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Biosystematica, 2012, 6(2)
17
Glyptothorax elankadensis (Order-Siluriformes: family- Sisoridae), a new fish species from
Manimala River, Kerala, India
MATHEWS PLAMOOTTIL1 & NELSON P. ABRAHAM2
1Asst. Professor, Govt. College, Chavara, Kollam Dt., Kerala, India.
2Associate Professor, St.Thomas college, Kozhencherry, Pathanamthitta Dt., Kerala, India.
ABSTRACT. Glyptothorax elankadensis is described as a new sisorid species of the genus Glyptothorax,
from Manimala River, Kerala, India. It is characterized as follows: Osseous serrated principal ray of dorsal and
pectoral fins, with four pairs of barbels, all fins yellow tipped. Three narrow yellow bands – one mid dorsal and
others mid lateral- present on longitudinal axis of body. Two small yellowish round spots on dorsal side downwards
and backwards from dorsal fin origin. Median fontanel on the dorsal side of the head very faint and indistinct.
Occipital process does not reach basal bone of dorsal fin. Meristic, metric and other morphological features of
G. elankadensis described and compared with its relatives.
Key words: Sisorid fish, Glyptothorax madraspatnam, yellow tipped fins, Elankad
Introduction
Sisorid fishes of the genus Glyptothorax inhabit Foothill
Rivers and fast flowing mountain streams and are benthic
in habitat. They maintain themselves attached to the
rocks, boulders, stones at the bottom of water bodies
where they live by means of a thoracic adhesive
apparatus which is a sort of sucking disk as an adaptive
structure (Weber & Beaufort, 1965; Jayaram, 2010).
About forty species of Glyptothorax occur in India
(Day, 1889; Hora & Silas, 1952; Misra, 1976; Jayaram,
2010). Of these, seven species are residing in the water
bodies of Kerala (Hora, 1942; Silas, 1952b; Biju et al.,
1998; Easa & shaji, 2003). The only one species of
Glyptothorax reported from Travancore to date is G.
madraspatanam (Day) (Hora, 1923; Hora & Law, 1941;
Silas, 1952a; Jayaram, 2006).
This Glyptothorax from Manimala river is very distinct
from all other species of the genus, chiefly in colour
markings and body structure; hence it is described here
as a new species Glyptothorax elankadensis. The
descriptions are based on three specimens collected by
Mathews Plamoottil from Manimala River at Elankad
of Idukki district (Fig.6) and Mundakkayam of Kottayam
district (Fig.6) of Kerala.
Biosystematica
ISSN: 0973-7871(online)
ISSN: 0973-9955 (print)
17
© Prof. T.C. Narenderan Trust for Animal Taxonomy
http://www.tcntrust.org/journal.php
Corresponding author: mathewsplamoottil@gmail.com
Materials and Methods
Fishes were collected using cast nets and preserved in
10% formalin. Identification of the species was carried
out following Day (1878, 1889), Misra (1976) and
Jayaram (2006, 2010); methods used are those of
Jayaram (2002) and measurements follow standard
practices, using dial calipers. The values of holotype
are given first and then range, in which holotype included,
followed by their mean values. Measurements were
taken on the left side of specimens. Body depth and
body width were measured both at dorsal-fin origin and
anus, vertically from dorsal-fin origin to belly and from
anus to dorsum, respectively.
Abbreviations - Institutional abbreviations are: ZSI-
Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, West Bengal; ZSI/
WGRC- Zoological Survey of India, Western Ghats
Regional Centre, Calicut; ZSI/SRC- Zoological Survey
of India, Southern Regional Centre, Chennai; KUFOS-
Kerala University of fisheries and Ocean Studies,
Panangadu, Cochin; KFRI- Kerala Forest Research
Institute, Peechi, Thrichur; SILURI- Siluriformes; SISO-
Sisoridae; GLYPTO- Glyptothorax; F-Fish, FF- Fish
fauna; HT- holotype; DRD-AD- distance from rayed
dorsal fin to adipose dorsal fin.
