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A new sh species of the genus Garra (Teleostei: Cyprinidae)
from the Chalou River, Manipur, India
Abstract
A new species of the genus Garra is described from the Chalou River in Manipur, northeastern India. e new species,
Garra chingaiensis, belongs to the “proboscis with a transverse lobe species group”. It further belongs to the unilobed
proboscis group and can be distinguished from its congeners in having a combination of the following characters: a
prominent 3-4 unicuspid tubercles on the unilobed proboscis, a transverse lobe with an irregular 11-13 unicuspid
tubercles, lateral surface of the snout with 2-3 minute tubercles; a narrow black 5 stripes, laterally more distinct towards
caudal peduncle, 3 stripes below the lateral line and 2 stripes above lateral line; black stripes in the middle of caudal n;
chest and belly scaled; 12 circumpeduncular scales; 34-35 lateral scales; 8 ½ branched dorsal n rays; and 5 ½ branched
anal n rays.
Keywords: Labeoninae, Garra, Taxonomy, new species, Chalou River, Manipur
ISSN (Online) : 2581-8686
ISSN (Print) : 0375-1511
Article Received on: 10.04.2023 Accepted on: 15.06.2023
Introduction
e cyprinid genus Garra Hamilton, 1822 includes elongated
small to medium sized bottom-dwelling shes, usually
found in swi-owing rivers or mountain streams and are
distributed from the Sub-Saharan Africa to Borneo through
the Arabian Peninsula, South Asia and Southern China
(Zhang & Chen, 2002). It is diagnosed by the presence of a
labial fold forming a gular disc that displays a variation in the
snout (Kottelat, 2020). is genus is divided into ve groups
based on snout morphology: a smooth snout species group,
a transverse lobe species group, a proboscis species group, a
rostral ap species group, and a rostral lobe species group
(Nebeshwar & Vishwanath, 2017).
Currently, 45 species of Garra that belongs to the “snout with
proboscis group” are reported, out of which 11 are distributed
in the Chindwin River Basin: G. bispinosa Zhang 2005, G.
chindwinensis Premananda, Kosygin and Saidullah 2017, G.
cornigera Shangningam and Vishwanath 2015, G. elongata
Vishwanath and Kosygin 2000, G. gravelyi Annandale 1919,
G. litanensis Vishwanath 1993, G. moyonkhulleni Moyon and
Arunkumar 2018, G. qiaojiensis Wu and Yao 1977 (in Wu
1977), G. rotundinasus Zhang 2006, G. surgifrons Sun, Xu
Li, Zhou and Fenglian 2018 and G. trilobata Shangningam
and Vishwanath 2015. A collection of shes from the Chalou
River, a tributary of the Chindwin River in the Ukhrul
District of Manipur, India included 6 undescribed specimen
of Garra with proboscis on the snout, which herein described
as Garra chingaiensis, new species.
Material and Methods
e specimens were collected from streams of Chalou
River at Chingai Village by means of hand picking aer
diverting part of a stream by damming. ey were found
along some shallow beds of the stream. Specimens obtained
were not much greater in length. A planned expedition may
perhaps obtain larger specimen. e shes were xed in 10%
formalin. Measurements were made point to point with a
digital calliper on the le side of specimens to the nearest
Thonbamliu Abonmai1, Linthoingambi Irengbam2, Catherine Ngangbam3,
Kalpana Thoidingjam4 and Kh. Rajmani Singh5
D. M. College of Science, Dhanamanjuri University,
Thangmeiband, Imphal-795001, Manipur, India.
Email:1thonabonmai7@gmail.com, 2irengbamlinthoi78@gmail.com, 3pipingangbam@gmail.com
4abethoi.thoi@gmail.com. 5rajmanikh@rediffmail.com
Rec. zool. Surv. India:
Vol. 123(i2S)/13-24, 2023
DOI: 10.26515/rzsi/v123/i2S/2023/172495
14 Vol 123(1S) | iS 2023 | www.recordsofzsi.com
0.1mm. Counts, measurements and terminology follow
Nebeshwar and Vishwanath (2013). Lateral line scales (scales
on the body + scales on the caudal n) were counted from
the anterior most pored scale in contact with the shoulder
girdle to the posterior most pored scales on the caudal n.
Fin rays were counted following Kottelat (2001), indicating
the last two rays articulating on the same pterygiophore as “1
½”. e identication of the elements of the gular disc follows
Kottelat (2020). Fin rays and the number of scales were
counted under stereoscopic Zoom microscope. Holotype
of the species have been deposited in Zoological Survey of
India Kolkata and paratypes deposited in the Dhanamanjuri
University, Museum of Fishes.
