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Five new species of Puntius from Myanmar (Teleostei : Cyprinidae)
Abstract
Five small species of Puntius, all characterised by a prominent blotch or band on the caudal peduncle, occur syntopic in small streams around Myitkyina and also Lake Indawgyi in northern Myanmar. Puntius erythromycter, new species, is characterised by a small size (to 33.1 mm SL), a dark band around the caudal peduncle, an abbreviated lateral line, males with reddish snout beset with tubercles, and absence of barbels. Puntius nankyweensis, new species, is diagnosed by a small size (to 32.5 mm SL), presence of minute barbels, a dark band around the caudal peduncle, an abbreviated lateral line, and absence of a scale row above the lateral line. Puntius thelys, new species, is a moderate sized species (to 41.8 mm SL), with an abbreviated lateral line, a dark blotch on the caudal peduncle, and absence of humeral marking. Puntius macrogramma, new species, is a moderate sized species (to 50.9 mm SL), with complete or almost complete lateral line, a minute humeral spot, and a dark blotch on the caudal peduncle. Puntius erythromycter, P. nankyweensis, P. thelys, and P. macrogramma are referred to the P. conchonius species group. Puntius pugio, new species, reaching 39.3 mm SL, is similar to P. amphibius, P. brevis, P. burmanicus, P. chola, P. leiacanthus, P. sophore, and P. terio in the presence of a frontoparietal fontanelle and also characterised by the absence of barbels, a complete lateral line, last unbranched dorsal fin ray without serrae, and a dark band around the caudal peduncle. Cyprinus puntio Hamilton, 1822, originally described from India but later only reported from Myanmar, is considered to be a species inquirenda. It cannot be identified on the basis of the description and there are no type specimens preserved.
... Measurements were made with a digital caliper to the nearest 0.1 mm. Morphometry and meristics follow Kullander (2008). Head length (HL) and measurements of body parts are expressed as proportions of standard length (SL), and subunits of the head as proportions of head length. ...
... Materials reported in this paper are deposited in the collections of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Arunachal Pradesh, regional centre, India (ZSI/APRC/V/P), and in the freshwater fish collections of ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute (CIARI), Port Blair (CIARI/FF). Information on P. tiantian, P. stoliczkana, P. macrogramma, P. expletiforis and P. rutila were obtained from Kullander & Fang (2005), Linthoingambi and Vishwanath (2007), Kullander (2008), Dishma and Vishwanath (2013), and Lalramliana et al. (2014), and used for comparisons. ...
... Pethia dikhuensis differs from the other congeners of the Chindwin-Ayerwaddy drainage viz., P. didi (Kullander & Fang, 2005), P. erythromycter (Kullander, 2008), P. nankyweensis (Kullander, 2008), P. padamya (Kullander & Britz, 2008) and P. thelys (Kullander, 2008), in having a complete lateral-line (vs. incomplete); and from P. castor and P. pollux, recently described species from the Ayeyarwady drainage in Myanmar (Conway et al. 2021), by the presence of a complete lateral line and prominent caudal blotch. ...
A new species of Pethia from Nagaland, northeastern India is distinguished from all its congeners in the Ganges-Brahmaputra drainage, Kaladan drainage and the Chindwin-Ayeyarwady drainage by the following combination of characters: lateral line complete with 22-23 pored scales up to tail-fin base, 3 rd and 4 th lateral line scales with minute humeral spot, a large elliptical to rounded black blotch covering 16 th to 18 th , or 17 th to 19 th lateral-line scales; live male specimens with reddish-green body above lateral line and reddish-orange beneath; dorsal, pectoral, pelvic, anal and caudal fins reddish-orange; dorsal fin in both sexes with broad black submargin. Genetic analysis based on the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase unit I (cox1) suggests that the species is distinct from other known species of Pethia for which data are available.
... The South and Southeast Asian cyprinid genus 'Puntius' has long been recognised as a polyphyletic assemblage (Rainboth, 1986(Rainboth, , 1989(Rainboth, , 1991(Rainboth, , 1996Kullander, 2008;Pethiyagoda et al., 2012;Kottelat, 2013). In recent years, several members of this catch-all genus have been reassigned to other genera, many of which were newly described for this purpose (e.g., Pethiyagoda et al., 2012;Kottelat, 2013). ...
... In recent years, several members of this catch-all genus have been reassigned to other genera, many of which were newly described for this purpose (e.g., Pethiyagoda et al., 2012;Kottelat, 2013). The genus Pethia was created by Pethiyagoda et al. (2012) to accommodate small-bodied (usually less than 60 mm SL) 'Puntius' from South and Southeast Asia that were previously recognised as members of the Puntius conchonius species group (Taki et al., 1978;Kullander, 2008). Species of Pethia typically exhibit one or two black blotches or bars on the side of the body, including an anterior (humeral) marking and/or a posterior marking on the caudal peduncle. ...
... Pethia is distributed throughout South and Southeast Asia, from Sri Lanka and peninsular India in the west, to the Mekong drainage of Laos and Thailand in the east (Kottelat, 2001;Batuwita et al., 2015;Katwate et al., 2016). Several species of Pethia are reported from Myanmar, including P. didi, P. erythromycter, P. expletiforis, P. macrogramma, P. meingangbii, P. nankyweensis, P. ornata, P. padamya, P. stoliczkana, P. thelys, P. tiantian, and P. yuensis (see e.g., Kullander & Fang, 2005;Kullander, 2008;Kullander & Britz, 2008;Kottelat, 2015;Kottelat & Nyein Chan, 2017;Shangningam & Vishwanath, 2018). All these species exhibit a black blotch (of variable size and shape) on the caudal peduncle, and may or may not exhibit an additional black blotch or vertically elongate (humeral) marking anteriorly. ...
Two new species of Pethia, P. castor and P. pollux, are described from flooded areas of the Ayeyarwady drainage in Kachin State and Sagaing Region, central Myanmar. The two species are largely sympatric and syntopic, generally similar in external appearance, and distinguished from congeners by the absence of black blotches (round or vertically elongate) on the body. Pethia castor and P. pollux are distinguished from each other by subtle characters of the mouth and snout, osteology, and colour pattern in preservative. The uncorrected P-distance (based on mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I [COI] gene sequences) between the two new species is 8.2%. Phylogenetic analyses of a small dataset of COI sequences for 16 species of Pethia plus outgroup taxa corroborates Pethia as a monophyletic group, inside of which P. castor and P. pollux represent sister taxa, and together represent the sister taxon of the Ganga-Brahmaputran P. gelius.
... Currently, the genus Pethia contains over 35 species, all endemic to the Indian subcontinent and Myanmar (Pethiyagoda et al., 2012;Katwate et al., 2014). Of these, 14 species are distributed in the Chindwin-Irrawaddy drainage: Pethia atra (Linthoingambi & Vishwanath, 2007), P. didi (Kullander & Fang, 2005) P. erythromycter (Kullander, 2008), P. khugae (Linthoingambi & Vishwanath, 2007), P. macrogramma (Kullander, 2008), P. manipurensis (Menon, Rema Devi & Vishwanath, 2000), P. meingangbii (Arunkumar & Tombi, 2003), P. nankyweensis (Kullander, 2008), P. padamya (Kullander & Britz, 2008), P. ornata (Vishwanath & Laishram, 2004), P. stoliczkana (Day, 1871), P. thelys (Kullander, 2008), P. tiantian (Kullander & Fang, 2005) and P. yuensis (Arunkumar & Tombi, 2003). ...
... Currently, the genus Pethia contains over 35 species, all endemic to the Indian subcontinent and Myanmar (Pethiyagoda et al., 2012;Katwate et al., 2014). Of these, 14 species are distributed in the Chindwin-Irrawaddy drainage: Pethia atra (Linthoingambi & Vishwanath, 2007), P. didi (Kullander & Fang, 2005) P. erythromycter (Kullander, 2008), P. khugae (Linthoingambi & Vishwanath, 2007), P. macrogramma (Kullander, 2008), P. manipurensis (Menon, Rema Devi & Vishwanath, 2000), P. meingangbii (Arunkumar & Tombi, 2003), P. nankyweensis (Kullander, 2008), P. padamya (Kullander & Britz, 2008), P. ornata (Vishwanath & Laishram, 2004), P. stoliczkana (Day, 1871), P. thelys (Kullander, 2008), P. tiantian (Kullander & Fang, 2005) and P. yuensis (Arunkumar & Tombi, 2003). ...
... Currently, the genus Pethia contains over 35 species, all endemic to the Indian subcontinent and Myanmar (Pethiyagoda et al., 2012;Katwate et al., 2014). Of these, 14 species are distributed in the Chindwin-Irrawaddy drainage: Pethia atra (Linthoingambi & Vishwanath, 2007), P. didi (Kullander & Fang, 2005) P. erythromycter (Kullander, 2008), P. khugae (Linthoingambi & Vishwanath, 2007), P. macrogramma (Kullander, 2008), P. manipurensis (Menon, Rema Devi & Vishwanath, 2000), P. meingangbii (Arunkumar & Tombi, 2003), P. nankyweensis (Kullander, 2008), P. padamya (Kullander & Britz, 2008), P. ornata (Vishwanath & Laishram, 2004), P. stoliczkana (Day, 1871), P. thelys (Kullander, 2008), P. tiantian (Kullander & Fang, 2005) and P. yuensis (Arunkumar & Tombi, 2003). ...