Biosystematica, 2012, 6(2)
18
Glyptothorax elankadensis, sp.nov
(Figures 1-5; Table 1)
Material examined
Holotype: ZSI/WGRC/IR/2351, 1 specimen 110 mm
standard length, Elankadu (Fig.7), Manimala river,
Kerala, India, collected by Mathews Plamoottil, 12
January 2011.
Paratypes: ZSI/WGRC/IR/2352, 2 specimens 115 &
101 mm standard length, Elankadu & Mundakkayam
(Fig.8), Manimala river, Kerala, India, collected by
Mathews Plamoottil, 10 February 2011 & 2 June 2012.
Diagnosis: Medium sized Glyptothorax species with
tips of all the fins yellow colored. Three narrow yellow
bands – one mid dorsal and others mid lateral- present
on longitudinal axis of body. Two small yellowish round
spots on dorsal side downwards and backwards from
dorsal fin origin. A round yellowish spot in between
eyes. Median fontanel on the dorsal side of the head
very faint and indistinct. Occipital process does not reach
basal bone of dorsal fin. Eyes very minute; blue colored,
nearly circular, level to the surface of head or a little
bulging and are located behind and above the angle of
jaws; mouth inferior; thoracic apparatus longer than
broad, an elongated groove in the middle of it. Rayed
dorsal is shorter than head and pectoral and longer than
pelvic and anal; its base is longer than pectoral and pelvic
but shorter than anal. First ray of pectoral and last
undivided ray of dorsal fin serrated on inner side. None
of the fins touch each other. Ventral surface of anterior
region of head papillated. Body finely granulated. Head
length 4.2, body depth at dorsal fin origin 5.9 in standard
length. Eye diameter 17.1, head width 1.1, head depth
1.6, width of gape of mouth 2.6 in head length.
Description: Morphometric data appear in Table 1.
Data for countable characters follow; Dorsal -fin rays
iii, 4-6; Anal-fin rays i-iii, 7-10; Caudal-fin rays 17;
Ventral-fin rays i, 5; Pectoral-fin rays i, 8- 10.
Body rigid, elongate; skin thick; head depressed. Dorsal
profile arched and ventral side straight. Pre dorsal region
bends downwardly in a straight line from occiput to tip
of snout; post dorsal region nearly straight with only a
slight slope. Median fontanel on the dorsal side of the
head very faint and indistinct. A small depression is
seen on the lateral side below the occiput and above the
posterior base of pectoral, on either side. Upper jaw
fairly longer than lower jaw and the former overhangs
the mouth. Snout length greater than that of interorbital
width. Eyes very small, blue colored, nearly circular,
level to the surface of head or a little bulging and are
located behind and above the angle of jaws. They are
situated backwards and inwards from snout, towards
the middle of head and not visible from ventral side.
Anterior and posterior nostrils are located close to each
other, away from eyes and nearer to upper lip and are
not covered by a distinct flap. Nares of both sides closely
located than between eyes. Anterior nostrils fairly
circular, posterior ones roughly spherical; mouth inferior
and narrow; maxillaries smoothly reach adhesive
apparatus and just reach the origin of pectoral, beyond
eyes and nostrils and its base thick; outer mandibulars
fairly reach adhesive apparatus and a little in front of
anterior nostrils but never reach eyes; inner mandibulars
roughly reach anterior part of adhesive apparatus; nasals
are nearer to maxillaries base than to eyes, never reach
eyes, but reach upper lip. Adhesive apparatus has a
prominent median groove, which is deeper on its anterior
end. Occipital process does not reach basal bone of
dorsal fin.
Rayed dorsal fin triangular and closer to tip of snout
than to caudal fin base, far behind of origin of pectoral
and fairly in front of ventral origin. Upper margin of
dorsal almost straight and it reach just behind the origin
of pelvic. Rayed dorsal is shorter than head and pectoral
and longer than pelvic and anal; its base is longer than
pectoral and pelvic but shorter than anal. Its first three
rays are undivided; first ray is very small, osseous, hard
but forwardly directing and hidden in the skin. Second
ray is prominent and stouter than other rays and serrated
internally but weak. Last undivided ray is not much
developed.