Results
Garra chingaiensis, sp. nov
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:8BA0D603-05D4-41BA-848D-
F109E76A5745
(Figure1)
Material examined. Holotype: ZSI FF 9810 67.6 mm SL:
India, Manipur, Ukhrul district: Chalou River, Chingai
Village (Chindwin basin), 2586.05 31° N, 9453.45 49° E; coll.
Rinchuiphy Rungsung, 4th January, 2020.
Paratype: DMUMF-TA02-DMUMF-TA06, 65.5-74.2 mm
SL; same data as holotype.
Diagnosis: Garra chingaiensis sp. nov. belongs to the
“proboscis with transverse lobe” group of Nebeshwar and
Vishwanath, 2017. is group further consists of “ incipient or
weakly developed, unilobed, bilobed or trilobed proboscis”.
e new species belongs to the group with unilobed
proboscis and can be distinguished from the congeners of
the Chindwin-Irrawaddy drainage (except G. litanensis, G.
qiaojiensis, G. rotundinasus) in having unilobed proboscis
vs. weakly developed in G. elongata, incipient in G. gravelyi,
bilobed in G. bispinosa, G. chindwinensis, G. cornigera, G.
moyonkhulleni vs. trilobed in G. surgifrons, G. trilobata. It
is closely similar to G. elongata and G. litanensis, however
diers in presence (vs. absence) of scales on chest, presence
(vs. absence) of black spot at the upper angle of gill opening.
It further diers from G. elongata in having ve stripes on
body (vs. a stripe from the gill opening to caudal n base);
from G. litanensis in absence (vs. presence of a black spot at
dorsal n base). It further diers from G. gravelyi in entirely
absence (vs. presence of a few indistinct black spots at the
base of branched dorsal n rays), presence (vs. absence of
black band at the middle of caudal n); from G. qiaojiensis
in having fewer unbranched dorsal n rays (2 vs. 4); from
G. rotundinasus in having lesser lateral line scales (33-34 vs.
36-37), caudal n with black band in the middle (vs. with a
dark distal margin). It is similar to G. substrictorostris from
the Barak drainage of Manipur in having unilobed proboscis
however diers in having lesser transverse scale rows above
lateral line (3½ vs. 5½) and circumpeduncular scales (12 vs.
16), absence (vs. presence) of black spot at dorsal n base;
from G. paratrilobata in having unilobed (vs. trilobed)
proboscis, lesser transverse scales above lateral line (3½ vs.
4½). It also diers from G. koladynenis from the Koladan
River drainage in having unilobed (vs. trilobed) proboscis.
A detailed comparison is discussed herein.
Description: Morphometric data and counts are presented on
Table 1. Body elongated, slightly compressed laterally, more
compressed in caudal peduncle. Dorsal prole smoothly
arched to dorsal- n origin then gently sloping towards
caudal peduncle. Ventral prole attened from head to chest,
then more or less round up to pelvic-n origin and straight
from pelvic to caudal-n base. Head moderately large and
depressed with slightly convex interorbital space, height less
than length, width greater than height; Eyes small, dorso-
laterally located, closer to posterior margin of opercle than
to snout tip; snout moderately rounded with transverse lobe
covered with 11-13 small to medium unicuspid acanthoid
tubercles, demarcated posteriorly by deep transverse
groove; a prominent unilobed proboscis, protruding
forward, moderately elevated upwards, the anterior margin
of proboscis sharply delineated from the depressed rostral
surface by a narrow transverse groove; width smaller than
the internarial space, each anterolateral marginal corner of
the proboscis with one large unicuspid acanthoid tubercle,
and one small tubercle in between (Figure1.d.). Depressed
rostral surface at. Sublachrymal groove deep, horizontally
curved and conuent to lateral groove of rostral cap. Rostral
lobe absent. Barbel two pairs; rostral barbel anteroventrally
located, longer than eye diameter; maxillary barbel shorter
than rostral barbel and at the corner of the mouth. Rostral
cap long, well-developed, mbriated, papillated ventral
surface moderately wide. Upper lip present, with weakly
developed papillae in one row, completely covered by
rostral cap. Mental adhesive disc elliptical, shorter than
wide and narrower than head through roots of maxillary
barbel, and posteriorly positioned; torus of mental adhesive
disc slightly arched, its lateral extension reaching slightly
beyond imaginary vertical line through lateral margin of
A new sh species of the genus Garra (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) from the Chalou River, Manipur, India
15
Zoological Survey of India
onbamliu Abonmai, Linthoingambi Irengbam, Catherine Ngangbam, Kalpana oidingjam and Kh. Rajmani Singh
pulvinus; pulvinus relatively small (width 34.9-37.6% HL,
length 27.2-29.01 % HL), its anterior and posterior halves
equally rounded, width 1.3-1.4 times its length; Labellum
convex with large distinct posterior margin, its upper
marginal region covered slightly by rostral cap; anterior
margin of Labrum extend upto level of posterior margin of
eye; groove between torus and pulvinus narrow, moderately
deep; pulvinus with a narrow, papillated transverse lobe at
the anterior portion, demarcated posteriorly by a shallow
transverse groove, anteriorly separated from the torus by
a transverse grove (Figure 1.e.). Papillae on ventral surface
of rostral cap, torus, labellum, and labrum rounded, evenly
arranged.
