Description:
Dorsal soft rays (total): 4 - 6; Anal soft rays: 7
- 10. This medium sized species is distinguished by
the following characters: ocipital 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; inferior mouth; thoracic
apparatus longer than broad, with an elongated groove
in the middle of it; rayed dorsal is shorter than
head and pectoral, but longer than pelvic and anal,
the base is longer than pectoral and pelvic but shorter
than anal; first ray of pectoral and last undivided
ray of dorsal fin are 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. Colouration:
Tips of all the fins yellow; 3 narrow yellow bands,
one mid dorsal and others mid lateral on longitudinal
axis of body; 2 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.
Diet: Feeds on aquatic insect larvae.
Etymology: The specific name elankadensis:
Named for its type locality, Elankadu (Manimala River,
Kerala, India).
Common
Name:
Travancore Rock Catfish
Synonyms:
None
Family:
Sisoridae
Distribution:
Asia: Manimala
River, Kerala, India.
Size:
11.5cm. (4½ins)
Temp:
20-24°c (67-75°f.)
p.H.
6.5-7.5.
Reference:
Froese,
R. and D. Pauly.
Editors. 2024. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic
publication. www.fishbase.org, version (12/2024). Plamoottil, M. and N.P. Abraham,
2013. Glyptothorax elankadensis (Order-Siluriformes:
family-Sisoridae), a new fish species from Manimala
River, Kerala, India. Biosystematica 6(2):17-25.
Glyptothorax elankadensis Holotype-India, Elankadu, Manimala River, Kerala
Glyptothorax
elankadensis Dorsal head view-holotype-India, Elankadu, Manimala
River, Kerala
Glyptothorax
elankadensis Ventral view showing adhesive apparatus-holotype-India,
Elankadu, Manimala River, Kerala
If you would like to contribute to the monthly
factsheets with an article, information or photos, please e-mail
me. You will of course be credited for your work.
If you would like to donate any denomination
of monies to the site just click the above link button. All proceeds
will go to running the site and hopefully to keep it going for a few
years yet.