Adipose dorsal originates just above or roughly behind
the point of origin of anal. It is shorter than all other fins
and its base longer than that of pectoral and pelvic.
Pectoral pointed in profile and it originates from below
and a little inside of opercle and fairly in front of dorsal
and pelvic fins on ventro lateral side. Its upper margin
nearly straight and its tip reach to a region just below
the origin of rayed dorsal but never reach ventral origin.
It is shorter than head but longer than all other fins and
its base longer than that of pelvic and shorter than all
other fins. Pelvic fin triangular and it originates in front
of anal on ventral side, fairly behind dorsal and pectoral,
upper margin straight and its tip never reach anal but
reach vent. Its base is not parallel to the longitudinal
axis of body but inserted obliquely so as to form a
PLAMOOTTIL & ABRAHAM
Biosystematica, 2012, 6(2)
19
Fig.1. Dorsal view of Glyptothorax elankadensis, in living condition (ZSI/WGRC/IR 2352 -Paratype)
Fig.2. Lateral view of Glyptothorax elankadensis, in living condition (ZSI/WGRC/IR 2352- Paratype)
Fig. 3. Lateral view of G. elankadensis (Holotype) (ZSI/WGRC/IR 2351).
Glyptothorax elankadensis a new fish species from Kerala, India
Biosystematica, 2012, 6(2)
20
Fig.4. Head of G. elankadensis- dorsal view Fig.5. Glyptothorax elankadensis head- Ventral view
showing adhesive apparatus
Fig.6. Map of a portion of high level region of Manimala River showing the distribution of Glyptothorax elankadensis
PLAMOOTTIL & ABRAHAM
Biosystematica, 2012, 6(2)
21
triangular space in front of it. Pelvic fins are longer
than adipose dorsal, shorter than rayed dorsal and
pectoral and nearly equal to anal. Length of its base
shorter than all other fins. Last rays of ventral fin lie
closely on the ventral side of the body. Anal fin
triangular, its margin straight and it originates just in front
of or on the level of adipose dorsal on ventral side and
considerably behind vent. Its tip reaches a level just
below the tip of adipose dorsal on ventral side. Anal fin
is longer than adipose dorsal, equal to ventral and shorter
than dorsal and pectoral. Its base is longer than that of
dorsal, pectoral and pelvic. Vent not very close to anal
origin. Caudal fin deeply forked its lower lobe a little
broader than upper lobe and its lobes pointed.
Coloration. Lateral and dorsal sides light brownish to
brownish green, ventral side from snout tip to front base
of anal yellowish, posterior to that brownish black. Two
small yellowish round spots on dorsal side downwards
and backwards from dorsal fin origin. A round yellowish
spot in between eyes. All the fins yellow tipped; Pectoral
and pelvic fins light yellowish green to brownish yellow.
Upper margin of pectorals have a thin yellow line. Anal
light brownish to brownish yellow, but darker than
pectoral and pelvic. Dorsal fin darker than all other
fins. Minute black dots present on dorsal and pectoral,
but more clear in dorsal. Other fins also have black
dots but indistinct. Adipose dorsal fin yellowish green;
caudal fin brownish black. Longitudinal bands on the
body are yellow to yellowish green. Inner and outer
mandibulars yellow in colour; maxillaries yellowish green,
tips of it pale yellow. After preservation in formalin, body
color turns to deep brownish black.
Comparisons.