Dorsal n with ii simple and 8 ½ branched rays; last simple
ray shorter than the head length; origin closer to snout tip
than to caudal n base, inserted anterior to vertical from
pelvic n origin; rst branched ray longest, last branched ray
not extending vertically to anal n origin; posterior margin
emarginate. Pectoral n with i simple and 16 branched
rays, reaching beyond midway to pelvic- n origin when
adpressed; h branched ray longest, shorter than head
length; margin acuminate. Pelvic n with i simple and
8 branched rays; second branched ray longest, reaching
beyond midway to anal-n origin, surpassing anus; origin
closer to anal-n origin than to pectoral-n origin; inserted
under based of third branched dorsal-n ray; posterior
margin straight. Anal n short with ii simple rays and 5 ½
branched rays; rst branched ray longest, reaching base of
caudal n; posterior margin straight; origin closer to caudal-
n base than to pelvic-n origin. Anus to anal distance is
39.9-42.0 % of pelvic-anal n distance. Caudal n forked,
lobe tips pointed; upper lobe with 10 and lower lobe with 9
rays respectively (10+9 lobes).
Lateral line complete with 32+2 or 32+3 scales. Transverse
scale rows above lateral line 3 ½ and scales between lateral
line and pelvic n origin 3. Circumpeduncular scale rows
12. Pre dorsal scales 10; regularly arranged. Chest and belly
scaled. One axillary scale at base of pelvic-n reached the
posterior end of pelvic-n base. Preanal scales 4. Dorsal-n
base scales 6 of which last three to ve connected to base of
dorsal n. Anal-n base scales 5, of which last one or two
connected to base of anal n.
Colouration in Preservative: In formalin, the head, dorsum
and lateral sides are dark grey. Mouth, chest and abdomen
light brown. Dorsal, pectoral, pelvic, anal and caudal ns
greyish. Faint greyish stripes over lateral line scales, more
distinct posteriorly to the caudal n. A faint blackish spot
immediately anterior to the upper angle of the gill opening.
A longitudinal black band in the middle of the caudal n.
Narrow black stripes on body, laterally more distinct towards
caudal peduncle, 3 stripes below lateral line and 2 stripes
above lateral line; black stripes in the middle of the caudal
n, occupying the 8th, 9th, 10th n rays of upper lobe and 6th,
7th, 8th, 9thn rays of lower lobe (counting from the periphery
of the lobes)
Distribution: Garra chingaiensis is known from the Chalou
River at Chingai village in Ukhrul district, Manipur, India
(Chindwin River basin).
Etymology: Named aer its type locality, Chingai village.
Noun.
Discussion
e genus Garra develops a modication on the snout to
adapt to the running waters. Species are distinguished by
their variation in morphology of proboscis, variation in
the shape and structure of mental disc, the morphology
and the pattern of distribution of tubercles. Nebeshwar
&Vishwanath (2017) divided Garra into ve groups based
on snout morphology: a smooth snout species group, a
transverse lobe species group, a proboscis species group,
a rostral ap species group, a rostral lobe species group.
Comparisons of G. chingaiensis is therefore, restricted
to congeners of proboscis with transverse lobe from the
Chindwin-Irrawaddy drainage. We have also compared G.
chingaiensis with other similar congeners of proboscis with
transverse lobe from the neighbouring Barak, Brahmaputra
and Kaladan River drainages.
