scales 16, 17, or 16-17 in lateral line scale
row, slightly posterior to vertical from anal
fin base.
Dorsal fin hyaline with contrasting black
distal margin and two rows of black oval
spots in two rows, inner row in interradial
position, outer row between major fin ray
branches. Anal fin hyaline with black distal
margin and two or three irregular rows of
oval black spots. Pelvic fin hyaline with
black distal margin and two rows of black
elongate or rounded black spots. Caudal fin
hyaline, slightly duskied basally.
Females (Figure 2) similar in respect to
lateral blotches, but sides lightly pigmented
throughout, dark blotches at bases of scales
not as contrasted as in males, and no pig-
ment free area on caudal peduncle. Chest
and abdomen pale yellowish, unpigmented.
Dorsal fin with indistinct pigmentation rep-
resenting marginal dark band and two rows
of spots. Anal fin with indistinct pigmenta-
tion representing marginal stripe and one or
two indistinct rows of spots. Pelvic fin with-
out pigment. In juveniles body like females,
fins lightly patterned as in females or hya-
line.
Live coloration. Adult males (Figure 3)
with beige to light brown background col-
our. Humeral blotch black with bluish iri-
descence in dorsal area. Iris red except nar-
row black streak through middle of eye.
Dorsoposterior part of opercle red. Middle
of body with bright red band, three to four
scales high extending from cleithrum to base
of caudal fin. Several rows of scales behind
humeral blotch with dark bluish-black base;
two longitudinal rows of scales below hu-
meral blotch with bright white middle. Belly
whitish to light beige. Membrane of dorsal
fin, proximal two thirds of membrane of anal
fin, and proximal third of membrane of pel-
vic fins yellowish-green, with black marks
contrasted prominently. Caudal fin with
wide red band in the middle representing

Kullander & Britz, 2008 Puntius padamya, a new species of Cyprinid
61
posterior extension of red body band, distal
areas of upper and lower lobes yellowish-
green.
Females with a light beige background
colour and reflecting silvery sheen on scales.
Humeral blotch black and prominent. Dark
marks on base of scales visible. Fins light
yellowish-greenish, dark marks restricted to
dorsal fin. Caudal peduncle blotch present
but small and inconspicuous.
Chindwin specimens. Measurements
summarised in Table 2. D. iv.7 (1), iv.8 (9);
A. iii.5 (10); P. i.13 (8), i.14 (2); V. i.8 (10);
lateral line scales 5 (5), 6 (2), 7 (2), 8 (1);
scales in lateral row 19 (1), 20 (4), 21 (5);
transverse scales ½4/1/3½ (10); predorsal
scales 8 (8), 9 (2); prepelvic scales 8 (1), 9
(1), 10 (8); circumpeduncular scales 12 (10);
ceratobranchial gill rakers 4 (5), 5 (3), 6 (1);
predorsal vertebrae 4(5), 5 (3); vertebrae
4+13+13=30 (6), 4+13+14=31 (2), 4+14+13=31 (1),
4+14+14=32 (1), dorsal procurrent caudal fin
rays 6 (2), 7 (8); dorsal procurrent caudal fin
rays 6 (2), 7 (9), ventral procurrent caudal
fin rays 5 (4), 6 (5), 7 (1). Colour overall
much lighter than in type series, probably a
preservation artefact. Humeral blotch more
concentrated, limited to upper half of lateral
line scales, two scales above and scale top-
ping these. Fins lightly patterned, dorsal fin
as in females in type series, anal and pelvic
fins with dark spots along middle and outer
part respectively.
Mitochondrial DNA sequences. Se-
quences of the mitochondrial cytochrome b
gene were obtained from one specimen ob-
tained as wild imported fish in an ornamen-
tal fish importer stock in Sweden (NRM
52535, GenBank Accession number pend-
ing), one wild specimen from a Myanmar
ornamental fish exporter (NRM 51972,
GenBank Accession number pending) and
one specimen from the type locality (Gen-
Bank Accession No. EF151093; Rüber et al.,
2007). The sequences are identical.
Etymology. Padamya is the Burmese
word for ruby, given here with reference to
the name ruby barb used in the ornamental
fish trade, and to the bright red colour of the
males. It is to be treated as a noun in apposi-
tion.
Geographical distribution. Known only
from the type locality, an artificial pond in
Toe Gyi village, situated just above the Ani-
sakan Falls, near Pyin Oo Lwin, on the road
Mandalay-Hsipaw, and from the lower
Chindwin River (Figure 4).
Discussion
The sex ratio (16 females, 13 males) in
the type series of P. padamya is close to 1:1,
and there is no obvious sex dimorphism in
body length. This contrasts with other sam-
ples reported of species of Puntius from
Myanmar, in which usually females out-
number males, and females are of larger size
than males (Kullander & Fang, 2005, Kul-
lander, 2008).
Puntius padamya is similar in propor-
tions to other species of the P. conchonius
group, P. didi, P. tiantian, P. macrogramma,
P. thelys, P. nankyweensis, and P. erythro-
mycter (Kullander, 2008), but shares a rela-
tively small eye only with P. tiantian (Figure
5).
The colour pattern in preservative is
similar to that of P. meingangbii, P. didi, P.
tiantian, P. bandula, and P. cumingii, which
all share a principal colour pattern with an
enlarged, vertically extended humeral blotch
in addition to the caudal peduncle blotch. In
other species of the P. conchonius group the
humeral blotch is either restricted to one or
two scales or absent, or, as in P. setnai, P.
nigrofasciatus, and P. phutunio, large hu-
meral and caudal peduncle blotches are
complemented by a dark bar below the dor-
sal fin.
Puntius meingangbii and P. manipuren-
sis are the only other species in the P. con-
chonius group in which the sides and the
caudal fin are red (cf. Arunkumar & Tombi
Singh, 2003; and photograph provided by
W. Vishwanath). Puntius manipurensis,
from the Loktak Lake in the Manipur River
valley, has a relatively small humeral mark-
ing; barbels are absent, and spots are absent
from the pelvic and anal fins (Menon et al.,
2000).