Pethia poiensis, a new cyprinid species, is described from the Challou River, Chindwin Basin, Manipur, India. The new species is characterised by an incomplete lateral line with 7–9 pored scales, the absence of barbels, 19–20 scales in lateral series, 9–10 pre-dorsal scales, 18 pre-anal scales, 3½ scales between dorsal-fin origin and lateral line, three scales between lateral line and pelvic-fin origin and a unique colour pattern consisting of a humeral spot encompassing the third and fourth lateral-line scales, a caudal spot on the 16th and 17th lateral series scales and a black stripe along the flank. A revised key to the species of Pethia found in the Chindwin-Irrawaddy drainage is presented.
... Pethia sanjaymoluri differs from the other species of Pethia occurring in northern and north-eastern India and Myanmar that have an incomplete lateral line. Namely it differs from Pethia ater (Linthoingambi & Vishwanath 2007), Pethia aurea Knight 2013, Pethia canius (Hamilton 1822), Pethia didi (Kullander & Fang 2005), Pethia erythromycter (Kullander 2008), Pethia gelius (Hamilton 1822), Pethia khugae (Linthoingambi & Vishwanath 2007), Pethia manipurensis (Menon, Rema Devi & Vishwanath 2000), Pethia meingangbii (Arunkumar & Tombi Singh 2003), Pethia nankyweensis (Kullander 2008), Pethia ornatus (Vishwanath & Laisram 2004), Pethia padamya (Kullander & Britz 2008), Pethia phutunio (Hamilton 1822), Pethia shalynius (Yazdani & Talukdar 1975), Pethia thelys (Kullander 2008) and Pethia yuensis (Arunkumar & Tombi Singh 2003), in having predorsal neural spines six (v. five in P. ater and P. khugae), 23-25 lateral scale rows (v. ...
... Pethia sanjaymoluri differs from the other species of Pethia occurring in northern and north-eastern India and Myanmar that have an incomplete lateral line. Namely it differs from Pethia ater (Linthoingambi & Vishwanath 2007), Pethia aurea Knight 2013, Pethia canius (Hamilton 1822), Pethia didi (Kullander & Fang 2005), Pethia erythromycter (Kullander 2008), Pethia gelius (Hamilton 1822), Pethia khugae (Linthoingambi & Vishwanath 2007), Pethia manipurensis (Menon, Rema Devi & Vishwanath 2000), Pethia meingangbii (Arunkumar & Tombi Singh 2003), Pethia nankyweensis (Kullander 2008), Pethia ornatus (Vishwanath & Laisram 2004), Pethia padamya (Kullander & Britz 2008), Pethia phutunio (Hamilton 1822), Pethia shalynius (Yazdani & Talukdar 1975), Pethia thelys (Kullander 2008) and Pethia yuensis (Arunkumar & Tombi Singh 2003), in having predorsal neural spines six (v. five in P. ater and P. khugae), 23-25 lateral scale rows (v. ...
... Pethia sanjaymoluri differs from the other species of Pethia occurring in northern and north-eastern India and Myanmar that have an incomplete lateral line. Namely it differs from Pethia ater (Linthoingambi & Vishwanath 2007), Pethia aurea Knight 2013, Pethia canius (Hamilton 1822), Pethia didi (Kullander & Fang 2005), Pethia erythromycter (Kullander 2008), Pethia gelius (Hamilton 1822), Pethia khugae (Linthoingambi & Vishwanath 2007), Pethia manipurensis (Menon, Rema Devi & Vishwanath 2000), Pethia meingangbii (Arunkumar & Tombi Singh 2003), Pethia nankyweensis (Kullander 2008), Pethia ornatus (Vishwanath & Laisram 2004), Pethia padamya (Kullander & Britz 2008), Pethia phutunio (Hamilton 1822), Pethia shalynius (Yazdani & Talukdar 1975), Pethia thelys (Kullander 2008) and Pethia yuensis (Arunkumar & Tombi Singh 2003), in having predorsal neural spines six (v. five in P. ater and P. khugae), 23-25 lateral scale rows (v. ...
Pethia sanjaymoluri, a new cyprinid, is described from the Pavana and Nira tributaries of Bhima River, Krishna drainage, Maharashtra, India. It can be distinguished from congeners by a combination of characteristics that includes an incomplete lateral line, absence of barbels, upper lip thick and fleshy, 23–25 lateral series scales, 7–12 lateral-line pored scales, 10 predorsal scales, 11–14 prepelvic scales, 17–20 pre-anal scales, 4½ scales between dorsal-fin origin and lateral line, four scales between lateral line and pelvic-fin origin, 8–15 pairs of serrae on distal half of dorsal-fin spine, 12–14 branched pectoral-fin rays, 4 + 26 total vertebrae, 4 + 5 predorsal vertebrae, 4 + 13 abdominal vertebrae, 13 caudal vertebrae and a unique colour pattern comprising a humeral spot positioned below the lateral line and encompassing the third and fourth lateral-line scales and one scale below, one caudal spot on 17th–21st lateral-line scales with a yellow hue on its anterior side and apical half of dorsal fin studded with melanophores making the fin tip appear black. Genetic analysis based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequence suggests that the species is distinct from other known species of Pethia for which data are available.
... Comparative material. Same as in Kullander & Fang (2005), and Kullander (2008). (Figures 1-3 Diagnosis. ...
... 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 samples reported of species of Puntius from Myanmar, in which usually females outnumber males, and females are of larger size than males (Kullander & Fang, 2005, Kullander, 2008. ...
... Puntius padamya is similar in proportions to other species of the P. conchonius group, P. didi, P. tiantian, P. macrogramma, P. thelys, P. nankyweensis, and P. erythromycter (Kullander, 2008), but shares a relatively small eye only with P. tiantian ( Figure 5). ...
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".
... They recorded 64 species from the lake itself and its tributaries. Since, a few ichthyologists visited the lake and this has resulted in the addition of a few species, either already known from elsewhere in Myanmar or new to science (e.g., Britz, 2007Britz, , 2010Kullander, 2008Kullander, , 2012Kullander & Britz, 2002;Kullander & Fang, 2005;Ng & Kottelat, 2007Kottelat, 2017). brought the number of species from the lake and its basin to 95 native species (Kottelat, 2015). ...
... As is described above, all the other characters used to diagnose the genus are present in L. eleios and show a similar appearance as in the other species of Lepidocephalichthys. The organisation of pectoral-fin rays 7 and 8 in close contact in male L. eleios is considered either as a plesiomorphy or as precursor stage to the fusion into a pectoral rod, and is possibly related to an incomplete development resulting from the small size of the species (developmental trunction), as observed in many other miniature fishes (see, e.g., Britz & Kottelat, 2003, 2008Kottelat et al., 2006;Britz & Conway, 2009;Britz et al., 2014). Kottelat & Lim (1992) described sexual dimorphism in the Sundaic and some Indochinese species of Lepidocephalichthys. reported sexual dimorphism in most species of Lepidocephalichthys, but with a confused terminology. ...
... Recent studies have shown, however, that the species previously identified as Pethia ticto comprises a complex of superficially similar species from India and Myanmar (see Menon et al., 2000;Beevi & Ramachandran, 2005;Kullander & Fang, 2005;Linthoingambi & Vishwanath, 2007;Mercy & Jacob, 2007;Kullander & Britz, 2008;Kullander, 2008;Knight et al., 2012;Dishma & Vishwanath, 2013). ...
... Specimens were fixed in 10% formalin and subsequently preserved in 70% alcohol. Counts and measurements were made on the left side of specimens following Kullander (2008). Measurements were taken point to point with digital calipers rounded to nearest 0.1 mm. ...
Pethia rutila, a new species is described from Karnaphuli drainage, Mizoram, Northeast India. It is distinguished from its congeners in having a complete lateral line with 21-22 scales, an inconspicuous black humeral spot on the scale row below the 3rd and 4th lateral-line scales, a black blotch on the caudal peduncle centered above the insertion of the last anal-fin ray, overlapping lateral-line scales 16-18 or 17-19 and ½4/1/3½ scales in transverse line from dorsal-fin origin to pelvic-fin origin.
... nov. by complete lateral line scales vs. incomplete in the latter (Kullander & Fang 2005; Kullander 2008). Puntius nigripinnis sp. ...
... nov. can further be distinguished from P. macrogramma, P. tiantian and P. didi by having 2–2½ scales between lateral line scale row and ventral fin vs. four scales in P. macrogramma, and 3½ scales in P. tiantian and P. didi (Kullander & Fang 2005; Kullander 2008). In addition, P. nigripinnis sp. ...