Garra chingaiensis is distinguished from its congeners except
G. chindwinensis by the presence (vs. absence) of a narrow,
papillated transverse lobe at the anterior portion of the
pulvinus, which is demarcated posteriorly by a transverse
groove. It is further distinguished from its congeners of
the Chindwin-Irrawaddy drainage except G. litanensis, G.
rotundinasus, G. qiaojiensis in having a unilobed proboscis
(vs. weakly developed in G. elongata vs. incipient in G. gravelyi
vs. bilobed in G. bispinosa, G. cornigera, G. chindwinensis; vs.
trilobed in G. surgifrons and G. trilobata). It diers from G.
litanensis in the presence (vs. absence) of scales on the chest,
fewer scales above lateral line scales (3½ vs 5½ ), absence
(vs. presence) of black spot along the base of dorsal n,
more lateral line scales (34-35 vs. 32); from G. rotundinasus
16 Vol 123(1S) | iS 2023 | www.recordsofzsi.com
in having a longer head (23.0-23.8% SL vs 19.9-21.7), fewer
lateral line scales (34-35 vs. 36-37), more caudal peduncle
depth (13.4-15.7% SL vs 10.8-11.5), larger eye diameter
(20.1-24.6% HL vs. 13.8-18.6), longer rostral cap (vs.
shorter), posterior region of labrum farther from the level of
pectoral n origin (vs. nearer); from G. qiaojiensis in having
a fewer unbranched dorsal n rays (2 vs. 4), smaller gular
disc width (57.4-59.2 % HL vs. 65-70), more compressed
body (body depth 18.4–20.2% SL vs. 20-5–26.0), presence
(vs. absence) of a band in the middle of caudal n. It further
diers from G. elongata in having presence (vs. absence) of
scales on chest, absence (vs. presence) of transverse black
bar on dorsal n, more longitudinal stripes on body (5 vs.
one from the gill opening to caudal n base), more branched
pectoral n rays (16 vs. 11-12), lesser lateral line scales (34-35
vs. 39-40) and pre dorsal scales (10 vs. 13); from G. gravelyi
in having fewer lateral line scales (34-35 vs. 36-37), entirely
absence (vs. presence) of a few indistinct black spots at the
base of branched dorsal n rays, presence (vs. absence) of a
black band in the middle of caudal n; from G. bispinosa in
having unilobed proboscis (vs. bilobed), fewer unbranched
dorsal n rays (3 vs. 4), fewer circumpeduncular scale rows
(12 vs. 16), more longitudinal stripes on the lateral sides of
the body (5 vs. 3-4), longer disc length (50.6-52.7% HL vs.
38.1-43.8) and more forward position of anus (anus-anal
distance 39.9-42.0% pelvic-anal distance vs. 25.9-30.6); from
G. chindwinensis in having shallow head depth at eye (35.3-
36.8% HL vs. 55-58), larger eye diameter (20.1-24.6 % HL
vs. 14.0-15.0), longer mental disc length (50.6-52.7 % HL
vs. 39.0-41.0), more anal n base scales (5 vs. 3), pectoral
n branched rays 16 vs 13-14; from G. cornigera in having
fewer circumpeduncular scale rows (12 vs.14), presence (vs.
absence of anterolateral lobe; from Garra moyonkhulleni
in having a fewer transverse scale rows above lateral line
(3 ½ vs. 4 ½ ), fewer circumpeduncular scale rows (12 vs.
14), more predorsal scales (10 vs. 8), greater pulvinus width
(54.5-59.3 % HL vs. 31.1-35.8), longer pulvinus length (50.6-
52.7 % HL vs. 19.7-26.3), more forward position of anus
(anus-anal distance 39.9-42.0% pelvic-anal distance vs.
26.3-32.5), more pectoral branched rays (16 vs. 14), lesser
head depth at nape (28.6-30.5 % HL vs. 64.0-71.4) and at eye
(35.3-36.8 % HL vs. 59.5-63.5); from G. surgifrons in having
fewer circumpeduncular scales (12 vs. 16), more forward
position of anus (anus-anal n distance 39.9-40.2% pelvic-
anal n distance vs. 18.5-29.9), more branched pectoral
n rays (16 vs. 13), proboscis just reaching transverse lobe
(vs. distance between proboscis and transverse lobe equal
to eye diameter), presence (vs. absence) of stripes on the
body, presence (vs. absence) of median black band on caudal
n; from G. trilobata in having a unilobed (vs. trilobed)
proboscis, absence (vs. presence) of multicuspid acanthoid
tubercles on snout, longer disc length (50.6-52.7% HL vs.
20-34), more lateral line scales (34-35 vs. 31-32), fewer
circumpeduncular scales (12 vs. 14). G. longchuanensis Yu
et.al., 2013 is similar to G. chingaiensis in having unilobed
proboscis, however, comparison amongst the two have not
been studied since Sun et.al., 2018 mentioned the former
should be a junior synonym of G. qiaojiensis.
