A new species of Puntius (Cyprinidae: Cyprininae) from Manipur, India

6 Pages·2000·3.9 MB·

by  A G K Menon

A NEW SPECIES OF PUNTIUS(CYPRINIDAE CYPRININAE)
:
FROM MANIPUR, INDIA
1
A.G.K. Menon,K. RemaDevi2 andW. Vishwanath3
(With twoplates)
Key words: Cyprinidae, Puntius manipurensis sp.nov., P. phutunio Manipur
,
Puntiusmanipurensis isdescribed as a new cyprinid species ofthe genusPuntius, from Loktak
lake, Manipur, India. Itischaracteiisedasfollows: osseous,serratedprincipal spinyrayofdorsal
fin, incomplete lateral line with 22-24 scales, 3.5 rows ofscales in transverse series from the
anteriormostportionofdorsalfintolateral line,3.5 rowsbetweenlateral lineandpelvicinsertion,
withoutbarbels, two spotson sidesofbody: ashoulderoneon 3rd and4th lateral linescalesand
a caudal one on 17th and 18th lateral line scales. The closest relative of P. manipurensis is
P. phutunio. The affinities ofthesetwo species and otherclosely related specieswith a serrated
dorsal fin ray, without barbels and with two spots on the lateral sides ofthe body, namelyticto,
punctatus and stoliczkanus are discussed. A key to Indian Puntius species, including the new
species with a strong osseous and serrated primarydorsal fin ray, is provided.
Cyprinid fishes ofthe genus Puntius are practices (Menon 1987), except forpre-pectoral
widely distributed in south and southeast Asia. distance, which is taken as the distance from
The species ofthis genus have a single pair of snout tip to pectoral insertion; the mean values
maxillarybarbels ornone, normally 8 branched for the specimens are given first, followed in
rays in dorsal fin, 30 or less vertebrae, scales parenthesis by range as percentage.
thickwith radii projecting fromthe focus to the
margin like spokes on a wheel, without any Puntius manipurensis sp. nov.
posterior deflection in the lateral fields. Puntius (Plate 1, Figs. 1-3)
mm
species are small to tiny, less than 150 in
total length. The Puntius from Manipur is very Holotype: F. (Fish) 4261, ZSI/SRS
distinctfromphutunio(Hora 1921,Menon 1954) (Zoological Survey ofIndia/Southern Regional
whichitwassofarreferredto,chieflyinitsshape Station), 40 mm Standard Length (SL), Loktak
and colour markings, and also from all other lake, Moirang, India, collected by W.
Puntiusspeciesdescribedpreviously(Day 1875- Vishwanath, April, 1995.
78, 1889; Jayaram 1991; Talwar and Jhingran Paratypes:F.4262,ZSI/SRS,7specimens,
1991; Menon 1999), hence it is described here 34-45 mm SL, data same as forholotype.
as a new species, P. manipurensis. The Diagnosis: A small elongate Puntius
descriptions are based on eight specimens species with two spots on the body, a shoulder
collectedbyDr.W.VishwanathfromLoktaklake spot on 3rd and 4th lateral line scale rows and a
at Moirang, Manipur and deposited in the fish caudal spot on 17th and 18th lateral line scales;
collections of the Zoological Survey of India, scales edged dark; withoutbarbels; ossified and
Chennai. Measurements follow standard denticulateddorsal spinyray; incomplete lateral
‘AcceptedAugust,1998 linewith24-25 scalesand3.5scalerowsbetween
^ZoologicalSurveyofIndia,SouthernRegionalStation, it and root ofthe pelvic fin.
T1a00m,ilSaNnatdhuo,meIndHiiag.hRoad,Chennai600028, Description: D. iii, 8; P. i. 13-14; V. i. 7,
^DepartmentofLifeSciences,ManipurUniversity, 1; A. iii, 5; C. 10+9. Body elongate, its depth
Canchipur795003,Manipur,India. 32.8 (29.7-35.1) percent of SL; head small, its
JOURNAL. BOMBAYNATURAL HISTORYSOCIETY. 97(2). AUG. 2000 263
)
NEWDESCRIPTIONS
length 29.1 (27.5-30.0) and its maximum depth with pigments; two or three rows of spots on
22.5 (20.9-23.8) ofSL; snoutshort, smallerthan dorsal. Fresh specimens with yellowish fins;
eye, 24.3 (22.9-25.8) ofhead length (HL), 66.3 pelvic, anal and sides behind pectoral crimson.
(60.4-73.7) of interorbital width; eyes large, Maximum length: 45 mm SL.
visible from ventral side, diameter 27.1 (25.2- Distribution: india:Manipur,Loktaklake.
