Pseudolaguvia muricata

Heok Hee Ng, 2005, Two new species of Pseudolaguvia (Teleostei: Erethistidae) from Bangladesh., Zootaxa 1044, pp. 35-47 : 45

[[ Pseudolaguvia muricata ]]

The combination of a small body size and greatly enlarged fin spines in P. muricata is seldom seen in the Siluriformes, being only known in the members of the Neotropical Doradidae and the Erethistidae. Within the Erethistidae, it is known to occur in one other erethistid, Hara jerdoni . Again, the underlying reason for this unusual morphology is unclear. At least two hypotheses can be postulated for this: 1) the spines are an antipredator defense mechanism and 2) the spines may be useful in helping the fish maintain station in a swift-flowing environment. Although both hypotheses require rigorous testing beyond the scope of this study, they are seemingly supported by the (personal) observation that individuals of Hara jerdoni frequently remain at rest with the fin spines partially or fully erect amongst submerged vegetation.