Abstract: Puntius ticto, a widely distributed barb, was long believed to have many variants. Recent research has shown that what was earlier known as P. ticto in different regions of India comprised of many similar looking species such as P. manipurensis, P. muvattupuzhaensis, P. pookodensis, among others. As yet another addition to this complex, we describe Puntius nigripinnis sp. nov. from the Nilgiris and Wyanad area of the southern Western Ghats. Puntius nigripinnis, sp. nov., is distinguished from all other congeners by lacking barbels and having the last unbranched dorsal ray serrated; 20–21 lateral line scales; lateral line incomplete, piercing 3–5 scales; dorsal, anal, pelvic and pectoral fins black in adult males; body pattern consisting of a humeral mark on the 3rd or 4th lateral-line scale and a second larger, band-like spot on the 18th and 19th scale, forming a ring around the caudal peduncle, and only two scales between the second spot and the root of the caudal fin.
Keywords: Puntius, P. ticto, new species, Western Ghats.
... However, these two character states are common among other cyprinids, e.g. Puntius (Kullander 2008). The apomorphic state of these two characters is only valid while comparing with danionins. ...
... The latter has great resemblance to juveniles of the former. In the present study, Horadandia and Rasboroides form a monophyletic group characterized by three homoplasies, including a frontoparietal fontanelle (character 25) of the same shape, a pleisiomorphy observed in other cyprinids (Kullander 2008). The fontanelle is also present in Trigonopoma gracile and comparative materials, Danionella mirifica and Sundadanio axelrodi. ...
Liao, T. Y., Kullander, S. O. & Fang, F. (2009). Phylogenetic analysis of the genus Rasbora (Teleostei: Cyprinidae).—Zoologica Scripta, 39, 155–176.
A phylogenetic analysis was conducted based on 35 cyprinid taxa, including 29 species of Rasbora, and 41 morphological characters. A strict consensus tree from four equally parsimonious trees recovered rasborins as a monophyletic group characterized by (i) presence of dark supra-anal pigment and subpeduncular streak, (ii) 5–6 branched anal-fin rays, (iii) dorsal-fin insertion 1–3 scales behind pelvic-fin insertion, (iv) lateral process of second vertebra more or less straight, (v) 1–5 more abdominal than caudal vertebrae, (vi) absence of foramen in anterior wall of horizontal limb of the cleithrum, (vii) presence of rasborin process on epibranchial 4, and (viii) interhyal well ossified. Rasbora sensu stricto can be distinguished from all other rasborin genera by the presence of an opercular canal. Four new genera, viz. Brevibora, n. gen., Kottelatia, n, gen., Rasbosoma, n. gen. and Trigonopoma, n. gen., are recognized and described.
... Therefore attempts were made to provide biometric estimates of Puntius sophore from river, reservoirs, ponds, tanks, and local markets of Eastern Indian states comprising of Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Manipur, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Morphometric measurements and meristic counts of Puntius sophore were recorded from the left side of the 251 specimens by using digital caliper having 0.01 mm accuracy following Kullander (2008). A value in parentheses of the count indicates the frequency of that count. ...
The biometric studies are essential for proper species-level identification of fishes. In total 251 numbers of Puntius sophore specimens were collected from nine Indian states and subject to biometric analysis to provide updated identification keys. The P. sophore can be distinguished from its congeners species by presence of a black spot in the caudal peduncle region, another at the root of dorsal fin between 3 rd to 6 th branched ray, diffused golden spot on gill cover, lateral line complete with 22 to 26 scales including 1-2 scales on caudal fin base, ½4-5/1/3½-4 transverse scales from dorsal and ventral fin origin, 8-9 pre-dorsal scales, 10-11 pre-pelvic scales and 12 circumpeduncular scales, III-IV+8 rays in dorsal fin (consisting of two supernumerary and one unbranched ray) and last unbranched ray osseous and smooth; i+13-14 rays in pectoral fin, i+8 rays in ventral fin, iii+ 5 rays in anal fin, and caudal fin bilobed with 10+9 principal rays. The overall standard length of the collected samples varied between 22.71 to 80.37 mm SL with the mean value of 48.16±9.64. The body depth of individuals varied in the range of 30.43-44.53% of SL with a mean 37.64±2.36, which lies under the range 28.90-51.02% of SL and widest range 34.81-44.53% was observed in Bihar population with a mean value 38.51±2.70. Similarly, head length, length of caudal peduncle and depth of caudal peduncle ranged between 25.24-33.55%, 16.61-23.73% and 12.19-18.30% of SL, respectively. Head depth behind the eye orbit, snout length and eye orbit diameter ranged between 60.04-75.98%, 19.34-28.64% and 26.03-38.91% of the head length.
... Studies of the differences in morphology and regular performance among related species provide information on the process and magnitude of such differences, which helps in comprehending the natural control of biological diversity (Schoner, 1974;Karr and James, 1975;Bock, 1977). Though morphological plasticity is quite widely evident among all fishes, in barbs plasticity exists even among the individuals as well as sexes making it too difficult to identify the species (Kortmulder et al., 1983;Kottelat and Pethiyagoda, 1989;Jayaram, 1991;Kullander and Fang, 2005;Kullander, 2008). Morphological characters have long been used to study the diversity and taxonomy of these cyprinids (Mohsin and Ambak, 1983). ...
... Therefore attempts were made to provide biometric estimates of Puntius sophore from river, reservoirs, ponds, tanks, and local markets of Eastern Indian states comprising of Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Manipur, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Morphometric measurements and meristic counts of Puntius sophore were recorded from the left side of the 251 specimens by using digital caliper having 0.01 mm accuracy following Kullander (2008). A value in parentheses of the count indicates the frequency of that count. ...
The biometric studies are essential for proper species-level identification of fishes. In total 251 numbers of Puntius sophore specimens were collected from nine Indian states and subject to biometric analysis to provide updated identification keys. The P. sophore can be distinguished from its congeners species by presence of a black spot in the caudal peduncle region, another at the root of dorsal fin between 3 rd to 6 th branched ray, diffused golden spot on gill cover, lateral line complete with 22 to 26 scales including 1-2 scales on caudal fin base, ½4-5/1/3½-4 transverse scales from dorsal and ventral fin origin, 8-9 pre-dorsal scales, 10-11 pre-pelvic scales and 12 circumpeduncular scales, III-IV+8 rays in dorsal fin (consisting of two supernumerary and one unbranched ray) and last unbranched ray osseous and smooth; i+13-14 rays in pectoral fin, i+8 rays in ventral fin, iii+ 5 rays in anal fin, and caudal fin bilobed with 10+9 principal rays. The overall standard length of the collected samples varied between 22.71 to 80.37 mm SL with the mean value of 48.16±9.64. The body depth of individuals varied in the range of 30.43-44.53% of SL with a mean 37.64±2.36, which lies under the range 28.90-51.02% of SL and widest range 34.81-44.53% was observed in Bihar population with a mean value 38.51±2.70. Similarly, head length, length of caudal peduncle and depth of caudal peduncle ranged between 25.24-33.55%, 16.61-23.73% and 12.19-18.30% of SL, respectively. Head depth behind the eye orbit, snout length and eye orbit diameter ranged between 60.04-75.98%, 19.34-28.64% and 26.03-38.91% of the head length.
... The genus Puntius (sometimes Barbus in the earlier literature) was, prior to Pethiyagoda et al. (2012), widely treated as a catch-all bin for small Asian cyprinids (e.g., Kottelat & Pethiyagoda, 1989;Kullander, 2008;Kullander & Fang, 2005). Evidence from osteology (Jinadasa & Kotalawala, 1991;Kotalawala, 1992;Shantakumar & Vishwanath, 2006;Taki et al., 1978), karyotyping coloration (Kortmulder, 1972(Kortmulder, , 1986Kortmulder & van der Poll, 1981) and hybridization (Kortmulder, 1972) was mounting, however, to suggest that the genus, which then contained some 120 species, was, in fact, an artificial assemblage of taxa whose phylogenetic relationships were not well understood and resolved. ...
During the past decade, the ca 120 species of small, colourful tropical Asian freshwater fishes previously referred to the cyprinid genus Puntius have been shown to consist of multiple morphologically distinct evolutionary lineages that resolve as monophyletic groups in molecular studies. Many of these clades have been allocated to new genera such as Dawkinsia, Desmopuntius, Haludaria, Oliotius,
Pethia, Puntigrus, Sahyadria, Striuntius and Waikhomia. Others have been assigned to existing but previously poorly delineated genera such as Barbodes and
Systomus, while some 40 species remain in Puntius. The divergent morphology
of several species retained in Puntius suggests, however, that the systematics of
this group requires further attention. Here, based on a phylogeny incorporating
newly generated data from the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb), mitochondrial
cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1), nuclear recombination activating protein
1 (rag1), and interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (irbp) gene markers,
we investigate the interrelationships of the species of Puntius in Sri Lanka in the
wider context of their Indian and Southeast Asian congeners. We identify three
well-supported monophyletic groups that warrant recognition as new genera:
Rohanella (type species Puntius titteya), Plesiopuntius (type species Gnathopogon
bimaculatus) and Bhava (type species Puntius vittatus). The first of these is endemic to rainforest streams in Sri Lanka's perhumid southwestern wet zone,
whereas the latter two are widely distributed in both Sri Lanka and southern
India, including the Western Ghats. Our study highlights the presence of distinct
evolutionary lineages among several widespread species.
