Dario kajal Britz & Kullander, 2015

Kullander, Sven, Norén, Michael, Rahman, Md. Mizanur & Mollah, Abdur Rob, 2019, Chameleonfishes in Bangladesh: hipshot taxonomy, sibling species, elusive species, and limits of species delimitation (Teleostei: Badidae), Zootaxa 4586 (2), pp. 301-337 : 310-311

Dario kajal Britz & Kullander, 2015

( Fig. 2 )

Material examined. DU 9033–9034 , NRM 66171–66175 , 68305 , 14 , 6.8 – 17.5 mm SL. Bangladesh: Sylhet Division: Sylhet District: Fenchuganj, roadside ditch in Garuli floodplain, 4 km south of Sylhet, 24°41′40″N 91°56′44″E; M.M. Rahman, 22 Mar 2016 .

Diagnosis. Dario comprises six species of small adult size, distinguished from species of Badis by absence of a postcranial lateral line; shorter dorsal fin with 13–15 vs. 15–18 spines; truncate instead of rounded caudal fin; absence of lateral-line pores from the dentary, infraorbital series and anguloarticular; absence of teeth from the palatine, basihyal, and basibranchial 3; and fewer scales (24 vs. 26 or more) along the middle of the side ( Kullander & Britz (2002). The Bangladeshi specimens of B. kajal agree in morphology and colour pattern with the original description of specimens from Meghalaya ( Britz & Kullander 2015). In life, males are pale red or rosy, with irregular red vertical stripes on the dorsal sides. Preserved males ( Fig. 2 ) are pale beige, abdominal sides pale maroon; short dorsal bars are formed from dark scale bases, and a dark brown short postorbital stripe runs posterodorsad from the orbit. Females are pale grey in life and preserved in ethanol. Counts from three larger Bangladeshi specimens ( 11.8–17.5 mm SL): dorsal-fin rays XV.5½; anal-fin rays III.5 ½; vertebrae 13+12=25; scales in lateral row 24.

Geographical distribution and habitat. Fourteen specimens of Dario kajal were seined from a densely vegetated roadside ditch close to Sylhet ( Figs 3–4 ).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Dario kajal, NRM 68305, adult male, 16.5 mm SL. Bangladesh, Fenchuganj, roadside ditch 4 km south of Sylhet.

FIGURE 3. Collecting sites of species of Badis and Dario in Bangladesh.

FIGURE 4. Collecting site of Badis badis and Dario kajal, a roadside ditch close to Sylhet. To the right a large rice paddy. Specimens were collected from dense vegetation dominated by water hyacinths. Photo taken after fishing activities leaving an open area in the otherwise covering vegetation.