Glyptothorax elankadensis exhibits well marked
differences from all other species of Glyptothorax
residing in the water bodies of India. The present species
differs greatly from Glyptothorax madraspatanam
(Day), known from Periyar, Chaliyar and Kabani rivers
of Kerala. Specimens of G. madraspatanam from ZSI,
Kolkata, ZSI-SRC, Chennai, ZSI–WGRC, Calicut &
KFRI, Peechi were examined and compared with the
new species. In G. madraspatanam, unlike the new
species, skin smooth and upper surface of head
granulated (Vs. whole skin granulated in G.
elankadensis), thoracic adhesive apparatus not well
developed and without a pit (Vs. adhesive apparatus
developed with a prominent median groove), color
yellowish with dark bands (Vs. yellow bands), fins
provided with black bands (Vs. fins without dark bands),
dorsal spine serrated on both sides (Vs. only inner side
of dorsal spine serrated) and pelvic fin almost reaching
anal fin (Vs. pelvic fin does not reach to anal) (Day,
1878, 1889; Misra, 1976; Jayaram, 2006). Unlike the
present species, in G. madraspatanam dorsal fin has
seven rays (Vs. seven to nine rays in the new species),
eye diameter 6.5-6.8 (Misra, 1976) or 5.8 to 7.0
(Jayaram, 2006) in head length (Vs. 13.0- 25.0), 1.1 to
1.5 (Misra, 1976) or 1.1 to 1.8 (Jayaram, 2006) in inter
orbital width (Vs. 3.1- 7.0), 3.1 to 3.2 (Misra, 1976) or
2.9 to 3.7 (Jayaram, 2006) in snout length (Vs. 6.5- 13.5)
and width of mouth 2.0 in head length (Vs. 2.4- 2.8).
Glyptothorax davissinghi, a species described
from Chaliyar River (Manimekalan & Arunachalam,
1998) differs greatly from G. elankadensis. Paratypes
of the former from ZSI- SRC, Chennai examined well
and compared with the new species. Unlike to present
species, in G. davissinghi, body is dark grey (Vs. light
brownish to brownish green in the new species), without
any longitudinal bands (Vs. three longitudinal bands),
ventral side golden in colour (Vs. yellow to brownish
black) and tips of all fins white edged (Vs. tips yellow).
(Manimekalan & Arunachalam, 1998). Besides, their
adhesive apparatus is reddish in color (Vs. adhesive
apparatus hyaline to whitish yellow) and with a distinct
central pit (Vs. a groove present in the middle of thoracic
apparatus and no pit), caudal fins are equal (Vs. unequal
caudal fins), dorsal fin spine strong (Vs. dorsal spine
weak), serrated on posterior edge only (Vs. dorsal spine
serrated throughout inner edge), dorsal fin rays are I, 6
(Vs. III, 4- 6 in the new species), anal fin rays ii, 5 (Vs.
i- iii, 7- 10), pectoral fin rays I, 9-10 (Vs. I, 8- 10) and
caudal rays 18 (Vs. 17) (Manimekalan & Arunachalam,
1998; Jayaram, 2006). Moreover, their eye diameter
9.3-10.7 (Vs. 13.0- 25.0 in G. elankadensis), height of
head at occiput 2.0- 2.3 (Vs. 1.6- 1.7) in head length
(Jayaram, 2006).
Glyptothorax elankadensis shows distinct
differences to G. malabarensis collected from
Valapattanam River of Kerala. Holotype and paratypes
of the latter from ZSI-WGRC examined well and
compared with the new species. Unlike to the former,
color of G. malabarensis in life consists of a black
background with three flesh red or orange transverse
bands on the body; in them nasal barbels extend to
anterior orbital margin (Gopi, 2010); but nasals reach
only half way to eyes in the new species. Unlike the
new species, in G. malabarensis, body depth 19.6- 19.9
(Vs. 15.6- 18.2 in new species), caudal peduncle length
14.3- 14.7 (Vs. 16.9- 19.8), caudal peduncle depth 12.4-
12.7 (Vs. 7.8- 8.2) all in percent of standard length and
Glyptothorax elankadensis a new fish species from Kerala, India
Biosystematica, 2012, 6(2)
22
thoracic apparatus without a median depression (Vs.
median depression present) (Gopi, 2010).
