Pseudolaguvia permaris, Vijayakrishnan & Praveenraj & Mishra, 2023

Vijayakrishnan, Balaji, Praveenraj, Jayasimhan & Mishra, Abhisek, 2023, Pseudolaguvia permaris, a new catfish from the Eastern Ghats of India (Teleostei: Sisoridae), Zootaxa 5297 (2), pp. 271-281 : 272-275

Pseudolaguvia permaris , new species

( Figs. 1 , 2 )

Holotype: ZSI/ EBRC /F-14208, 26.6 mm SL; India, Odisha, Khordha district, Bhubaneswar, Kuakhai River , a distributary of the Mahanadi River ; 20°20’26.865”N; 85°52’10.64”E; 23m asl.; Abhishek Mishra , 15 May 2022.

Paratypes. ZSI/ EBRC /F-14209, 5 ex., 19.2–25.0 mm SL ; CIARI /FF-91, 1 ex., 24.4 mm SL, cleared and stained. Collection data same as holotype .

Diagnosis. Pseudolaguvia permaris differs from all its congeners except P. flavida , P. fucosa , P. kapuri , P. muricata , P. nepalensis , P. ribeiroi and P. virgulata in the possession of serrations on anterior edge of dorsal spine (see Ng et al., 2016). Further, P. permaris is distinguished from all of these seven species in having a combination of the following characters: thoracic adhesive apparatus not extending beyond base of last pectoral-fin ray, caudal peduncle depth 8.6–10.2% SL, body depth at anus 15.3–20.2% SL, adipose-fin base length 13.6–18.1% SL, dorsal to adipose distance 11.4–14.4% SL, length of pectoral-fin spine 19.3–28.0% SL, length of dorsal-fin spine 16.5– 20.4% SL, head width 21.6–25.9% SL and live specimens with irregular, creamish bands on the body.

Description. Morphometry data presented in Table. 1 . Head dorsoventrally depressed, body moderately compressed laterally. Dorsal profile rising gently from tip of snout to origin of dorsal fin, then gently sloping ventrally to end of caudal peduncle. Ventral profile slightly concave from tip of snout to pelvic fin origin, then gently sloping dorsally to end of caudal peduncle. Supraoccipital spine reaching nuchal shield. Snout slightly truncate when viewed dorsally. Weberian lamina well-developed, slightly longer than supraoccipital spine, extending parallel to either side of spine. Eyes ovoid, horizontal axis longest and placed dorsally and entirely on posterior half of head. Gill slit narrow, extending from posttemporal to isthmus. Body with numerous tubercles except on thoracic adhesive apparatus and fin-rays. Mouth subterminal, lips fleshy and papillated, region between lower lip and thoracic adhesive apparatus sparsely papillated, upper jaw projecting over lower jaw. Barbels in four pairs, upper lip continuing into maxillary barbel, with broad skin flap at base, maxillary barbel almost touching last pectoral fin-ray base. Lateral mandibular barbel with moderately broad skin flap on dorsal margin extending beyond pectoral spine base; medial mandibular barbel broad and short, reaching to vertical through middle of eye; nasal barbel very short and broad, extending to one-third distance between its base and anterior orbital margin. Thoracic adhesive apparatus moderately elliptical with a prominent central median depression, anterior portion moderately wide, narrow posteriorly, just reaching base of last pectoral-fin ray ( Fig. 1 ). Dorsal fin origin located about two-fifths along body, with rays and straight margin. Dorsal spine straight, osseous and pointed, compressed laterally. Anterior margin of spine with 10 (3), 11 * (1), 12 (3) serrae and posterior margin with 5 (1), 6 * (4), 7 (2) serrae distally. Adipose fin short, anterior margin straight, posterior margin straight to slightly convex with incised posterior end, its origin slightly anterior to pelvic-fin origin. Pectoral fin with strong, dorsoventrally depressed, pointed spine and 6 rays. Anterior margin of spine with 14 * (3) & 17 (4) moderate serrations, distally directed, becoming granular towards base; posterior margin with 9 * (3) & 10 (4) large serrae, size decreasing towards base; tip of spine soft and flexible, accompanied by soft anterior and posterior serrae; tip of adpressed fin extending to vertical through base of third to last ray of dorsal fin. Pectoral girdle with prominent postcoracoid processes, hidden beneath skin, extending to midway between its base and pelvic-fin origin. Pelvic fin with i,4,i * (7) rays, anterior margin slightly convex, tip of adpressed fin extending beyond anus, but never reaching anal-fin origin. Anal fin with iii,7 * (7) rays, its anterior margin slightly convex posterior margin straight. Caudal fin moderately forked with i,14,i * (7) principal rays; lower lobe deeper than upper lobe, tip of upper lobe more pointed than lower. Basal margin of caudal fin rays with tubercles. Lateral line midlateral, complete. Procurrent rays symmetrical, extending anteriorly only to hypural margin. Vertebrae 15+16=31 (1).

Colouration. In 70% alcohol ( Fig. 1 ): dorsolateral surface of head and body pale to dark brown. Some specimens with olive-green on dorsolateral surface. Body with two irregular creamish bands: one between dorsal and adipose fins and the other on caudal peduncle. Bands indistinct in some individuals. Dorsal and adipose fins brown, with irregular yellow distal margins. Some individuals with green at dorsal-fin and adipose-fin bases, becoming dark brown to black along dorsal and posterior parts. Pectoral and anal fins yellow, with irregular transverse bands sub-distally, and at the base. Pelvic fin hyaline with transverse brown bands at base, and along middle third of the fin. Caudal fin predominantly brown, with yellow tips and irregular yellow band across middle third of fin lobes. Maxillary and all mandibular barbels cream, annulated with brown bands, nasal barbels brown dorsally, light brown ventrally. Colouration in life similar, except yellow parts on fins which appear hyaline ( Fig. 2 ).

Distribution and habitat. Pseudolaguvia permaris is currently known only from the type locality, but is likely to be found throughout suitable habitats in the Mahanadi River basin ( Fig. 3 ). The type series was collected in summer when the river was less than a metre deep. The specimens were collected from marginal vegetation consisting of Vallisneria sp. , Hydrilla sp. and Aponogeton sp. ( Fig. 4 ). The substrate comprised sand and clayey soil, with sections of small to medium-sized pebbles. Barilius bendelisis , Pethia ticto , P. conchonius, Devario devario, Danio rerio , Badis badis , Mastacembelus armatus and Macrognathus pancalus were collected along with the new species.

Etymology. The specific name is the Latin adjective ‘per maris’, meaning ‘by the sea’. This name is used in reference to the proximity of the type locality to the Bay of Bengal (~50 kms).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Pseudolaguvia permaris, holotype, ZSI/EBRC/F-14208, 26.6 mm SL; lateral, dorsal and ventral views.

FIGURE 2. Pseudolaguvia permaris, a. holotype, ZSI/EBRC/F-14208, 26.6 mm SL, b. Unregistered live specimen showing olive-green colouration.

FIGURE 3. Map showing the type locality of Pseudolaguvia permaris at Kuakhai River, Khordha district, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.

FIGURE 4. Habitat at the type locality of Pseudolaguvia permaris at Kuakhai River, Khordha district, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.