Garra chingaiensis diers from all its congeners of proboscis
with transverse lobe from the Brahmaputra basin except
G. arunachalensis, G. bimaculacauda, G. binduensis, G.
clavirostris, G. dengba, G. jaldhakaensis, G. kalpangi, G.
langlungensis, G. magnacavus, G. parastenorhynchus,
G. quadratirostris in having a unilobed proboscis.
Ga. chingaiensis can be easily distinguished from G.
arunachalensis in having a shallower body depth at dorsal
n origin (18.4-20.2 % SL vs. 23.3-25.4), shorter head length
(23.8 % SL vs. 24.6-27.1), longer dorsal n length (20.8-24.7
% SL vs. 16.4-20.1), more forward position of anus (distance
between anus and anal n origin % Pelvic-anal distance
39.9-42.0 vs. 19-25), presence (vs. absence) of longitudinal
stripes on the sides of body; from G. bimaculacauda fewer
scales above lateral line (3½ vs. 6), labellum distinct with
posterior margin (vs. fused with labrum), presence (vs.
absence) of ve stripes on the body, absence (vs. presence)
of a conspicuous dark spot at caudal n base, absence (vs.
presence) of two distinct spots on tips of each lobe of caudal
n; from G. binduensis in having a shorter dorsal n length
(20.8-23.5% SL vs. 24.5-29.1), more pectoral-n branched
rays (16 vs. 13-14), smaller pulvinus length (6.1-7.0 % SL vs.
11.0-14.4), presence (vs. absence) of longitudinal stripes on
the sides of body; from G. clavirostris in having a transverse
lobe of only unicuspid tubercles (vs. multicuspid), longer
caudal peduncle length (14.1-15.9 % SL vs. 10.1-14.6), more
forward position of anus (distance between anus and anal n
origin % pelvic-anal distance 39.9-42.0 vs. 18.6-25.1), more
pectoral-n branched rays (16 vs. 14-15), having a proboscis
moderately elevated upwards (club-shaped proboscis);
from G. dengba in having lesser lateral line (34-35 vs. 42-
44), predorsal scales (10 vs. 14-16) and axillary scale on
pelvic n base (1 vs. 2), more branched dorsal n rays (8½
vs. 6), presence (vs. absence) of black stripes on the body;
from G. jaldhakaensis in having transverse lobe with 11
unicuspid tubercles (vs. 16-25 multicuspid tubercles), fewer
A new sh species of the genus Garra (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) from the Chalou River, Manipur, India
17
Zoological Survey of India
circumpeduncular scales (12 vs. 16), longer gular disc (50.6-
52.7 % HL vs. 34.6-37.2), bigger pulvinus width (34.9-37.7%
HL vs. 27.1-30.4); from G. kalpangi in present (vs. absent)
of transverse groove, fewer circumpeduncular scales (12 vs.
16), more branched pectoral n rays (16 vs. 10-12), presence
(vs. absence) of stripes on the body and present (vs. absent)
of median black band on caudal n; from G. langlungensis
in having more lateral line scales (34-35 vs. 30-32), less
circumpeduncular scale rows (12 vs. 13-15), bigger disc
width (54.5-59.3 % HL vs. 46-54), more predorsal scales (10
vs. 8-9), more forward position of anus (39.9-42.0 % pelvic-
anal distance vs 19-31), bigger disc width (54.5-59.3 % HL
vs. 46-54); from G. magnacavus in having well-developed
gular disc (vs. weakly developed), absence (vs. presence) of
15-19 rounded large pits on snout, fewer lateral line scales
(34-35 vs. 42), predorsal scales (10 vs. 14-16), pre anal scales
(4 vs. 6-7) and circumpeduncular scales (12 vs. 16); from
G. parastenorhynchus in having more lateral line scales (34-
35vs.31-32), fewer circumpeduncular scale rows (12 vs. 16),
shorter head depth at eye ( 35.3-36.8 % HL vs. 57.4-62.9),
bigger disc width (54.5-59.3 % HL vs. 46.0-52.3), longer
disc length (50.6-52.7 % HL vs. 32.6-37.2), bigger pulvinus
width (34.9-37.7 % HL vs. 24.4-27.4), longer pulvinus length
(25.0-29.8 % HL vs. 15.7-21.1); from G. quadratirostris in
having fewer lateral line scales (34-35 vs. 37), shorter dorsal
n length (20.8-23.5 % SL vs 24.1-27.1), shorter pelvic-n
length (18.7-19.2 % SL vs. 20.5-23.3), shorter anal-n length
(17.4-19.4 % SL vs 20.5-24.9), bigger disc width (54.5-52.7 %
HL vs. 43-48).