... General measurements and counts follow Hubbs & Lagler (1946) and Kottelat (2001). For Garra, Pethia, Psilorhynchus and Schistura, the methods of Kullander & Fang (2004), Kullander (2008), Conway & Kottelat (2010) and Kottelat (2001) were followed, respectively. Identification of species of the remaining genera followed Jayaram (1999). ...
Psilorhynchus brachyrhynchus Conway and Britz (2010) is reported for the first from India. The species is characteristic in having a short snout (43-48% HL), the scale-less ventral surface between paired fins, and features of dorsal and caudal-fin pigmentation. A total of 14 species of fishes belonging to 12 genera under 7 families and 4 orders
are recorded from the Bulledam stream of Manipur. The fish fauna of the stream is a mixture of endemic hillstream and Burmese forms.
... General measurements and counts follow Hubbs & Lagler (1946) and Kottelat (2001). For Garra, Pethia, Psilorhynchus and Schistura, the methods of Kullander & Fang (2004), Kullander (2008), Conway & Kottelat (2010) and Kottelat (2001) were followed, respectively. Identification of species of the remaining genera followed . ...
ABSTRACT : The investigation was conducted to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in jackal of Barisal, Bangladesh. The study period was May,2017-April,2018. Out of 30 jackal, 25 jackal (83.33%) were infected by different species of parasites. The association of age, sex of the hosts and season were also observed. Fecal analyses were screened via using Formol-Ether concentration technique for parasite ova, cysts, oocysts and larvae. During the study period, total thirteen species of parasites were identified. Among them Toxocara canis had highest prevalence rate (83.33%) and higher prevalence followed by Isospora spp. (76.67%), Ancylostoma spp. (76.67%), Echinococcus granulosus (53.33%) and Mesocestoides lineatus (53.33%). The prevalence of parasites in jackal was highest in 4-5 years age group (85.71%) and 8-9 years age group (85.71%) and was statistically significant (p<0.05). In all years age groups, Toxocara canis had highest prevalence (85.71%). Females (100%) had higher infection than the males (76.92%). Statistically it was also significant (p<0.05). The parasites which had higher prevalence rate in females were Toxocara canis (100%) and Isospora sp. (82.35). Ancylostoma spp. (76.92%), Toxocara canis and Isospora sp. (69.23%) had higher prevalence rate in males. Prevalence of parasite species in jackal was highest in summer (100%) and in win- ter (100%) and was statistically significant (p<0.05). From the above result, it could be stated that jackal act as zoonotic agent which is a threat for human health.
... Research on Puntius s.l. includes new species descriptions (Vishwanath & Laisram, 2004;Kullander & Fang, 2005;Pethiyagoda, Silva, Maduwage, & Meegaskumbura, 2008;Kullander, 2008;Plamoottil, 2014), morphological analyses (Taki, Katsuyama, & Urushido, 1978;Shantakumar & Vishwanath, 2006) and limited molecular research (Chang, Shao, & Kao, 2006;Fang, Noren, Liao, Källersjö, & Kullander, 2009;Pethiyagoda, Meegaskumbura, & Maduwage, 2012;Moghaddam, Aliabadian, Daud, & Seifali, 2013;Yang et al., 2015). Yang et al. (2015) recognized 16 lineages from Puntius s.l. and its Asian allies using five mitochondrial genes. ...
Puntius sensu lato (s.l.) was one of the most speciose genera in the family Cyprinidae. There are around 120 valid species widely distributed in South‐East and South Asia, and South China. Puntius has long been known as an artificial assemblage and ‘catch‐all’ genus in which a large number of small, unrelated cyprinids have been placed. With new species and genera being described each year, obtaining detailed knowledge of the phylogenetic relationships of this complex is critically important in the assessment of a natural classification. In the present study, two mitochondrial and four nuclear genes were used to examine the inter‐specific and inter‐generic relationships of the Puntius complex and to test the monophyly of the current genera. Divergence time analysis was performed to explore the origin, evolution, and divergence of major clades in Puntius s.l. Results revealed that the genera Puntius seusu stricto (s.s.), Systomus, Pethia, Haludaria, Desmopuntius and Puntigrus were monophyletic with high support. However, monophyly of Barbodes, Striuntius and Sahyadria was not supported. Dawkinsia and Sahyadria formed a highly supported clade. Puntius semifasciolatus and P. snyderi from South China and Taiwan represent a new lineage. Inferences from divergence time analysis indicated that Puntius s.l. likely dated to early Miocene. Major clades in Puntius s.l. diverged during Miocene as well.
... Measurements were taken on the left side of specimens point to point with a digital calliper to the nearest 0.1 mm. Measurements and counts usually followed Kullander (2008). However, head length was measured from the snout tip to the posterior margin of opercle. ...
Pethia arunachalensis, a novel cyprinid species, is described from the Nao-dhing River, Brahmaputra Basin, Arunachal Pradesh, India. The new species is diagnosed in having an incomplete lateral line, 6-7 lateral-lined pored scales, absence of barbels and a distinct black caudal spot. A key to the species of the genus Pethia established in the Ganga-Brahmaputra drainage is provided.
... The genus Puntius Hamilton-Buchanan of the family Cyprinidae is represented by a large number of species of Asian tropics. The nomenclatural validity of this genus remained unsettle (Hora and Mukerji, 1934;Myers, 1960, Kottelet, 1999 and their interrelationships are poorly understood (Kullander and Fang, 2005;Kullander, 2008). Modern taxonomic work regularly employs internal anatomy, physiology, behaviour, genes, isozymes, geography and morphological characters, which remain the cornerstone of taxonomic treatments (Ward et al., 2009). ...
Manipur is one of the north eastern states of India and it is rich in freshwater fish diversity. Among the small indigenous fishes of Manipur, Pethia manipurensis is an economically important fish having both food and ornamental value. For the taxonomic placement of this species among the cyprinid fishes, molecular characterization is conducted by using mitochondrial cox1 gene sequences. Partial sequences of mito. cox1 gene of thirty seven cyprinid species were down loaded from NCBI Genbank and the nucleotide sequence 602 bp were generated from two species i.e. Pethia manipurensis and Puntius sophore for present analysis. Here total 628 characters, 144, 459, 267 and 192 were conserved, variable, parsimony informative and singleton respectively. The average nucleotide frequencies are 26.4% (A), 29% (T), 26.4% (C), and 18.2% (G). The dendogram constructed by both Neighbour-Joining and Maximum Likelihood trees resulted in similar topologies with five clusters with eight sub-clusters which can indicate the taxonomic positions of Pethia manipurensis.
... Fishes have more species than all other vertebrate group combined [1,2] and the fishes divided into 482 families of 57 orders. These numbers are in sharp contrast to numbers of species of amphibians (827), reptiles (449), birds (29,165) and mammals (23,122) found worldwide [3]. Nelson (1994) suggested the number of described living fish species might eventually reach about 28,500 [2]. ...
Freshwater ecosystems contain only about 0.01% of the Earth’s water and the system accounts about 45% of fish species known to date. Alteration in the micro and macro habitats in the system severely affects the aquatic life especially fishes and also complicates the fish taxonomy. Among the different kinds of fresh water fishes, the fishes grouped under the genus Puntius, belonging to Cypriniformes family, have been considered as an important protein source of daily diets of human beings in south India, in particular. The inter-genetic and intra-genetic relationships of the Puntius species have not yet been well understood to date and the species are reported to exist in various water bodies of peninsular India. In the present study, a total of 168 individuals of the 17 species of genus Puntius have been collected from 31 locations of six river systems (meandering eastward flowing rivers of Bhavani, Moyar, Chalakudy, Periyar, Cauvery and Kabini) of Southern Western Ghats. The data analyses suggested that species like Puntius melanampyx, Puntius carnaticus, Puntius amphibious, Puntius fasciatus, Puntius mahecola were fiund predominantly in the locations considereded in the present study. The significances of the study and timely measures needed to protect the species have also been concisely discussed.
... Cyprinid fishes of the genus Puntius Hamilton are small fishes range widely in size, from about 20 to 500mm Standard Length (SL). They are considered as a catch-all genus in which a large number of small tropical Asian cyprinids of unrelated small barbs whose interrelationships are poorly understood have been placed (Kortmulder 1972;Schut et al. 1984; Kottelat and Pethiyagoda 1989; Kottelet 1999; Kullander and Fang 2005;Kullander 2008). The striking body color pattern and presence of a spot or blotch at the base of the caudal fin or more blotches or bars on the body of many species of Puntius has led to their popularity as freshwater aquarium fishes and are traded internationally as ornamentals (Collins et al. 2012). ...