Glyptothorax anamaliensis distinctly differs
from G. elankadensis in having three white transverse
bands on the body. In addition to it, skin on the head and
body of G. anamalaiensis is coarsely tuberculated.
Adhesive apparatus of Glyptothorax anamaliensis is
poorly developed and is about as long as broad (Silas,
1952a). Moreover, all the fins are tipped with white.
Caudal fin lobes are equal in G. anamalaiensis but in G.
elankadensis lower lobe of caudal a little broader than
upper lobe. Body proportions may also differ in both;
unlike to G. elankadensis, body depth 6.0- 7.8 (Vs. 5.5-
6.4), head length 3.9-4.3 (Vs. 4.0- 4.4) in standard length,
eye diameter 2.0- 2.8 (Vs. 13.0- 25.0) in head length,
6.0 in inter orbital width (Vs. 3.1- 7.0) and 1.7-2.0 (Vs.
6.5- 13.5) in snout length, height of head at occiput 1.9-
2.5 (Vs. 1.6- 1.7) and width of mouth 3.0 (Vs. 2.4- 2.8)
in head length in G. anamaliensis (Silas, 1951; Menon
and Yazdani, 1968; Jayaram, 1979, 2006). Specimens of
G. anamalaiensis from ZSI, Kolkata and ZSI-WGRC
were examined well and compared with the new species.
Glyptothorax lonah (Sykes) shows well
marked difference to G. elankadensis. Color of G.
lonah is grayish above and dirty white below (Beaven,
1877; Day, 1889; Silas, 1952a; Misra, 1976). In them,
unlike the present species, nasal barbels reach anterior
margin of orbit and outer mandibulars to gill openings;
thoracic adhesive apparatus longer than broad and
without a pit and occipital process reaches the basal
bone of dorsal fin (Sykes, 1839; Misra, 1976; Jayaram,
2006). Dissimilar to G. elankadensis, in G. lonah eye
diameter 10 in head length (Vs. 13.0- 25.0), 3.0 in inter
orbital width (Vs. 3.1- 7.0), 5.0 in snout length (Vs. 6.5-
13.5) and width of mouth 1.5 in head length (Vs. 2.4-
2.8) (Misra, 1976; Jayaram, 2006). Specimens of G.
lonah from ZSI, Kolkata were examined and compared
with the new species.
Unlike the present species, in G. housei Here,
skin on head and body smooth, nasal barbels extend to
middle or beyond eyes, outer mandibulars to base of
pectoral spine or to base of first or second ray (Herre,
1941; Menon, 1954; Misra, 1976; Jayaram, 2006). Unlike
G. elankadensis, thoracic adhesive apparatus broader
than long, without a central depression, with edges
developed over the whole surface except the posterior
end of the mid-ventral line in G. housei (Herre, 1941;
Silas, 1952a; Misra, 1976; Jayaram, 2006, 2010). Unlike
to the present species, in G. housei, body depth 6.2 to
6.4 (Vs. 5.5- 6.4) in standard length, eye diameter 12.5
to 13.6 (Vs. 13.0- 25.0) in head length, 3.7 to 4.2 (Vs.
3.1- 7.0) in inter orbital width and 5.7 to 6.3 (Vs. 6.5-
13.5) in snout length (Misra, 1976; Jayaram, 2010).
Moreover, in G. housei, dissimilar to the new species,
head width 2.5 (Vs. 1.1- 1.2), height of head at occiput
1.8 (Vs. 1.6- 1.7), and width of mouth 2.3 (Vs. 2.4- 2.8)
in head length (Jayaram, 2006). G. housei from
KUFOS examined and compared with the new species.
Morphologically Glyptothorax elankadensis
shows some differences to G. annandalei Hora.
Specimens of G. annandalei from ZSI, Kolkata, ZSI–
WGRC, Calicut and KFRI, Peechi were examined and
compared with the new species. In G. annandalei,
unlike the present species, colour is dark grey above
becoming lighter below, fins are yellowish with cluster
of black dots at the base and margins of their fins are
lighter (Hora, 1923; Silas, 1952a; Misra, 1976; Jayaram,
2006).