Garra chingaiensis is further compared with G. paratrilobata
and G. substrictorostris from the Barak drainage of Manipur
and G. koladynenis from the Koladan River drainage. It
diers from G. substrictorostris and from G. paratrilobata
and G. koladynenis in having unilobed and protruding
forward proboscis vs unilobed and club-shaped proboscis
vs trilobed proboscis respectively; fewer circumpeduncular
scales (12 vs. 16), fewer tubercles on transverse lobe (11
unicuspid tubercles vs. 14-20 multicuspid tubercles vs. 13-17
bi- to tetracuspid tubercles vs. 11-23 unicuspid to hexacuspid
tubercles) and each on lateral surfaces (2 vs. 7-11 vs. 6-9 vs.
6-10) respectively. It further diers from G. koladynenis in
absence (vs. presence) of tubercles on rostral surface; from
G. paratrilobata in presence (vs. absence) of labellum; from
G. substrictorostris in fewer scales above lateral line (3½
vs. 5½) and more forward position of anus (anus-anal n
distance 39.9-40.2% pelvic-anal n distance vs. 15-27). e
new species further diers from both G. mutuoensis and
G. yajiangensis in having unilobed (vs. quadrate, slightly
bilobed) proboscis, more pectoral n rays (16 vs 13-14),
median black band on caudal n present (vs absent), more
forward position of anus (anus–anal n base distance 40.0-
42.0 vs. 36-46 and 19-24) respectively % pelvic-anal n base
distance. It further diers from G. motuoensis in having 11
(vs. 16-20) unicuspid tubercles on snout, and further from
G. yajiansis in absence (vs presence) of sub marginal band
on distal half of dorsal n.
Fishes of the genus Garra are well adapted to fast owing
rivers and streams by clinging to the rocky substratum,
mainly by means of the suctorial mental disc modied from
the lower lip (Menon, 1964; Shangningam and Vishwanath,
2015). G. chingaiensis like G. chindwinensis are a specialized
rheophilic species among the species of the genus since it
developed an additional papillated adhesive transverse lobe
at the anterior region of the callous pad, which is demarcated
posteriorly from the remaining portion by a transverse
groove.
Nebeshwar & Vishwanath (2017) during their extensive
report on snout and oromandibular structure of the genus
Garra claimed that the shapes of proboscis in them may
change during ontogeny and may dier between the sexes.
G. bimaculacauda has its smallest reported size upto
66.2mm SL and is said to have weak proboscis with poorly
developed tubercles. G. parastenorhynchus (57.0 mmSL) also
has unilobed and well developed proboscis. Similarly G.
magnicavus (68.0 mmSL) is also reported to have unilobed
incipient proboscis. G. gravelyi too have weakly developed
proboscis. During the present study not more than 74.2
mmSL specimen were obtained. However the proboscis
in the species has well developed unilobed proboscis. An
extensive collection of the species throughout the year may
perhaps highlight the changes in the structure of the snout
during ontogenic development.
Comparative material
Garra arunachalensis - MUMF 4304, 121.0 mm SL; India:
Arunachal Pradesh: Lower Divang valley district: Deopani
River at Roing (Brahmaputra basin), 29°09’35” N 95°54’08”
E; A. L. Bony, 9 Jan 2005.
Garra binduensis - ZSI/ FF 5623, 87.2 mm SL; India: North
Bengal Darjeeling district, Jaldhaka River at Bindu near
Jaldhaka Hydel complex, a tributary of Brahmaputra River
basin; Collector Ujjal Das 22 August 2016.
onbamliu Abonmai, Linthoingambi Irengbam, Catherine Ngangbam, Kalpana oidingjam and Kh. Rajmani Singh
18 Vol 123(1S) | iS 2023 | www.recordsofzsi.com
Garra chindwinensis - ZSI FF 5906, 120 mm SL, India,
Manipur, Senapati District, Laniye River near Laii,
(Chindwin basin), 25´31´20´N 93´26´13´E, 05-xi-2015, coll.
N. Premananda
Garra clavirostris - MUMF 22004, 117.5 mm SL, male; India:
Assam: Dima Hasao District: Dilaima River at Boro Chenam
Village below the conuence of Dilaima and Dihandi
(Brahmaputra drainage); 25°18 03” N, 92°52 05” E, 401 m
above sea level, Sarbojit et al, 19 April 2015.
Garra cornigera - MUMF 12061, 76.0 mm SL; India: Manip
ur state: Ukhrul District: Sanalok River (Chindwin basin),
24°52’N 94°39’E; Shangningam et al., 18 April 2011.