Pethia meingangbii a new species from Manipur, northeast India is a small Asian cyprinid fish of immense ornamental potential, widely distributed in the two headwaters of Manipur. Many studies have reported the karyotypic variation that occurs in the same species or different species of Pethia of different geographical locations with conserve diploid count (2n = 50), as in other cyprinid fishes of Cyprininae subfamily of different genera, such as Catla, Chagunius, Cirrhinus, Labeo, Puntius, and Osteobrama. Although there is high number of valid species in the genus, there are relatively few papers concerning Pethia cytogenetics. With the aim to understand the karyotype variations and chromosomal evolution in the genus, Pethia meingangbii species were cytogenetically analyzed through Giemsa staining for the first time and the results indicated no sex-related heteromorphisms and the diploid count was 50, having a karyotype of 24 metacentric, 14 submetacentric and 12 acrocentric with a fundamental chromosome arm number (NF) of 88. The obtained cytogenetic data were correlated to the available biogeographical and phylogenetic analyses for the genus. The comparative analysis indicated the conserve diploid count (2n = 50) in the genus with karyotypic divergences suggesting that centric inversions were responsible for the variation. Our results show that basic information of chromosome number and morphology analysis, are no longer obsolete and can be used to compare the degree of chromosomal diversity over their geographical range, providing important tools for phylogeographic, evolutionary and taxonomic status besides increasing the cytogenetic data of the taxon.
... The description of M. aureus brings the total number of species in the M. aculeatus group up to 12, of which five alone are from Myanmar; the highest number of species for any country. A high species diversity has also been found in other groups of freshwater fishes in Myanmar, like the cyprinids Danio ), Devario ), Puntius (Kullander 2008), Garra (Kullander & Fang 2004), ...
Macrognathus aureus, new species, from the upper Ayeyarwaddy River Drainage, northern Myanmar, is distinguished from all other species of the M. aculeatus species group by the following combination of characters: rostral tooth plates 8-10, dorsal-fin spines 21-22, and a unique colour pattern consisting of a series of large white-rimmed, dark-brown to black blotches along the dorsal fin and even larger blotches along the lateral line, of which some are confluent with the dorsal series.
... In view of this aforesaid context, appropriate nutrient profile documentation of these small indigenous groups is needful. Puntius sophore is one of the small indigenous polyphyletic groups (Kullander, 2008). It is selected for present study since of their elevated customer requirement for its taste as well as costeffective importance. ...
... In view of this aforesaid context, appropriate nutrient profile documentation of these small indigenous groups is needful. Puntius sophore is one of the small indigenous polyphyletic groups (Kullander, 2008). It is selected for present study since of their elevated customer requirement for its taste as well as costeffective importance. ...
The present analysis investigated the major lipids and their fatty acids in a small sized edible Indian minor carp Puntius sophore, by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and gas liquid chromatography. In P. sophore muscle lipid is <1%, for which fish can be regard as very low fat fish. Among the lipid classes, Phospholipids (PL) is the maximum and the fatty acid (FA) symphony consists of altogether 36 members which are quantified by open gas liquid chromatography. In P. sophore the DHA is 2.5 times higher than EPA and 3/6 ratio is ranging from 3.69 to 5.57 in the major lipid fractions. P. sophore can be considered as an ideal diet as it is found to be extraordinarily loaded with -3 FAs. The A.I. and T.I. are investigated which are within the range considered for standard human health. The result clearly illustrates that the significance of lipids and their FAs is imperative in maintaining their own physiology as well as human nutrition for reducing incidence of wide range of common degenerative diseases, as well as the alleviation of clinical symptoms. Therefore additional awareness should be given to the management legislation and policies for this P. sophore culture, because of its substantial nutritional capability.
... In view of this aforesaid context, appropriate nutrient profile documentation of these small indigenous groups is needful. Puntius sophore is one of the small indigenous polyphyletic groups (Kullander, 2008). It is selected for present study since of their elevated customer requirement for its taste as well as costeffective importance. ...
The present analysis investigated the major lipids and their fatty acids in a small sized edible Indian minor carp Puntius sophore, by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and gas liquid chromatography. In P. sophore muscle lipid is <1%, for which fish can be regard as very low fat fish. Among the lipid classes, Phospholipids (PL) is the maximum and the fatty acid (FA) symphony consists of altogether 36 members which are quantified by open gas liquid chromatography. In P. sophore the DHA is 2.5 times higher than EPA and 3/6 ratio is ranging from 3.69 to 5.57 in the major lipid fractions. P. sophore can be considered as an ideal diet as it is found to be extraordinarily loaded with -3 FAs. The A.I. and T.I. are investigated which are within the range considered for standard human health. The result clearly illustrates that the significance of lipids and their FAs is imperative in maintaining their own physiology as well as human nutrition for reducing incidence of wide range of common degenerative diseases, as well as the alleviation of clinical symptoms. Therefore additional awareness should be given to the management legislation and policies for this P. sophore culture, because of its substantial nutritional capability.
... Jayaram (1991) observed that all species of Puntius distributed in India may be categorised under two groups of independent origin (sophore group and sarana group) and they might have given rise to several other groups. Kullander (2008) P. denisonii and P. chalakkudiensis exhibit an iridescent red lateral stripe that is almost similar to the red nuptial colour stripe of Sophore group (not the sophore group of Jayaram, 1991) of fishes. However, in these two species the red lateral stripe is present during most part of their life and not confined to the breeding season. ...
Role of visual and olfactory cues in reproductive behaviour as well as gonad maturation is studied. Phylogenetic relationships and reproductive isolation mechanisms between similar congeneric species also explored.
... The specimens collected were fixed in 10% formalin, and subsequently preserved in 70% ethanol. Methods for making counts and measurements follow Kullander (2008) except where mentioned otherwise. Measurements were made with digital calipers to the nearest 0.1 mm. ...
Pethia striata, new species, is described from the Tunga River in Kudremukh National Park, in the central part of the Western Ghats, Karnataka State, India. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by the combination of the following characters: absence of barbels; stiff and serrated last unbranched dorsal-fin ray; complete lateral line with 20–21 pored scales and a relatively small humeral spot one scale below the fourth lateral-line scale; a large black blotch covering lateral-line scales 17–19. In addition, the outer edges of body scales are dark, producing a striped pattern along the sides of the body. Pethia striata, new species, is presently known only from headwater-streams of the Tunga River basin.
... Tendency towards decreasing information on the presence and morphology of the pseudotympanum continues into the species-rich Cypriniformes (minnows, suckers, and their relatives). Although mentioned in anatomical studies of cypriniform audition (Chranilov, 1927; Kratochvil & Ladich, 2000); citations in the systematic literature of the pseudotympanum involve only relatively recent reports for African (Barbus, Van den Bergh & Teugels, 1998) and Asian (Danionella Britz, 2003; Britz et al., 2009; and Puntius Kullander, 2008) cyprinids of small body sizes. Information on the pseudotympanum in the remaining order in the Otophysi, the Gymnotiformes – Neotropical electric fishes – verges on the non-existent. ...
The pseudotympanum, a reduction of the hypaxialis muscle in the body wall lateral to the anterior portion of the swim bladder, is unique to some members of the Otophysi, the largest clade of primarily freshwater fishes. Prior studies documented the presence of the pseudotympanum in a number of groups within the Characiformes, to a lesser extent in subunits of the Siluriformes, and in a few taxa of the Cypriniformes, but with only one record of the aperture in the Gymnotiformes – the Neotropical electric fishes. Surveys across the five families and c. two-thirds of the genera in the Gymnotiformes revealed the occurrence of a pseudotympanum in all examined taxa. Pronounced variation in the expanse and details of the morphology of the opening and its relationship to the anterior elements of the axial skeleton was documented amongst Neotropical electric fish. Details of pseudotympanal morphology in the different families of the Gymnotiformes are described and the variation evaluated within the context of the two alternative hypotheses of higher-level phylogenetic relationships within the order.
... nov. can be easily distinguished from all other Indian congeners from Ganga-Brahmaputra and Chindwin-Irrawaddy, drainages as well as other rivers in Myanmar, except P. macrogramma (Kullander, 2008), P. tiantian (Kullander & Fang, 2005), P. expletiforis Dishma & Vishwanath, 2013 and P. guganio (Hamilton, 1822), by having a complete lateral line (vs. incomplete lateral line). ...
A new species of barb Pethia lutea is described from the Kundalika River in the northern part of the Western Ghats. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners in India based on a combination of characters including a distinct humped nape, absence of barbels, complete lateral line, lips thick, lateral fold on snout, 19–22 lateral line scales, 8 predorsal scales, 9–10 prepelvic scales, 14–15 preanal scales, 4–4½ transverse scale rows between lateral line and dorsal fin origin, 2½–3 transverse scale rows between lateral line and pelvic fin base, 6–9 pair of serrae on the distal half of the dorsal fin spine, 13–15 branched pectoral fin rays, 7 branched pelvic fin rays, 4+26 total vertebrae, 4+13 abdominal and 13 caudal vertebrae, body with one vertical humeral and one caudal blotch and dorsal fin without any bands or blotches. Additionally, we provide new records of Pethia punctata from the rivers of Maharashtra State along with a description of its osteology.
... Puntius has long been recognized as a "catch-all" genus for a variety of small tropical Asian cyprinids whose interrelationships are poorly understood (Kortmulder, 1972;Schut et al., 1984;Kottelat & Pethiyagoda, 1989;Kullander & Fang, 2005;Kullander, 2008). The genus, which contains some 220 nominal species (about 120 of these considered valid), has seen a significant accretion of new species in recent years. ...