30.0) of head, 73.9 (67.4-79.5) of interorbital Etymology: The new species is named
width; mouth semicircular and inferior; barbels afterthe collection locality.
absent. Remarks: Geographically, the closest
Dorsal fin origin closer to caudal finbase relative of P. manipurensis seems to be
than to tip of snout, starting after 8th scale of P. phutunio (Hamilton 1822), which is known
lateral line, slightly behind origin of ventral, from West Bengal and Bangladesh. Like
predorsal length 52.9 (51.5-53.7), postdorsal P.phutunio ithasanincompletelaterallinewith
,
length 51.0 (47.8-58.7) ofSL; margin ofdorsal 3.5 rows ofscales between the origin ofdorsal
almost straight, principal spiny ray ofdorsal fin fin and the lateral line, with 3.5 rows ofscales
osseous and denticulated, with flexible portion between lateral line and pelvic fin base. There
much shorter than head, its stiffportion a little is,however,nosimilarityincolourandbodyform
morethanpostorbitalpart, dorsalfinheight21.3 (Plate 2, Figs. 1 and 4), P. manipurensis having
(19.5-23.8) of SL, 72.2 (60.1-81.0) of HL. an elongate body. Hora (1921) mistook the
Pectoral fin pointed in profile, almost reaches species for P. phutunio and described its
pelvic fin, length 21.0 (19.2-23.8) of SL, 72.2 distribution as given in the field guide by
(64.8-80.0) of HL, pre-pectoral distance 28.9 Annandale (vide Hora, op. cit.). The colour of
(27.8-30.4)ofSL.Pelvicfinpointed,reachesanal the living specimen, as observedbyAnnandale,
opening, length 20.4 (19.2-22.6) of SL, 70.3 is “The dorsal surface brownish, deeply tinged
(63.9-77.0)ofHL,pre-pelvicdistance49.7(47.6- with metallic green and dotted withblack, sides
51.7) ofSL. Anal fin laid flat, falls 2 scale rows metallic crimson, each scale edged with black;
short of caudal fin base, its length 51.4 (44.5- ventral surface silvery; pelvic, anal and caudal
55.8) ofHL, preanal distance 71.2 (70.2-72.5) fins crimson; dorsal and pectoral bright
ofSL.Caudalfinaslongaslengthofhead,deeply olivaceous green with the rays more or less
forked, its lobe pointed; caudal peduncle depth infuscated and with black spots on the dorsal.
68.1 (62.5-78.6) of its length, 13.5 (12.6-14.4) Iris crimson, lowerpartofcheek andoperculum
of SL, its length 19.9 (16.6-21.7) of SL. silvery white, densely speckled with black”.
Maximumlengthofbodycavity44.1 (42.1-46.1 P. phutunio is characterised by vertical bands
ofSL. Gill rakersbroad and low, 7 onthe lower (Plate 2, Fig. 4). In its lateral transverse rows
arm ofthe firstgill arch and 3 ontheupperarm. P. manipurensisresembles P. stoliczkanus (Day
Scaleslarge; laterallineincomplete,pored 1871) known from Burma and Thailand, and
scales ceasing by 5th or 6th scales; scales along P. punctatus (Day 1865) known from the
lateral line 22-24; 3.5 rows in transverse series southwesttip ofpeninsular India and Sri Lanka,
from dorsal fin origin to lateral line, 3.5 from but differs from them in having an incomplete
lateral line to pelvic fin base; predorsal scales lateral line.
8-9. Thenewspeciesbelongstothetictogroup
Colour in preserved specimens: Males of fishes with which it shares the following
darker, a spot on 3rd and 4th lateral line scales, characters: absence of barbels, presence of
prominent in paler specimens, another spot on osseousandserratedprincipalspinyrayindorsal
the 17thand 18thlaterallinescales;scalesedged fin and two spots on the body, a shoulder spot
264 JOURNAL, BOMBAYNATURAL HISTORYSOCIETY, 97(2), AUG. 2000
NEWDESCRIPTIONS
Menon, A.G.K. etal.\ Puntius manipurensis sp. nov. Plate 1
mm
Figs. 1-3: 1. Lateral view ofPuntiusmanipurensis sp. nov., 40.0 SL, Holotype, F. 4261, ZSI/SRS;
mm
2. Lateral view ofP. manipurensis, 35.5 SL;
mm
3. Lateral view offresh specimen ofP. manipurensis, 35.5 SL.
The authors and the BNHS are grateful tothe Mehta Scientific Education and Research Trust,
Mumbai, for sponsoring this colour plate.
JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 97(2), AUG. 2000 265
NEWDESCRIPTIONS
Menon, A.G.K. etal.: Puntius manipurensis sp. nov. Plate 2
2.
3.
4.
mm
LatFeirgasl.v1i-e4:w1o.fLPa.tetircatlo,v3i8e.w0omfmP. SmLa,niFpu2r1e0n0s,isMi,n4j0u.r0, TamiSlL.N;adu.;
Lateral view ofP.punctatus, 40.0mm, SL, F3466, Kottayam, Kerala;
mm UMMZ
Lateral view ofP. phutunio, 24.0 SL, 208868, Rangpur, Bangladesh.
The authors and the BNHS are grateful to the Mehta Scientific Education and Research Trust,
Mumbai, for sponsoring this colour plate.