Garra elongata - MUMF 2311, 94.9 mm SL; Locality:
INDIA:Manipur: Chindwin basin: hill stream near Tolloi,
25° 12’ N, 94° 20’ E, C. 2,016 m above msl; ColI. L. Kosygin,
12.xi.1997.
Garra gravelyi - ZSI F 11586/1, 107.5–112.4 mm SL;
Myanmar, S. Shan States, Lawksawk Canal at Lwaksawk
(Chindwin basin)
Garra jaldhakaensis - ZSI FF 8126, 97.2 mm SL, India, West
Bengal, Kalimpong district, Jaldhaka River near Jhalong,
Brahmaputra River Drainage, 27°02’39’ N 88°52’71’E,
elevation 1,220 . 09.iv.2018, coll. Ujjal Das.
Garra langlungensis - ZSI FF7152, 13.i.2017, 54.9mm
SL, India, Nagaland, Langlung River near Zutovi Village,
Dimapur District, Brahmaputra Basin; 25.7160 N, 93.6500
E, collected by Ezung et al.
Garra litanensis – MUMF-68/1, 92.5 mm SL, Litan stream,
Litan, Manipur, female; 16.3.86 (collected by W. Vishwanath)
Garra magnacavus - ZSI FF 6010, 68.0 mm SL; India:
Arunachal Pradesh: Lower Subansiri District, Ranga River,
Brahmaputra River Basin, 27°20’ N 93°48’ E, 547 m above
sea level, Bikramjit Sinha, 16 March 2013.
Garra paratrilobata - MUMF 22050, 137 mm SL, India:
Manipur: Noney district: Leimatak River, a tributary of Irang
River (Barak drainage), at Awangkhul Village, 24º49’07.20”
N, 93º30’00.60” E; Chinglemba et al, 4 November 2017.
Garra quadratirostris - MUMF 4306, 108.0 mm SL; India:
Sikkim: Tista River at Rangpo (Ganga basin), 27°10’ 43” N
88°32’10” E; W. Vishwanath et al., 2-9 January 2006.
Garra substrictorostris - MUMF 22034, 173 mm SL; India:
Manipur: Churachandpur District: Leimatak River (Barak
River drainage); 24°34’33’’ N, 93°40’01’’ E, 513 m above sea
level, Nebeshwar et al., 9 August 1999
Garra trilobata - MUMF 12051, 118.5 mm SL; India:
Manipur state: Ukhrul District: Sanalok River (Chindwin
basin), 24°52’N 94°39’E, Shangningam et al., 18 April 2011.
Published information used for comparison:
Zhang, 2005 for Garra bispinosa; oni et.al., 2016 for Garra
bimaculacauda and Garra parastenorhynchus; Deng et.al.,
2018 for Garra dengba; Wu et.al., 1977 for Garra qiaojensis;
Zhang, 2006 for Garra rotundinasus; Chao et al., 2018 for
Garra surgifrons.
Table 1. Morphometric data of holotype and ve paratypes Garra chingaiensis sp. nov.
Morphometrics Holotype Range (n=5 paratypes)
Min-Max Mean±SD
Standard length (in mm) 67.6 65.5-74.2
In percent of standard length
Head length 24.0 23.0-23.8 23.2±0.2
Body depth at dorsal n origin 20.1 18.4-20.2 19.2±0.7
Head width 19.5 17.9-20.3 19.1±0.7
Head depth at nape 7.24 6.7-7.8 7.1±0.3
Head depth at eye 8.57 8.4-9.0 8.6±0.2
Body width at anal n origin 11.6 11.5-12.8 12.0±0.4
Body width at dorsal n origin 17.7 16.0-18.3 17.2±0.8
A new sh species of the genus Garra (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) from the Chalou River, Manipur, India
19
Zoological Survey of India
onbamliu Abonmai, Linthoingambi Irengbam, Catherine Ngangbam, Kalpana oidingjam and Kh. Rajmani Singh
Morphometrics Holotype Range (n=5 paratypes)
Caudal peduncle length 14.9 14.1-15.9 14.8±0.6
Caudal peduncle depth 13.9 13.4-15.7 14.1±0.7
Dorsal n base length 15.1 13.8-16.9 15.1±0.9
Dorsal n length 22.6 20.8-23.5 21.3±1.3
Pectoral n length 21.4 19.3-21.8 21.1±1.1
Pelvic n length 19.2 18.7-19.2 19.0±0.2
Anal n base length 6.7 5.8-7.2 6.6±0.4
Anal n length 17.4 17.4-19.4 17.9±0.7
Pre-dorsal length 46.7 46.7-48.6 47.9±1.3
Pre-pectoral length 22.6 22.0-24.7 23.0±0.9
Pre-pelvic length 54.8 54.3-59.7 55.5±1.9
Pre-anal length 82.1 77.0-84.1 80.4±2.5
Pre-anus length 70.0 68.3-70.2 69.2±0.7
Pelvic anal distance 25.7 23.6-26.4 25.3±1.0
Disc width 14.2 12.7-14.2 13.5±0.5
Disc length 12.1 12.1-13.3 12.5±0.4
