Erethistoides

Heok Hee Ng, 2005, Erethistoides sicula, a new catfish (Teleostei: Erethistidae) from India., Zootaxa 1021, pp. 1-12 : 1

[[ Genus Erethistoides ]]

Members of the genus Erethistoides are small erethistid catfishes traditionally diagnosed by a strongly depressed head and body and the presence of diverging serrations (antrorse on the distal half and retrorse on the proximal half) on the anterior edge of the pectoral spine. The genus, known from the sub-Himalayan region of the Indian subcontinent, currently includes two nominal species: E. montana Hora , 1950 and E. pipri (Hora , 1950).

During a recent ichthyological survey of the northern Bengal region in India, specimens of Erethistoides were obtained, which upon further study, proved to be an undescribed species. The species is described here as Erethistoides sicula , new species. It was also found that the traditional diagnosis of Erethistoides is inadequate due to variation in the morphology of the pectoral-spine serrations. Here, four new synapomorphies diagnosing Erethistoides are identified and briefly discussed.