Unlike G. annandalei, an yellowish round spot
present in between eyes in the new fish.
Dorsal fin has
only one unbranched ray (Vs. three unbranched dorsal
rays in the present species), pectoral fin has ten rays
(Vs. eight to ten rays), and anal fin has ten rays (Vs. 8-
12) in G. annandalei (Hora, 1923; Misra, 1976; Jayaram,
2006). In G. annandalei, unlike the new fish, occipital
process reaches the basal bone of dorsal fin and thoracic
apparatus without a central pit, maxillary barbels reach
third or fourth pectoral ray (Vs. maxillaries just reach
the origin of pectoral), eye diameter 17.0 (Vs. Vs. 13.0-
25.0) in head length, 4 to 5.0 (Vs. 3.1- 7.0) in inter orbital
width, 3.0 (Vs. 6.5- 13.5) in snout length and width of
mouth 2.5 (Vs. 2.4- 2.8) in head length (Hora, 1923;
Misra, 1976; Jayaram, 2006).
Glyptothorax trilineatus Blyth of north Indian
fresh water bodies resembles the presently described
species in the presence of three longitudinal lines on the
body (Jayaram, 2006, 2010). But in colour and position
of dorsal fin both differs. G. trilineatus differs from G.
elankadensis in the number of fin rays; in the former,
dorsal fin has one unbranched and 6-7 branched rays
(Vs. 3 unbranched rays and 4-6 branched rays), pectoral
fin has 1 unbranched and 10-11 branched rays (Vs. one
unbranched and 80- 10 branched rays) and anal fin has
1 unbranched and 9-10 branched rays (Vs. i-iii, 7-10)
(Misra, 1976; Jayaram, 2006). Unlike the present
species, in G. trilineatus, one dirty white longitudinal
streak present along the back from occiput to caudal
base, a second one along the lateral line and a third along
the abdominal margin, pelvic fin reaching anal origin and
caudal lobes are equal (Day, 1878, 1889; Misra, 1976;
Jayaram, 2006). In the Blyth’s cat fish, eye diameter
PLAMOOTTIL & ABRAHAM
Biosystematica, 2012, 6(2)
23
Table 1: Morphometric Characters of Glyptothorax elankadensis (Holotype (HT) included in the range
Sl. No Characters H T Range Mean SD
1 Total length 136 124-137 132.3 7.23
2 Standard Length (mm) 110 101-115 108.7 7.09
Percentage of Standard length
3 Head length 23.6 22.6- 24.7 23.6 1.04
4 Head depth at occiput 15.0 13.0- 15.0 14.3 1.09
5 Head width at occiput 20.9 19.1- 21.8 20.6 1.36
6 Body depth at dorsal origin 18.2 15.6- 18.2 16.7 1.33
7 Body depth at anal origin 15.0 12.2- 16.3 14.5 2.13
8 Body width at dorsal origin 18.2 13.9- 18.8 16.9 2.66
9 Body width at anal origin 12.7 10.4- 13.8 12.3 1.75
10 Pre-dorsal length 36.4 31.0- 36.4 33.8 2.71
11 Post-dorsal length 68.6 54.4- 69.8 64.3 8.60
12 Pre-pectoral length 19.5 19.5- 21.8 20.7 1.16
13 Pre-pelvic length 48.2 45.2- 49.5 47.6 1.80
14 Pre-anal length 65.9 63.5- 67.4 65.6 1.98
15 Rayed dorsal fin length 19.1 19.1- 21.8 20.9 1.57
16 Pectoral-fin length 21.8 20.9- 21.9 21.5 0.57
17 Pelvic-fin length 17.3 17.3- 17.4 17.3 0.06
18 Anal-fin length 17.3 16.8- 17.4 17.2 0.30
19 Adipose dorsal height 16.4 8.7- 16.4 11.8 4.02