The tropical Asian cyprinid genus Puntius, which contains some 120 valid species, has long been suspected to be polyphyletic. Here, through an examination of external morphology, osteology, and analysis of 16S ribosomal RNA and cytochrome b gene fragments from 31 South Asian species hitherto referred to Puntius, we show that these fishes represent at least five lineages recognisable as genera. Puntius sensu stricto has the rostral barbels absent; last unbranched dorsal-fin ray weak or strong, smooth; and lateral line complete, with 22-28 pored scales. Systomus possesses maxillary and rostral barbels; last unbranched dorsal-fin ray stiff (‘osseous’), serrated; and lateral line complete, with 27-34 scales. Three new genera are proposed: Dawkinsia (type species Leuciscus filamentosus) is distinguished by lacking rostral barbels; having the last unbranched dorsal-fin ray smooth; lateral line complete, with 18-22 scales; and a juvenile colour pattern that includes three black bars on the body. Dravidia (type species Cirrhinus fasciatus) is distinguished by having both rostral and maxillary barbels present; lateral line complete, with 18–26 pored scales; dorsal fin with 4 unbranched and 8 branched rays, last unbranched dorsal-fin ray smooth; infraorbital 3 deep, partly overlapping the preoperculum; and free uroneural and postepiphysial fontanelle absent. Pethia (type species Barbus nigrofasciatus) is distinguished by having the last unbranched dorsal-fin ray stiff, serrated; infraorbital 3 deep, partially overlapping preoperculum; rostral barbels absent; maxillary barbels absent or minute; a black blotch on the caudal peduncle; and frequently, black blotches, spots or bars on the side of the body. The identities of Puntius sophore and Systomus immaculatus are clarified through the designation of neotypes; a lectotype is designated for Neolissochilus bovanicus; and precedence is given to the spelling bovanicus over bovianicus.
... Characters presented in this study are thus probably not sufficient to trace the full extent phylogenetic relationship among rasborins, but provide considerable resolution over previous morphological studies. Kullander (2008) made a brief summary of the frontoparietal fontanelle among cyprinids and proposed presence of this character as a good indicator of shared ancestry for Puntius (sensu stricto) considering the limited distribution among cyprinids. In the present study, Horadandia and Rasboroides are the only two taxa possessing the frontoparietal fontanelle. ...
The cyprinid subfamily Danioninae is one of the most important fish groups due to its inclusion of the model fish, Danio rerio. Molecular investigations have shown that species traditionally placed in the Danioninae are non-monophyletic, divided into two groups corresponding to the Danioninae and Opsariichthyinae. The Danioninae are further divided into three lineages, i.e. chedrins, danionins and rasborins. However, morphological characters determining the foregoing groups are unknown. To investigate the interrelationships among major lineages within the Danioninae, a phylogenetic analysis based on 43 morphological characters from 34 taxa was conducted. Parsimony analysis recovers the Danioninae and Opsariichthyinae to be distinguished by the Y-shaped ligament, absent in the Danioninae while present in the Opsariichthyinae. The Danioninae are divided into two tribes, Danionini and Rasborini. The Rasborini, including Boraras, Brevibora, Horadandia, Kottelatia, Rasbora, Rasboroides, Rasbosoma, Trigonopoma and Trigonostigma, are diagnosed by presence of dark supra-anal pigment and subpeduncular streak as well as presence of the rasborin process on epibranchial 4. The Danionini are composed of two subtribes, Danionina and Chedrina, the Danionina including Chela, Danio, Devario, Microdevario and Microrasbora, and the Chedrina comprising Chelaethiops, Esomus, Luciosoma, Megarasbora, Mesobola, Nematabramis, Opsarius, Raiamas and Salmophasia. The Danionina are diagnosed by the unossified interhyal and presence of the danionin foramen in the horizontal limb of the cleithrum while the Chedrina are characterized by the postcleithrum absent or greatly reduced and approximately normal to abdominal ribs when present.
... Sundadanio, on the other hand, is intermediate in this regard. It exhibits numerous bone losses, but its skull is mostly well ossified, although it has a small preand a larger postepiphyseal fontanelle in the roof of the skull, where the frontals fail to meet in the dorsal midline [contrary to Kullander (2008;80), a partial skull roof is present in Sundadanio]. ...
Species of the cyprinid genus Paedocypris are among the smallest and most developmentally truncated fishes and vertebrates. Our analysis of their skeletal structure reveals a puzzling combination of extreme developmental truncation and an increased morphological complexity in sexually dimorphic characters. The skeleton of Paedocypris is characterized by reduction and loss and resembles in many aspects that of a larval/early juvenile stage of its close relatives. We found 61 characters that have been affected by developmental truncation. A comparison with the skeletal development of a close relative, the zebrafish Danio rerio, demonstrates that the majority of the absent bones or skeletal structures in Paedocypris are those that appear late in the ossification trajectory of the zebrafish. Thus, their absence in Paedocypris seems to be due to the simple developmental truncation of terminal stages in the ossification sequence. Our study of the sexually dimorphic structures in Paedocypris demonstrates that predominantly the male exhibits the more complex state. In relation to the female, male Paedocypris uniquely possess a cleithrum with a pointed posterior process that covers the scapula laterally, and a more medially situated posterior flange that contacts the dorsal area of the coracoid; a massive and heavily ossified uppermost pectoral radial tightly bound to the scapula; thickened and enlarged three uppermost pectoral-fin rays; a large triangular, dorsolaterally directed process on the outer arm of the massive os suspensorium; and a enlarged and shovel-like anterodorsally directed basipterygium; and a hypertrophied first pelvic-fin ray with additional anterior flanges that support keratinized pads of skin. Female Paedocypris show only one structure that is better developed than in males: the first proximal-middle radial and the anteriormost fin ray of the dorsal fin are more massive and more heavily ossified. Although the function and biological role of these dimorphisms is still unknown, we hypothesize that they are related to a special reproductive behavior. Paedocypris is a prime example for the recent claim that miniaturization among cyprinids is associated with evolutionary novelty only in developmentally truncated miniatures and not in proportioned dwarfs. Paedocypris offers a strong challenge to Schindleria as the most extreme example of developmental truncation known among fishes. We highlight the difficulties that developmentally truncated taxa frequently pose to the resolution of their phylogenetic position and propose an approach to overcome this problem. Our phylogenetic comparison to determine the systematic position of Paedocypris among cyprinids reveals that it shares not only a number of unique absences, but also highly unusual progressive characters with Sundadanio and Danionella, two other Asian miniature cyprinids. We hypothesize that the three genera form a monophyletic group. We further found that Paedocypris and Danionella share a number of uniquely derived characters pointing to a sister group relationship of the two.
Abstract:
In this communication, occurrence of cyprinid fish species, Pethia stoliczkana (Day,
1871) has been reported for the first time from River Kopili, Brahmaputra drainage,
Assam, India. A total number of eight specimens of the species were recorded from
the river during the study. Conventional, as well as molecular taxonomic tools, con-
firmed the species as P. stoliczkana. The Mitogenome sequence of P. stoliczkana generated during the present study is the first such information from an Indian river.
This paper presents a first report of Glyptothorax igniculus Ng & Kullander (2013) from India. A checklist of the fish fauna of Chakpi River is presented based on the present collection and those reported by the earlier workers. A total of 90 species of fishes belonging to 53 genera and 21 families are recorded from the river. Based on the IUCN status, the fish fauna of the river includes five endangered, six vulnerable, nine near threatened, forty five least concern and four data deficient. Highest species composition was observed in Cyprinidae family followed by Sisoridae. The fish fauna of the river is a mixture of endemic hill stream, Burmese and some widely distributed forms.
In the present study, four genus of barb fishes comprising of six species i.e., Puntius chola, P. sophore, Pethia conchonius, P. ticto, Barbus gonionotus and Systomus sarana were studied which were collected from Tripura state of India. The similarity in morphological features and colour pattern some time makes taxonomic identification of this genus difficult. Considering these facts, the present study was carried out for the systematic study of this group in Tripura by morphological methods i.e. by morphometric and meristic study. In this study, most of the meristic characters were found to be overlapping. However, some characters like pectoral fin ray, pelvic fin ray and circumpendicular scales could be taken for the separation of P. conchonius (i/17-18), B. gonionotus (i/6-7) and S. sarana (15-17) respectively from rest of the species. The discriminant function analysis (DFA) of the morphometric data showed that body depth (Root value: 0.655), anal fin base length (Root value: 0.4211) and dorsal fin base length (Root value: 0.236) were the characters of Root 1 that separated P. ticto and P. conchonicus from others while the characters like distance between pectoral-pelvic fin (Root value: 0.406), pelvic fin length (Root value: 0.201) and pre pelvic length (Root value: 0.151) of Root 2separated S. sarana from P. sophore. Characters like inter-orbital length (Root value: 0.474) and dorsal fin base length (Root value: 0.442) of Root 3 differentiated B. gonionotus from the other species. However, DFA could not separate P. conchonius and P. ticto.
Full list of specimens, identifications, morphological characters, comments, and bibliography of samples generated in this study.