Pulvinus width 9.0 8.1-9.5 8.9±0.4
Pulvinus length 7.1 6.1-7.0 6.5±0.4
Anus anal n distance 10.7 9.4-11.0 10.3±0.6
In percent of pelvic-anal distance
Anus-anal distance 42.1 39.9-42.0 40.7±1.0
In percent of head length
Head depth at nape 30.2 28.6-30.5 29.8±0.7
Head depth at eye 35.8 35.3-36.8 36.0±0.6
Head width 81.5 77.5-81.9 79.8±1.6
Snout length 51.2 48.5-53.3 51.8±1.6
Eye diameter 22.8 20.1-24.6 22.3±1.6
Interorbital distance 46.9 44.3-47.4 46.4±1.0
Disc width 59.3 54.5-59.3 56.2±1.7
Disc length 50.6 50.6-52.7 52.3±0.8
Pulvinus width 37.7 34.9-37.7 37.1±1.0
Pulvinus length 29.2 25.0-29.8 27.3±1.7
20 Vol 123(1S) | iS 2023 | www.recordsofzsi.com
A new sh species of the genus Garra (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) from the Chalou River, Manipur, India
Figure 1. Garra chingaiensis sp. nov., holotype, ZSI FF 9810, 67.6mm SL; a. dorsal view, b. lateral view, c. ventral view, d.
dorsal view of head showing transverse lobe and proboscis, e. oromandibular structure f. lateral view of snout showing small
tubercles, shape of proboscis and position of eye. India: Manipur: Ukhrul district: Chalou River (Chindwin basin).
21
Zoological Survey of India
onbamliu Abonmai, Linthoingambi Irengbam, Catherine Ngangbam, Kalpana oidingjam and Kh. Rajmani Singh
Figure 2. Map showing type locality of Garra chingaiensis, s p. nov.
Figure 3.Chalouriver, Manipur, India; habitat of Garra chingaiensis. sp. nov.
22 Vol 123(1S) | iS 2023 | www.recordsofzsi.com
References
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Acknowledgments
We are grateful to Dhanamanjuri University, department
of life science, zoology for providing lab facilities for
the studies of new species (Garra chingailensis). We are
extremely thankful Dr. Laishram Kosygin, Ocer in Charge,
Freshwater sh section Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata
for giving access to type specimens. We are grateful to the
Head of Department of Zoology, Manipur University for
giving access to Museum of shes. We are also thankful
to Dr. Y. Rameshwori, Fishery section, Department of
Zoology for her encouragement and cooperation. We also
would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Achom
Darshan, Dr. Nebeshwar Kongbrailatpam, and Dr. Bungdon
Shangingam for providing literatures, valuable suggestions
and constructive ideas.
A new sh species of the genus Garra (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) from the Chalou River, Manipur, India
23
Zoological Survey of India
Vishwanath, W. 1993.On a collection of shes of the genus Garra Hamilton from Manipur, India, with description of a new
species. Journal of Freshwater Biology, 5(1): 59-68.
Vishwanath, W. and Kosygin, L. 2000. Garra elongata, a new species of the subfamily Garrinae from Manipur, India (Cyprinidae,
Cypriniformes). Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 97: 408–414.
Zhang, E. 2005. Garra bispinosa, a new species of cyprinid sh (Teleostei: Cypriniformes) from Yunnan, Southwest China.
Raes Bulletin of Zoology, 13: 9-15.
Zhang, E. 2006. Garra rotundinasus, a new species of cyprinid sh (Pisces: Teleostei) from the upper Irrawaddy River basin,
China. Raes Bulletin of Zoology, 54(2): 447-453.
Zhang, E., and Chen, Y. Y. 2002. Garra tengchongensis, a new cyprinid species from the upper Irrawaddy River basin in Yunnan,
China (Pisces: Teleostei). Raes Bulletin of Zoology, 50(2):459-464.
onbamliu Abonmai, Linthoingambi Irengbam, Catherine Ngangbam, Kalpana oidingjam and Kh. Rajmani Singh
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