Description:
Maxilary barbels moderately long, extending
posteriorly to end of pelvic fin or as far as anal
fin origin. Gill rakers in first arch 2-3 + 9-12 =
11-15. Long adipose fin. Habitat:
Found in lakes, tanks, rivers, canals and beels. Colouration:
Brownish becoming lighter towards ventral side. Three
broad conspicuous dark bands seperated by two narrow
pale lines on either side of lateral line and parallel
to it present. A large tympanic not shoulder, spot
present. Reproduction: Oviparous,
distinct pairing possibly like other members of the
same family. Caught with other fishes from fishing
operations. Etymology: The genus
name Mystus: "Mystax" meaning whiskered
(hair on the upper lip) Mystus was first
used by Belon in 1553 to describe all fish with whiskers.
The specific name bleekeri: in honour of
Dutch medical doctor and ichthyologist Pieter Bleeker
(1819-1878), who reported this catfish as M. keletius
in 1853. Remarks:
Differs from all other Mystus sensu stricto
except M.
rufescens in having
a large dark tympanic (not shoulder) spot.
Common
Name:
Day's mystus
Synonyms:
Aoria bleekeri, Macrones
bleekeri.
Family:
Bagridae
Distribution:
Asia:
Ganges, Indus and Mahanadi River basins. Type
locality: Sind, Jumna, upper waters of the
Ganges, and Burma.
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