Kullander & Britz, 2008 Puntius padamya, a new species of Cyprinid
62
Puntius meingangbii and its synonym P.
bizonatus were described from Moreh on the
Lokchao River in Manipur near the Myan-
mar border at Tamu. In P. meingangbii bar-
bels are said to be absent (Arunkumar &
Tombi Singh, 2003; Vishwanath & Laisram,
2004). The original descriptions and photo-
graphs of specimens deposited in the Ma-
nipur University fish collection suggest that
the caudal peduncle blotch is large and
strongly pigmented. According to the origi-
nal description of P. meingangbii the pelvic
and anal fins are blackish-red to red, sug-
gesting it may not be patterned as in P.
padamya; the colour of these fins can, how-
ever, not be made out from the photograph
in which those fins are laid back against the
body. Vishwanath & Laisram (2004) de-
scribe the pelvic fin as dusky, the anal fin
reddish; images of preserved specimens in
Manipur University fish collection show the
anal fin to be dark on the middle.
Puntius cumingii, from Sri Lanka, is sil-
very or slightly brassy in life. It has only 10
circumpeduncular scales, and 3½ instead of
4½ scales above the lateral line scale row. In
P. bandula, also from Sri Lanka, barbels are
absent, the caudal peduncle blotch is repre-
sented by a band encircling the caudal pe-
duncle, and the dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins
are blackish and immaculate (Kullander &
Fang, 2005).
In P. tiantian from northernmost Myan-
mar, the lateral line is complete (vs. abbrevi-
ated in P. padamya), the last unbranched
dorsal fin ray much more slender than in
other species of the P. conchonius group, the
caudal peduncle blotch always large and
prominent, and the fin coloration of males
less distinct although the pelvic fin was ob-
served with black marks in one specimen
(Kullander & Fang, 2005). Spots as in male
P. padamya are absent from the dorsal and
anal fins, but there is a band of dark pigment
across the middle of each fin. No notes were
made on life colours in the field of P.
tiantian, but it seems unlikely that bright red
colours such as in P. padamya would have
escaped us.
Puntius didi, from the Myitkyina area in
Myanmar, is similar to P. padamya in the
presence of a short maxillary barbel, the fre-
quently indistinct caudal peduncle blotch,
and the colour pattern of the dorsal, anal,
and pelvic fins in males (Kullander & Fang,
2005). Scattered personal field observations
and preserved coloration suggest that P. didi
has no significant red colour on the sides in
life. The fin spots are less distinct in P. didi,
and only one row of spots is present on the
pelvic and anal fins. The humeral blotch
continues distinctly ventrally to about the
level of the pectoral fin base vs. reaching
ventrally only to the lateral line scales, but
exceptions occur in both species. Males of
P. didi have lightly pigmented sides, and the
abdominal midline is pale yellowish to whit-
ish, whereas in P. padamya the area which is
red in life is devoid of dark pigment except
for contrasting dark bases of scales, and the
abdominal scales are margined with dark
pigment. Puntius padamya gives a more
slender impression than P. didi, as reflected
in a principal component analysis which
barely separates the two taxa chiefly on
body depth, prepelvic length, caudal pedun-
cle depth, and dorsal fin length (Figure 6,
Table 3). In adults of comparable SL (32-41
mm SL), P. padamya has a smaller orbit
(9.0-10.2 % SL vs. 10.0-11.5 % SL), less
deep head (19.8-21.6 % SL vs. 21.2-23.7 %
SL), less deep caudal peduncle (14.9-16.8 %
SL vs. 16.4-19.4 % SL), and shorter dorsal
fin (24.7-26.8 % SL vs. 26.6-31.8 % SL)
than P. didi. Meristics are similar in the two
species, except in vertebral counts where P.
didi usually has 4+13+13=30 vertebrae, and
P. padamya usually 4+14+12=30, but see
Chindwin samples below.
The two samples of small specimens of
P. padamya from the Chindwin River aver-
age one more dorsal caudal procurrent ray (7
vs. 6), more caudal vertebrae (13-14 vs. 12),
and one more vertebrae within the caudal
peduncle (usually 7 vs. usually 6) compared
to the type series.. We did not find any obvi-
ous differences in morphometrics between
the Chindwin specimens and the type series.