20 Length of base of rayed dorsal 12.3 10.4 -12.3 11.2 0.94
21 Length of base of adipose dorsal 10.0 10.0- 15.4 11.9 2.97
22 Length of base of anal 13.6 13.0- 13.6 13.4 0.30
23 Length of base of pectoral 9.1 7.8- 9.1 8.6 0.70
24 Length of base of pelvic 5.5 4.3- 6.4 5.4 1.05
25 DRD-AD 40.0 23.5- 40.0 33.0 8.56
26 Caudal peduncle length 19.0 16.9- 19.8 18.6 1.46
27 Caudal peduncle depth 8.2 7.8- 8.2 7.9 0.20
28 Caudal peduncle width 6.4 5.4- 6.4 5.9 0.48
29 Distance from anal to vent 5.5 4.9- 5.5 5.2 0.25
30 Distance from ventral to vent 13.6 11.3- 13.6 12.6 1.20
31 Head length (mm) 26 25.0- 26.0 25.7 0.58
Percent of head length
32 Head depth 63.5 57.7- 63.5 60.4 2.92
33 Head width 88.5 84.6- 88.5 87.0 2.09
34 Eye diameter 5.8 4.0- 7.7 5.8 1.85
35 Snout length 53.8 50.0- 54.0 52.6 2.25
36 Inter orbital width 30.8 23.8- 30.8 27.5 3.50
37 Inter narial width 19.2 16- 2.1 19.4 3.54
38 Width of gape of mouth 36.5 36.0- 42.3 38.3 3.50
39 Length of maxillaries 88.5 84.8- 96.2 89.8 5.80
40 Length of base of maxillaries 15.4 15.4- 23.1 18.2 4.28
41 Length of nasals 15.4 15.4- 26.9 20.5 5.88
42 Length of outer mandibulars 42.3 38.0- 46.2 42.2 4.08
43 Length of inner mandibulars 23.1 23.1- 26.9 24.7 2.00
44 Length of adhesive thoracic apparatus 57.7 57.7- 60.0 58.5 1.33
45 Width of adhesive thoracic apparatus 43.3 38.5- 44.0 41.9 3.02
Glyptothorax elankadensis a new fish species from Kerala, India
Biosystematica, 2012, 6(2)
24
7.5-9.7 in head length (Vs.13.0- 25.0 in G.
elankadensis), 2.6 in inter orbital width (Vs. 3.1- 7.0),
4.6 in snout length (Vs. 6.5- 13.5) and width of mouth
1.0-1.5 in head length (Vs. 2.4- 2.8) (Misra, 1976;
Jayaram, 2006). Specimens of G. trilineatus from ZSI,
Kolkata were examined and compared with the new
species.
Glyptothorax telchitta (Hamilton- Buchanan) of fresh
waters of Bengal and Bihar can be differentiated from
the present species in a number of characters. Unlike
the present species, in G. telchitta, maxillaries reaching
anterior margin of eyes (Vs. maxillaries reach beyond
eyes and reach origin of pectoral), thoracic adhesive
apparatus spindle shaped and without a depression (Vs.
thoracic apparatus not spindle shaped but with a central
groove), skin provided with bony tubercles (Vs. skin
without tubercles) and fins, except caudal and adipose,
with spotted bands (Vs. spotted bands absent on fins)
(Hamilton- Buchanan, 1822; Hora, 1929; Misra, 1976;
Srivastava, 1980; Qureshi & Qureshi, 1983; Jayaram,
2006)
Comparative material
Glyptothorax anamalaiensis: ZSI/F 629/2, 630/2, 2
specimens, Anamalai Hills, South India, coll. E. G. Silas;
ZSI–WGRC F 18013, 42.5 mm SL; India, Tamil Nadu,
Coimbatore Dist., Pollachi (a mountain stream
[Bharatapuzha River drainage] at Varagiliyar), Anamalai
Hills, Western Ghats. ZSI–WGRC F 18173 (2), 33.2–
34.8 mm SL, India: Kerala, Kozhikode Dist., (a stream
[Kuttiadi River] at Kakkayam), Western Ghats.