(PDF)
Francis Day described Pethia punctata from Cochin, on the Malabar (south western) coast of India. Although, the species is now recovered from its synonymy with P. ticto, an accurate diagnosis and description have been lacking. A redescription of P. punctata based on external morphology, osteology and genetics is provided, which revealed that P. muvattupuzhaensis, described from Muvattupuzha River, Ernakulam District, Kerala, India, is its junior synonym. Pethia punctata can be diagnosed from other known species in the genus by a combination of characters including lateral line complete, with 23–25 pored scales; 8 predorsal scales; ½4/1/3½ scales in transverse line; dorsal fin originating almost opposite to, or slightly before pelvic-fin origin; gill rakers 7 on first ceratobranchial; 4+26 total vertebrae; a small black humeral spot covering anterior half of the fourth scale of the row below the lateral-line row; two minute dark spots below the humeral spot; a prominent spot on the caudal peduncle, surrounded by a golden hoop covering scales 19–21 of the lateral-line row; and dorsal fin with 2–3 longitudinal rows of black spots, third row occupying only anterior portion of the fin.
Pethia longicauda, a new cyprinid fish, is described from Hiranyakeshi River, Krishna drainage, Maharashtra, India. It can be distinguished from congeners based on a combination of characters including: a long caudal peduncle, incomplete lateral line, absence of barbels, upper lip thick and fleshy, distinct lateral fold on snout, 22–24 scales in lateral series, 5–6 lateral-line pored scales, nine predorsal scales, 9–10 prepelvic scales, 15–17 preanal scales, ½3/1/3½ transverse scales, 11–15 pairs of serrae on the distal half of the last unbranched dorsal-fin ray, 11–13 branched pectoral fin rays, 4+26 total vertebrae, 4+5 predorsal vertebrae, 4+13 abdominal and 13 caudal vertebrae, body iridescent silver in color with a black humeral spot, two black blotches on caudal peduncle and dorsal fin usually without any color bands or blotches but in breeding males with two rows of minute, indistinct black spots.
The surface microstructural features of scales, gills, upper and lower jaw of Puntius shalynius, an endemic fish of Meghalaya was investigated through scanning electron microscopy to understand the structural details of the aforementioned organs in relation to general biology of the fish species. The study is relevant in view of the fact that gills are the structures that are in direct contact with water and play important roles in feeding, osmoregulation and respiration which govern the general health of fish. Similarly, the scales are important structures that act as protective coverings of integument and are important pollution indicators. Besides these, upper and lower jaws are important in relation to feeding habit of fish. Further, the fish species, P. shalynius is an endemic fish of Meghalaya, a North-east Indian state and no information is available on the microstructural features of different organs relevant to biology and systematic of the fish. The current study presents the first report on the surface microstructural features of some organs and their significance in biology of the endemic fish species, P. shalynius in the light of available literature.
Pethia setnai is an endemic and threatened freshwater fish of the Western Ghats of India. It has a restricted distribution in
the west flowing rivers in the states of Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka. We clarify the phylogenetic position of Pethia setnai, provide
osteological details of topotypic material, and morphometric data of specimens from Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka. We also provide
details on micro-level distribution, habitat and threats to the species in its native range.
Members of the genus Psilorhynchus are small benthic fishes, commonly referred to as torrent minnows, which inhabit the fast to swift flowing water bodies of the Indo-Burma region and the Western Ghats of Peninsular India. Despite being described scientifically in the mid 18th century, the morphology of Psilorhynchus remains poorly known and its phylogenetic placement within the order Cypriniformes is a matter of considerable debate. In this paper the osteology of Psilorhynchus sucatio is described and illustrated in detail. Notes and/or illustrations on the osteology of 12 other species of Psilorhynchus are also provided for the first time. A phylogenetic investigation of the position of Psilorhynchus within the order Cypriniformes is also conducted. Analysis of 127 morphological characters scored for 52 ingroup taxa (including 12 species of Psilorhynchus) and four outgroup taxa resulted in 14 equally parsimonious cladograms (287 steps long; consitency index, CI = 0.48; retention index, RI = 0.88). Psilorhynchus is recovered as the sister group to the family Cyprinidae, and is regarded as a member of the superfamily Cyprinoidea, which forms the sister group to the Cobitoidea (including all other cypriniform families). The sistergroup relationship between Psilorhynchus and Cyprinidae is supported by eight derived characters (five of which are homoplastic within the order Cypriniformes). The monophyly of Psilorhynchus is supported by 16 derived characters (eight of which are homoplastic within Cypriniformes). Three species groups of Psilorhynchus are proposed, the Psilorhynchus balitora group (including P. amplicephalus, P. balitora, P. breviminor, P. nepalensis, P. rahmani, P. pavimentatus, and P. brachyrhynchus), the Psilorhynchus gracilis group (including P. gracilis, P. melissa, P. robustus, and P. tenura), and the Psilorhynchus homaloptera group (including P. arunachalensis, P. homaloptera, P. microphthalmus, and P. pseudecheneis). The continued use of the family group name Psilorhynchidae is recommended. Comments on the interrelationships of the Cypriniformes are also provided.
© 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011.
The species hitherto included in the genus Chela are shown to belong to two distinct genera, Chela (type species C. cachius) and Laubuca (type species L. laubuca). The Indian and Sri Lankan species of Laubuca (L. laubuca, L. fasdata, L. dadyburjori, L. lankensis and three new species, L. insularis, L. ruhuna and L. varuna) are distinguished from C. cachius, the type species of Chela (among other characters) by having 14 pre-caudal vertebrae (vs. 17 in C. cachius); 31-37 + 1-2 lateral-line scales (vs. 56-61 + 3-4); 7-11 scales in transverse line on body (vs. 17-19); and 14-20 branched anal-fin rays (vs. 21-23). Within Sri Lanka, the dry-zone species L. lankensis and L. insularis are distinguished from their wet-zone congeners L. varuna and L. ruhuna by having the skin over the dentary densely tuberculated (vs. tubercles minute, widely spaced). Laubuca lankensis is distinguished from L. insularis by its shorter pelvic fins (not reaching anal-fin origin, vs. reaching beyond base of third branched anal-fin ray in L. insularis); while L. ruhuna is distinguished from L. varuna by its deeper body (2.9-3.1 in SL, vs. 3.2-3.6 in L. varuna).
The overall most parsimonious hypothesis of relationships based on 200 characters indicates that the Alestidae is the closest relative of Chalceus, a genus previously assigned to the Neotropical Characidae. Chalceus is shifted into the Alestidae, which becomes the only trans-Atlantic family level group within the Characiformes. Various previously proposed suprageneric assemblages within the Alestidae (e.g. Petersiini) failed to delimit monophyletic groups under the intrafamilial phylogenetic analysis. The evaluation of fossil alestids within the context of the phylogeny indicates that the ancestors of Alestes, Arnoldichthys, Brycinus, Bryconaethiops and Hydrocynus evolved prior to the early Eocene (Cuisian of Upper Ypresian), 49–54.8 million years ago, with the fossil Alestoides most closely related to Alestes. The phylogenetic information further indicates a minimum age of 90–112 million years for the Alestidae. Contrary to previous hypotheses, the fossil African Sindacharax was found to be most similar to the clade including the alestid genus Bryconaethiops rather than most closely related to the South American subfamily Serrasalminae. Evaluation of the fossil Mahengecharax carrolli fails to support its hypothesized placement as the sister group to all Recent members of the Alestidae. Two separate episodes of miniaturization and one episode of gigantism occurred within the evolution of the Alestidae. © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2005, 145, 1−144. No claim to original US government works.
Paedocypris is a new genus of paedomorphic cyprinid fish from highly acidic blackwater peat swamps in Southeast Asia. It includes two new species, one of which (Paedocypris progenetica) appears to be the smallest fish and vertebrate known, with the smallest mature female measuring a mere 7.9 mm. Paedocypris has many 'larval' features typically associated with paedomorphic fish (e.g. narrow frontals that leave the brain unprotected dorsally by bone and a precaudal larval-fin-fold), but, uniquely among fishes, males also possess highly modified pelvic fins with hypertrophied muscles and a keratinized pad in front of the pelvic girdle, which, we hypothesize, function together as a clasping or holding device, thereby suggesting an unusual reproductive mode. Unfortunately, habitat destruction jeopardizes the survival of these fishes and thus opportunities for further research.
Paedocypris, a highly developmentally truncated fish from peat swamp forests in Southeast Asia, comprises the world's smallest vertebrate. Although clearly a cyprinid fish, a hypothesis about its phylogenetic position among the subfamilies of this largest teleost family, with over 2400 species, does not exist. Here we present a phylogenetic analyses of 227 cypriniform taxa, including 213 cyprinids, based upon complete mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b nucleotide sequences in order to determine the phylogenetic position of Paedocypris and to study the evolution of miniaturization among cyprinids.
