Description:
Mystus menoni,
a new fish species of family Bagridae, is described
from Elankadu of Manimala River in Kerala, India.
It is distinguished from its relatives by the following
combination of characters: maxillary barbels reach
anal fin; median longitudinal groove on head divided
into two fontanels and reaching occipital process;
the latter reaches basal bone of dorsal fin; adipose
dorsal fin long and located a little behind the rayed
dorsal fin; caudal lobes broad and rounded. The new
fish is described and compared with its congeners,
(Plamoottil & Abraham,
2013).
Colouration: A bluish green oval
to round spot present on shoulder and a similar triangular
spot on caudal base and a thick bluish green band
present in between these two, (Plamoottil & Abraham,
2013).
Habitat: The type locality is characterized
by rocky substratum (patches of cobbles, boulders
and gravelly sand occur at certain places) and intermittent
occurrence of moderately dense riparian vegetation.
Syntopic with Anguilla bengalensis bengalensis,
Danio malabaricus, Rasbora daniconius,
Garra mullya, Dawkinsia filamentosa,
Haludaria fasciatus, Pristolepis malabaricus,
Etroplus suratensis, E. maculatus,
Mesonoemacheilus triangularis, Xenentodon
cancila, Mastacembelus armatus, and
Macrognathus guentheri, (Plamoottil & Abraham,
2013).
Etymology: The species name menoni:
Named for Dr. A. G. K. Menon, the eminent Scientist
of Zoological Survey of India, who contributed much
to the taxonomy of the fresh water fishes of India.
Common
Name:
Idukki Mystus
Synonyms:
None
Family:
Bagridae
Distribution:
South Asia:
Manimala River drainage, Kerala, India. Type
locality: Currently known only from the type
locality in Kerala.
Size:
12.0cm. (4¾ins)
Temp:
22-26°C (71-79°F)
p.H.
6.0-7.0.
Reference:
Froese,
R. and D. Pauly.
Editors. 2024. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic
publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 02/2024 ) Plamoottil, M. and N.P. Abraham,
2013. Mystus menoni, a new fish species from Kerala,
India. Intl. J. Pure Appl. Zool. 1(4):315-325.
Mystus
menoni Paratype-India, Elankadu, Manimala River, Kerala
Mystus
menoni Dorsal head view-India, Elankadu, Manimala
River, Kerala
Mystus
menoni Formalin preserved specimen
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