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ollowing on from our February 2023 factsheet we welcome back Indian aquarist Abhisek Mishra and a further contribution to our March factsheet of 2023 with another east Asian catfish, this time from the Amblycipitidae family of the Amblyceps genera namely Amblyceps laticeps. This species is not seen very often in the hobby.

Amblyceps laticeps

In the great Himalayan Bio diversity hotspot spanning across Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan and China, the complex mountain system creates an ecosystem with high topographic and climatic heterogeneity which is perfect for a diverse group of organisms to flourish. That's why we see one of the richest flora and fauna in the world found in this region. The species endemism is also very high. The species showcased in this factsheet calls the Himalayas its home and it comes from the species rich streams and rivers flowing out of the mountains in the northern West Bengal state of India (Mishra, A.).

Amblyceps laticeps - collected by the image contributor (Mukherjee, N.) at Rydak I near Shipra, Jalpaiguri District, West Bengal.

The population size and trend for Amblyceps laticeps remain unknown, as this species is only known from scanty museum records. There is also very little information on the biology of this species and potential impacts of threats (especially those of an anthropogenic nature). Although Menon (2004) regarded this species as endangered, that assessment was based on incomplete information about its distribution, which was believed to be more circumscribed than is currently understood. However, the species distribution in India and Bangladesh is estimated to be around 40,000 km2, which makes the species Least Concern until further information is made available on all the above mentioned aspects (The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010).

None

Olyra laticeps

-

Asia: India, Assam, Khasi hills. Type locality: Kasyah mountains, India.

4.5cm (1¾ins)

18-22°C (63-71°F)

Vertebrae: 41 - 43. Differs from all Indochinese species of Amblyceps in having a narrow head (9.5-11.1% SL versus 13.1-21.2) with a strongly projecting lower jaw (versus non- or weakly-projecting, except in A. platycephalus), and a very slender, elongate body (body depth at anus 7.6-11.1% SL versus 11.2-16.9 except in A. caecutiens) with 41-43 (versus 34-41) vertebrae. Four pairs of barbels; maxillary pair without broad base, as long as head and reaching gill openings, nasals reaching hind border of eyes, outer mandibular post orbit and inner pair shorter.

This species inhabits faster-flowing hillstreams and rivers with a bottom of sand/rocks (Ng 2005). In home aquaria it requires cool, well oxygenated and clean water to go with lots of hiding spaces which may be provided in form of plants or rock crevices so as to replicate its natural habitat (Mishra, A.).

Not recorded

Not recorded

Being an amblyceps it requires live food and may be afterwards be converted into taking dry pellets.

Adipose fin: Fleshy finlike projection without rays, behind the rayed dorsal fin.
Gills: The organs utilized to obtain oxygen from the water.
Maxillary barbels: Pertaining to the upper jaw. (maxillary barbels).
Nasal barbels: On top of the head, by the nostrils. (nasal barbels).
Vertebrae: The bones of the axial skeleton; divided into two sections, precaudal and caudal vertebrae.

Amblyceps: Amblys = blunt; ceps = from caput head.
laticeps: The specific name of laticeps means "wide or broad head" although the description mentions A. laticeps as having a narrow head in relation to other species in this genus.

Photo Credits

© Abhisek Mishra
© Nilanjan Mukherjee
Map:© Encyclopaedia Britannica