Our analyses reveal a strongly supported sister group relationship (clade C) between Paedocypris and Sundadanio, another developmentally truncated miniature cyprinid. Clade C was resolved as sister group of a larger clade characterized by small rasborine taxa (clade D). We found that miniaturised taxa are more numerous in the rasborine clade A, formed by clades C and D, than in any other cyprinid clade. The consensus cytb in cyprinids includes 380 amino acids and an incomplete T-- stop codon. We noted that a few cyprinids mostly rasborine taxa placed within clade A had either a TAA or TAG stop codon, 376, 378, or 381 amino acids, and up to 10 base pairs (bp) of noncoding region before the 5' end of the tRNA-Thr. Our relaxed molecular clock estimates revealed high divergence times for the Sundadanio and Paedocypris clades and provide a first temporal framework for the evolution of miniaturization among cyprinids.
Paedocypris belongs to a clade (Rasborinae clade A) that shows recurrent miniaturization, including both taxa characterized by developmental truncation and by proportioned dwarfism. Its closest relative is another miniaturized taxon, the genus Sundadanio. We conclude that the miniaturized cyprinids with remarkable morphological novelties, like Paedocypris and Danionella, are at the same time the most developmentally truncated taxa. The miniaturized cyprinids with no or few developmental truncations like Boraras, Microrasbora, and Horadandia show no such evolutionary novelties.
Rivulus giarettai, new species, from the Araguari river drainage, upper rio Parana basin, Brazil, is described. This is the first record of a rivulid in tributaries of the left bank of the Paranaiba river. Rivulus giarettai differs from all other species of the subgenus Melanorivulus by possessing a unique color pattern on flank in males, in which red pigmentation is arranged to form a vermiculate pattern. It is similar to species endemic to the central Brazilian plateau in having ventral process of angulo-articular vestigial, first epibranchial curved, and flank intense greenish blue or greenish golden, to purplish blue above anal-fin base in males; it differs from central Brazilian plateau species by a combination of reduction of black pigmentation on head and humeral region in males, 34-36 scales on the longitudinal series, 30-32 caudal-fin rays, 3-4 vomerine teeth, and caudal fin with bars in both sexes.
Rivulus formosensis, new species of the subgenus Melanorivulus, is described from the upper Corrente River drainage, a part of the Paranaiba River drainage of the upper Parana River basin, central Brazil. It is considered a member of the R. pictus clade, which is diagnosed by the flank being intense greenish blue, to purplish blue above anal-fin base in males. It is distinguished from other species of Melanorivulus by a unique color pattern consisting of Y-shaped red marks on the flank in males.
Eleven species of Lobocheilos are recognized from Java, Sumatra and Borneo, six of them new. Lobocheilos falcifer, L. lehat, L. bo, L. schwanenfeldii and L. kajanensis are rediagnosed. Tylognathus boides is a synonym of L. bo. Lobocheilos bo is definitively recorded only from the Mahakam and Kayan drainages in eastern Borneo, L. falcifer from Java, L. kajanensis from the upper Kayan drainage in eastern Borneo, and L. schwanenfeldii from Sumatra, Borneo and apparently Java; all records of these species from other areas are based on mis-identifications, unidentifiable juveniles, or require confirmation. Lobocheilos lehat is known only from two specimens collected around 1858 in Java and is possibly extinct; a lectotype is designated. Lobocheilos erinaceus is described from northwestern Borneo, L. ixocheilos from the Batang Hari drainage in Sumatra and the Kapuas drainage in Borneo, L. ovalis from Sarawak, Brunei and Sabah, L. tenura from the Kapuas drainage in southwestern Borneo, L. terminalis and L. unicornis from eastern Sabah. Lobocheilos unicornis is uniquely diagnosed by the presence on top of the head of a conspicuous median projection covered by small tubercles in females larger than 130 mm SL.
The ontogenetical histories of pigment patterns in 3 Asiatic species of Barbus are presented in drawings and described. Their taxonomic significance is discussed. On the basis of the data presented, the species are allocated to sub-groups of the genus which have been proposed earlier (KORTMULDER, 1972).
1. 1. The skull and weberian apparatus of twelve genera of Gobioninae (Cyprinidae) has been examined by me. 2. 2. The three genera Saurogobio, Abbottina and Pseudogobio show elongated second preethmoid cartilages; in the other members studied, they are very much shorter. In Catostomus, the second preethmoid is elongated. 3. 3. The median rostral is elongated in Saurogobio, Abbottina, Pseudogobio and Gobiobotia. 4. 4. The anterior portion of the ethmoid-prevomer shows a ventral flexure in Saurogobio, Abbottina and Pseudogobio as in Catostomus. In Gobiobotia, it is not seen. 5. 5. Saurogobio, Abbottina, Pseudogobio and Gobiobotia show fontanel or fontanelles in the roof as in Catostomus. 6. 6. The supraorbital is either absent (Saurogobio, Abbottina, Corieus) or diminutive (Gobio, Pseudogobio); in other genera examined, it is well developed. In Catostomus, a supraorbital is absent. 7. 7. In the occipital region, the occipital sensory canal passes through the supraoccipital in Saurogobio, Abbottina, Pseudogobio and Gobiobotia; in the other genera, it passes through the parietals. 8. 8. One or two rows of pharyngeal teeth are more commonly met with in the Gobioninae; Hemibarbus is the only one with three rows of teeth. 9. 9. The gasbladder is enclosed in a bony capsule only in Saurogobio and Gobiobotia but the structure of the capsule differs in them. The capsule of Gobiobotia apparently resembles that of the Nemachilinae (Cobitidae) but the second pair of dorsal ribs does not contribute towards the formation of capsular wall. 10. 10. The weberian apparatus of the Gobioninae resembles that of Cyprininae; in Saurogobio and Gobiobotia, the transformator process of the tripus is absent on account of the development of a capsule. 11. 11. Saurogobio, Abbottina and Pseudogobio in exhibiting a large number of catostomid features, probably represent a group of gudgeons more nearly related to the Catostomidae. 12. 12. Gobiobotia is not a loach (Cobitidae) and shows certain specializations and it may be treated as a type of a group under Gobioninae; Saurogobio, Abbottina and Pseudogobio form a second group and the rest may conveniently be put under a third group.
Five small species of Puntius, all characterised by a prominent blotch or band on the caudal peduncle, occur syntopic in small streams around Myitkyina and also Lake Indawgyi in northern Myanmar. Puntius erythromycter, new species, is characterised by a small size (to 33.1 mm SL), a dark band around the caudal peduncle, an abbreviated lateral line, males with reddish snout beset with tubercles, and absence of barbels. Puntius nankyweensis, new species, is diagnosed by a small size (to 32.5 mm SL), presence of minute barbels, a dark band around the caudal peduncle, an abbreviated lateral line, and absence of a scale row above the lateral line. Puntius thelys, new species, is a moderate sized species (to 41.8 mm SL), with an abbreviated lateral line, a dark blotch on the caudal peduncle, and absence of humeral marking. Puntius macrogramma, new species, is a moderate sized species (to 50.9 mm SL), with complete or almost complete lateral line, a minute humeral spot, and a dark blotch on the caudal peduncle. Puntius erythromycter, P. nankyweensis, P. thelys, and P. macrogramma are referred to the P. conchonius species group. Puntius pugio, new species, reaching 39.3 mm SL, is similar to P. amphibius, P. brevis, P. burmanicus, P. chola, P. leiacanthus, P. sophore, and P. terio in the presence of a frontoparietal fontanelle and also characterised by the absence of barbels, a complete lateral line, last unbranched dorsal fin ray without serrae, and a dark band around the caudal peduncle. Cyprinus puntio Hamilton, 1822, originally described from India but later only reported from Myanmar, is considered to be a species inquirenda. It cannot be identified on the basis of the description and there are no type specimens preserved.
An account of the fishes found in the River Ganges & its branches. Archibald Constable and Company
- F Hamilton
Hamilton, F. 1822. An account of the fishes found in
the River Ganges & its branches. Archibald Constable and Company, Edinburg, viii + 405 pp, pls
1-39.
Revision of the genus Puntius Hamilton from the Indian Region. Records of the Zoological Survey of India
- K C Jayaram
Jayaram, K. C. 1991. Revision of the genus Puntius
Hamilton from the Indian Region. Records of the
Zoological Survey of India, Occasional Paper, 135:
1-178.
Discovery of frontoparietalle [sic] fontanel in Puntius sophore
- M R Mirza
Mirza, M. R. 1973. Discovery of frontoparietalle [sic]
fontanel in Puntius sophore (Pisces, Cyprinidae).
Freshwater fishes of Bangladesh
- A K A Rahman
Rahman, A. K. A. 1989. Freshwater fishes of Bangladesh.
Zoological Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka, xx + 364 pp.
New species of the genus Scaphognathops, Cyprinidae, from the Lao Mekong river system
- Y Taki
Taki, Y. 1974. New species of the genus Scaphognathops,
Cyprinidae, from the Lao Mekong river system.
Japanese Journal of Ichthyology, 21: 129-136.
Valid scientific names to Day's Fish fauna of India. Zoological Survey of India
- T K V Venkateswarlu
- Rama Rao
Venkateswarlu, T. & K. V. Rama Rao. 1986. Valid scientific names to Day's Fish fauna of India. Zoological Survey of India, Occasional Paper, 87: 48 pp.