Aphanius dispar (Rüppell, 1829)

Banyal, Harinder Singh & Kumar, Sanjeev, 2020, On the record of Ichthyofaunal diversity from Narayan Sarovar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kachchh, Gujarat, Records of the Zoological Survey of India 120 (2), pp. 147-152 : 150

2. Aphanius dispar (Rüppell, 1829)

Dispar Top minnow

1829. Lebias dispar Rüppell, Zoologie Fische des Rothen Meeres : 66, pl. 18, Fig. 1-2.

2017. Aphanius dispar : Freyhof et al., Zootaxa, 4338 (3): 565

Material examined: V/3822, 03 ex., Ghodatad dam, Narayan Sarovar WLS, coll. S. Kumar & H. S. Banyal;

07.ix.2018; V/3824 , 03 ex., Gugariyana Rakhal, Narayan Sarovar WLS, coll. S. Kumar & H. S. Banyal ; 04.ix.2018.

Distinguishing characters: D I 9; A ii 8; P 16; V 7. Body discreetly elongate and rather flattened. Mouth small; scales large, 25 to27 in longitudinal series.Caudal fin yellowish, with a widespread crescentic black band.

Distribution: Inhabits fresh and brackish waters. Distributed in Kachchh and some parts of south west Rajasthan.

Remarks: This gorgeously colored species was equitably common in brackish water of the sanctuary. It is consumed as food by many migratory birds observed in the sanctuary.