266 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 97(2), AUG. 2000
NEWDESCRIPTIONS
and a caudal spot. This species seems to have —8. LI scale rows 20. P. setnaiChhapgar& Sane
evolved in the Loktak lake from the same stock LI scale rows morethan 20 9
asP. ticto(4.5rowsofscalesbetweenlateralline 9. Two black spots on LI, one above 3rd scale
and pelvic fin base) known to be widely andthe2nd alittlebefore 19th LI scale; dorsal
distributed in India, P. punctatus in southern tip — fin not spotted P. stoliczkanus(Day)
ofpeninsular India and Sri Lanka (Plate2) and Two black spots on LI, one below
P. stoliczkanus(3.5rowsofscalesbetweenlateral commencementofLI andthe2ndbeyond 19th
2l.ine andpelvic finbase) inBurmaandThailand. LI scale; dorsal fin spotted in rows
P.punctatus(Day)
KeytothePuntiusspecieswithastrong,osseousand —10. LI with 24 or more scales ... P. gelius(Ham.)
SERRATEDPRIMARYDORSALFINRAY LI with iess than 24 scales 11
11. A horizontal line on sides of body and
—1. With 1 pair ofmaxillary barbels 2 two distinct dark blotches on caudal peduncle
Without barbels 3 P. shalyniusYazdani &Talukdar
—
Bodydeep,4timesinSL;noblackspotabove No horizontaliineonbodyorpairedblotchon
anterior anal base P.fraseri Hora& Misra
— caudal peduncle 12
Body elongate, 5 times in SL; a black spot 12. Body deep and banded; dorsal without spots,
above anterior ana! base
but with a band P.phutunio(Ham.)
P. sharmaiMenon & RemaDevi — Bodyslender, notbanded, butwith two spots;
3. Lateral line (LI) scales 36 or more dorsal with rows ofspots
— P. ambassis(Day) P. manipurensissp. nov.
LI scales less than 36 4
4. LI scales more than 30 Comparative material P. phutunio
— P. guganio(Ham.) University of Michigan Museum of Zoology:
LI scales less than 30 5 (UMMZ) 208868, 24 mm SL, Rangpur, Dharia
5. Lateral transverse (L tr) scale rows 5.5/5.5 .. river, Bangladesh, 2.iv.l978, coll. W. Rainboth
— P. conchonius(Ham.) & A. Rahman.
L tr rows fewer 6
6. Ltrscalerows between LI and pelvicfin base
Acknowledgement
4.5 P. ticto(Ham.)
—
Ltrscalerowsbetween LI and pelvicfin base
less than 4.5 7 WearegratefultotheDirector,Zoological
7. Lateral line complete 8 SurveyofIndiaandOfficer-in-Charge, Southern
Lateral line incomplete 10 Regional Station, ZSI for facilities.
Refer ENCES
Day, F. (1865): OnthefishesofCochin,on the Malabar CeylonandBurma. Fishes, 1,TaylorandFrancis.
coastofIndia.Proc. Zool. Soc. London:302. London,pp. 548.
Day,F.(1871): MonographofIndianCyprinidae.Jowm. Hamilton, F. (1822): An accountofthe fishes found in
Day, F.Ro(y1.87A5s-i7at8.):SoTch.eBeFnisghaels:3o2f8I.ndia; being a natural arinvderCGoa.ngaensdaHnudrsitts,bRraonbcihnesso.nAr&chiCbo.a,ldECdoinnsbtuarbglhe
historyofthefishesknowntoinhabittheseasand andLondon,vii+405pp.,39pis.
freshwatersofIndia,BurmaandCeylon.London, Hora, S.L. (1921): Fish and Fisheries ofManipur with
xx+778pp., 195pis. observationson thoseofNaga Hills. Rec. Indian
Day, F. (1889): The Fauna ofBritish India, including Mus. 22: 165-216.
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NEWDESCRIPTIONS
Jayaram, K.C. (1991): Revision ofthe Genus Puntius AdjacentCountries.Pisces,4,PtIHomalopteridae.
Hamilton from the Indian Region (Pisces : ZoologicalSurveyofIndia—,Calcutta,x+259pp.
Cypriniformes,Cyprinidae,Cyprininae).Rec.Zool. Menon,A.G.K.(1999):Checklist FreshwaterFishesof
Surv. India, Occ.pap. No. 135: 1-178. India.ZoologicalSurveyofIndia,Occ.Pap.No.175,
Menon,A.G.K.(1954): Furtherobservationson thefish pp. 366.
fauna of the Manipur State. Rec. Indian Mus. Talwar,P.K.&Jhingran,ArunG.(1991): InlandFishes
52(1): 21-26. ofIndiaandAdjacentCountries.Voi. 1.Oxfordand
Menon, A.G.K. (1987): The Fauna of India and the IBHPubl.,NewDelhi,pp.541
268 JOURNAL, BOMBAYNATURAL HISTORYSOCIETY, 97(2), AUG. 2000