Erethistoides sicula, a new catfish (Teleostei: Erethistidae) from India.
Heok Hee Ng
Zootaxa
2005
1021
1
12
4DWM
385290
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:085BCF8E-AF07-4A2A-933E-A8FFA5CE820C
Erethistidae
Erethistoides
CoL
Animalia
Erethistoides Hora 1950:190
Siluriformes
1
Chordata
genus
Members of the genus Erethistoidesare 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 Erethistoideswere 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 Erethistoidesis inadequate due to variation in the morphology of the pectoral-spine serrations. Here, four new synapomorphies diagnosing Erethistoidesare identified and briefly discussed.