Kullander & Britz, 2008 Puntius padamya, a new species of Cyprinid
63
Figure 4. Map of Myanmar showing collecting localities for Puntius padamya. T= type locality.

Kullander & Britz, 2008 Puntius padamya, a new species of Cyprinid
64
Figure 5. Orbital diameter plotted against standard length in species of the Puntius conchonius group
from Myanmar. Data from Kullander & Fang (2005) and Kullander (2008).
The overall coloration of the Chindwin
specimens is pale, and the humeral blotch
appears smaller, but comparable in size to
that in juveniles in the type series. There is a
vestigial maxillary barbel and the caudal pe-
duncle blotch is indistinct.
Puntius padamya is apparently the same
species as the ornamental fish species known
as the “Odessa barb” in aquarium literature
(e.g., Sterba, 1988), the identity and origin
of which has been the subject of consider-
able speculation (e.g., Dazkewitsch, 1973a,
1976, Stallknecht, 1973, Hochstrasser, 1980,
v.d. Nieuwenhuizen, 1984).
The early aquarium history of the
“Odessa barb” is not well documented. The
first published mention that we are aware of
is by Dazkewitsch (1973a), according to
whom the species originated from a market,
without having specified in what country,
and arrived in Odessa, Ukraine, in 1971. van
den Nieuwenhuizen (1984) summarized the
early aquarium literature.
It seems there that three species may
have been involved, as also explained by

Kullander & Britz, 2008 Puntius padamya, a new species of Cyprinid
65
Dazkewitsch (1976) who placed the origin
of the “Odessa barb” more precisely in a
market in the Far East. One species from the
Far East, which arrived in Odessa in 1972 is
clearly indicated as being P. semifasciolatus
based on colour information (Dazkewitsch,
1973b, 1976, v.d. Nieuwenhuizen, 1984).
Another barb from Odessa is definitely iden-
tical with the long finned aquarium form of
P. conchonius (Hochstrasser, 1980), called
“Odessa barb” in the former Soviet Union.
The ornamental fish exports from
Myanmar were very much limited until the
1990s, and still sporadic until the mid-2000s,
and aquarium fish imports to the former So-
viet Union were very much constrained in
the 1970s. At the time the Soviet Union had
considerable trade relations with Myanmar,
however. It seems as possible as any other
story, that a Ukrainian stationed in Myanmar
may have hand carried specimens back
home. Whatever the case, the species now
has recovered its own home and its proper
name.
The origin of the species currently called
“Odessa barb” in the ornamental fish trade,
and herein described as P. padamya, remains
obscure. The Far East origin stated by Daz-
kewitsch (1976) is obviously incorrect, and
possibly there was some confusion involving
P. semifasciolatus which showed up in 1972,
and which is a Far Eastern species, occurring
in southern China and northern Viet Nam.
Schäfer (2001) was the first to provide an al-
ternative origin, although still imprecise, re-
porting on an ornamental fish importation of
the “Odessa barb” from Singapore to
Europe, said to have been collected in
Myanmar.
Figure 6. Plot of scores of sheared second principal component on first principal component of mor-
phometric data from Puntius padamya and P. didi.

Kullander & Britz, 2008 Puntius padamya, a new species of Cyprinid
66
Acknowledgements
We thank W. Vishwanath for photographs
of P. meingangbii, and P. bizonatus, and
Richard P. Vari, Jeffrey T. Williams, and
Sherleen Smith, Division of Fishes, USNM,
for making specimens available. RB thanks
Ritva Roesler for the great company and help
in the field and for taking the life images of P.
padamya. The collecting trip during which
this species was collected was financially sup-
ported by the Leonard P. Schultz fund, Divi-
sion of Fishes, USNM, administered by Victor
G. Springer, to whom RB is grateful.
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this work have been deposited in the following publicly accessible libraries: 1. National Museum of Natural His-
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Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California, USA; 4. Department of Ichthyology, Museum National d'His-
toire Naturelle, 75005 Paris, France; 5. Senckenberg Museum, Frankfurt/Main, Germany; 6. National Museum of
Natural History, Leiden, The Netherlands. 7. The Gitter-Smolartz Library of Life Sciences and Medicine, Tel
Aviv University, Israel; 8. The National and University Library, Jerusalem, Israel; 9. Library of Congress, Wash-
ington, D.C. USA; 10. South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Grahamstown, South Africa; 11. The Na-
tional Science Museum, Tokyo, Japan; 12. The Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden.