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AQUATIC NOTEBOOK article and images by Ralf Britz Three new fish species from Southern India The fish fauna of the so-called Western Ghats, a mountain range that extends parallel to the west coast of India over a distance of 1,600 km (1,000 mi.) from Maharashtra in the north to Kerala in the south, is considered one of the best-studied ichthyofaunas in this country. Sykes (1839) and Jerdon (1849) published the first monographs of the freshwater fish fauna, which were followed by those of Day and Hora and their co-workers. A recent compilation by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed 290 different species of fishes (Dahanukar et al. 2011). The best-known species of the Western Ghats is the Red-Line Torpedo Right: Type locality of Pangio ammophila Below: Pangio ammophila AMAZONAS 6
Pristolepis rubripinnis Barb, Puntius denisonii. Other popular species found there include Carinotetraodon travancoricus and Pristolepis marginata. While on a short collection trip with Indian colleagues in different river systems in Karnataka and Kerala, we were able to collect several new fish species, which we have described in the past few months. A big surprise for us was the discovery of a second Indian Pristolepis species, P. rubripinnis, which differs significantly from the known species P. marginata. We were able to capture a number of specimens of this fish, which has beautiful orange fin fringes, at night in the Pamba River. We hope that this species will soon be imported, because it is a very pretty fish. In some recently published Indian publications, a second Pristolepis species, P. fasciata, was mentioned; however, this species is native to Indonesia. Whether the fish called P. fasciata in the Indian literature is potentially identical to P. rubripinnis could not be clarified due to the lack of reference specimens. A second unexpected freshwater fish was caught in a tributary of the Barapole River in southern Karnataka. This exciting new Badidae was co-discovered by the Indian aquarium fish lover Nikhil Sood from Bangalore and his German friend Benjamin Harink. Harink reported about it on the forum of the IGL (International Society for Labyrinth Fishes). Sood took us to the location and we were able to capture a number of these chameleonfishes in a few hours. The river was up to 10 meters (33 feet) wide and 2 meters (6.5 feet) deep. Large stands of aquatic plants such as Blyxa, Lagenandra, and Cryptocoryne were present. The new species was hidden, mainly in leaf litter that had accumulated in the shallower areas, and could be shaken out of the roots along the riverbank. During our research to describe the species, we discovered that Francis Day, one of the fathers of Indian ichthyology, had already collected this fish, but he believed it belonged to the taxon Dario dario. There were also some specimens collected by Day, said to be from “Wynaad,” in the collection of the Natural History Museum in London, which, together with the newly collected animals, served as the basis for the description. For completeness, it should be mentioned that in June 2010, a group of Indian aquarists caught the same (or a very similar-looking) species in the Sita River, part of the Kaveri River system. Rahul Kumar pointed that out to me on the Indianaquariumhobbyist.com forum. Interestingly, the new Dario shows some features usually found in Badis species, such as the striking caudal peduncle spot, which has led to the species name Urops. This trait, however, is an ancestral trait and of no use in determining the relationship. The total absence of the lateral line, various lateral line pores in the head region, and the lack of gill rakers on different gill arches clearly place the species D. urops in the genus Dario, since these are all derived features. Compared to other Badidae species, Dario urops is not exactly the most colorful of species, but it will surely fascinate fans of chameleonfishes. It remains to be documented how Dario urops propagates—like Badis species, via parental care by the male in a nest, or as egg scatterers in dense vegetation without parental care, like other Dario species. Aquarists still can contribute meaningfully AMAZONAS 7
Page 1: FRESHWATER AQUARIUMS & TROPICAL DIS
Page 4 and 5: EDITORIAL AMAZONAS Dear Reader, Fis
Page 8 and 9: Type locality of Dario urops Male o
Page 10 and 11: AQUATIC NOTEBOOK Betta mahachaiensi
Page 12: AMAZONAS Habitat of Betta the Chao
Page 15 and 16: Small size and relatively peaceful
Page 17 and 18: AQUATIC NOTEBOOK Wild-type Enneacam
Page 19 and 20: 24/7 VISIT OFTEN: • Web-Special A
Page 21 and 22: The world is yours. The earth i
Page 23 and 24: The Congo, 2,717 miles (4,374 km) l
Page 25 and 26: former catch-all genus “Cichlasom
Page 27 and 28: oon. It is not unlikely that the ch
Page 29 and 30: H. OTT of the type locality will pe
Page 31 and 32: study. Ten localities are known in
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Page 35 and 36: COVER STORY The keeping of Aphyosem
Page 37 and 38: importance. Inland species, in part
Page 39 and 40: 0. DETERS The mystery of the locali
Page 41 and 42: Killifish are associated with the a
Page 43 and 44: (around 5 mm), they should develop
Page 45 and 46: layer of peat fiber, which should b
Page 47 and 48: (23-25°C). If it comes from forest
Page 49 and 50: AQUATIC TRAVEL In Search of the Blu
Page 51 and 52: Right: This Hypostomus sp. was caug
Page 53 and 54: At the time of my visit, the Magdal
Page 55 and 56: the Rainbow Darter AMAZONAS 55
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are collecting individually with a
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to their new surroundings, spawning
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Exclusive North American Importer &
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Right: Typical habitat of Triops in
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Aeration of the tank can be achieve
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agascar seems to have vanished from
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AMAZONAS 69
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RadionTM Sleek. Sophisticated. High
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cm) light strips would be required.
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Right: The Giant Raphael Catfish, M
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At a size of a bit over an inch (3
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“Wow!” AMAZONAS Volume 2, Numbe
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6.0-6.5. The water temperature in t
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Successfully outwitted: a brooding
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when it comes to caves. Except at s
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AMAZONAS AMAZONAS is a sponsor of t
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Pets, Pets, Pets 2 JFK Blvd Somerse
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Pair of Nomorhamphus rex, Vermillio
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Black-Spotted Moray, Gymnothorax po
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Nassau County Aquarium Society Rock
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UNDERWATER EYE Hericthys labridens
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