Glyptothorax annandalei: ZSI/F 230- 232, 3
specimens, Rihand River at dam site, Pipri, Mirzapur dt,
U. P; ZSI/F 226/2, Kosi River, Nepal, coll. ZSI scientists
on Kosi Survey; ZSI–WGRC F 18867, 77.2 mm SL,
India: Kerala, Wynad, Kalpetta (Kabani River [Kavery
River drainage] at the base of Nilgiri Hills, Western
Ghats; FF/KFRI/92, Bhoothattankettu, Coll. Shaji, C.P;
FF/KFRI/101, Coll. Easa & Shaji, Sairandri.
Glyptothorax trilineatus: ZSI/F 238/2, Paunglaung
Chaung, tributary of Sittang River, Burma, coll. V. P.
Sondhi.
Glyptothorax davisiinghii: ZSI- SRC 6076, 3 paratypes,
89- 114 mm SL, India, Kerala, karimpuzha and its
tributaries, Punnappuzha, Nilambur reserve forest, coll.
D. F Singh, Mathew. K. Sebastin and A. Manimekalan,
16.03.1995- 17.04. 1995.
Glyptothorax madraspatanam: ZSI/F 10272/1,
Bhavani River, Nilgiris, coll. N. Annandale; ZSI/F/10273/
1, 2 specimens, Mettuppalayam, Coimbatore Dt, coll.
N. Annandale; ZSI/F 12409/1, 1 specimen, Cauvery
River, Coorg, coll. C. R. Narayana Rao & S. Jones;
10273/1 ZSI/F 13590/1, 1 specimen, a stream within a
radius of 5 miles near Pampadumpara, Western Ghats,
North Travancore, coll. C. R. Narayana Rao & S. Jones;
ZSI-SRC 552, 1 example, 80 mm SL, India, Tamil Nadu,
Kunthi River, Vellathodu, R. S. Pillai, 19/01/1979; ZSI–
WGRC 11542, 97.5 mm SL; India: Kerala, Palakkad
Dist. Attapady (Bhavani River), Nilgiris, Western Ghats;
FF/KFRI/70, Noolpuzha at Muthanga, Coll. Shaji & Saju
Abraham.
Glyptothorax lonah: ZSI/F 212/2, 213/2, Mutha River
at Nandera, Poona, Bombay, coll. M. suter; ZSI/F 12550/
1, 2 specimens, coll. H. Errockohank.
Glyptothorax malabarensis: ZSI–WGRC 18343
(Holotype), 55.2 mm SL; India: Western Ghats, Kerala,
Kannur District: Pottichapara (11°58’12.4"N,
75°49’38.7"E) in Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary (Urutty
Stream (210 mtrs amsl), Valapattanam River drainage);
Paratypes: ZSI-WGRC 18344 (2), 42.0–42.1 mm SL;
same data as holotype.
Glyptothorax housei: KUFOS/SILURI/SISO/
GLYPTO/1, Coll. Jayachandran
Glyptothorax telchitta: ZSI/F 9735, 5374, Bilohum,
Bihar, coll. Francis Day; ZSI/F 6887 & 6888, 7033, 3
specimens, Hawai, Bara Banki, U. P, coll. M. M. Khan;
ZSI/F 84/2, Rihand River, ZSI/F 221/2, Mohalpahari, ZSI/
F 222/1, Kosi River, Nepal, coll. R. Budding.
Distribution: Manimala River, Kerala, India.
Etymology. The new species is named after the
collection locality of the holotype.
Acknowledgement
The first author (Mathews Plamoottil) acknowledges the
University Grants Commission of India for sanctioning faculty
improvement programme to undergo research. The authors
are grateful to the Principal, St.Thomas College Kozhencherry
for the facilities provided for the study.
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Received: 07-05-2012
Accepted: 14-10-2012
Glyptothorax elankadensis a new fish species from Kerala, India
