Noemacheilus menoni, a new species of fish from Malappara, Periyar Tiger Reserve, Kerala

3 Pages·1999·1.6 MB·

by  V J Zacharias

NOEMACHEILUSMENONI, A NEW SPECIES OF FISH FROM
M
ALAPPARA, PERIYARTIGERRESERVE,KERALA
1
V.J. Zacharias2andK.C. Minimol3
(With one text-figure)
Key words: Noemacheilus menoni sp. nov., Western Ghats, Periyar
Noemacheilus menoni is described as a new species of fish from the Periyar river of
theHighRangesoftheWestern GhatsofKeralaState,South India,fromfivespecimens. Itis
characterised by a complete lateral line, an irregular reticulation ofdark blotches and bands
with lightorcreamyinter-spaces on the body, and threenarrow bandson thecaudal fin.
Introduction consists of 5 specimens measuring 46 to 54.4
mm
SL collected from the fast flowing Periyar
This genus consists of a group of species at Malappara about 17 km above the Periyar
which are remarkably similar in general Lake, between 9° 16' and 9° 40' N lat. and
morphology. Environmental conditions tend to between76°55'and77°25'long.Thedescription
produce similar characters and it is probable that isbasedonmeasurementswithdialcalipers.Data
thegreatresemblancebetweenthevariousspecies are presented as percentages ofstandard length
of this genus is due to a similarity in their (SL) and head length (HL), with the range
environment. The usual environment of rapid followed by the mean in parentheses. One
runningwaterofthese loachesisfullofstressand example, not included in the present study has
theanimalsthatliveinsuchahabitathavetoadjust been deposited with ZSI, Madras.
constantly to any fluctuation inthe microclimate.
Theirbodyhasbecomemoreandmorecylindrical, Noemacheilus menoni sp. nov. (Fig. 1)
with the fins becoming smaller and compact to Diagnosis: A species of Noemacheilus
facilitatetheirlivingamongstpebblesandshingle having 8 branched rays in the dorsal fin, lateral
in swift running water (Menon, 1987). line complete, 3 pairs ofbarbels, and dorsal and
In addition to the new species described caudal fins with dark spots (Fig. 1).
mm
here, the following five species are recognised Holotype: ZSICalicutV/F/1018, 54.4
from the Periyar River: (1) Noemacheilus SL. Collected from Malappara in Periyar river
denisoni denisoni Day (2) Noemacheilus on March 2, 1997 by the authors.
&
keralensis (Rita Nalbant), (3) Noemacheilus Paratypes: 4 specimensZSI, CalicutV/F/
mm
triangularis Day. (4) Noemacheilus guentheri 1019,46-49 SL. Samedataasholotype.One
Day and (5) Noemacheilus evezardi Day. specimen depositedatZSI, Madras. No. F. 5255
In the course ofour studies on the fishes ZSI/SRS collected from the same locality in
ofPeriyarriverinKerala State, SouthIndia, five February 1996.
specimenswereobtainedwhicharedistinctfrom Description: Based on 5 specimens.
otherspeciesdescribedsofar.Theyaredescribed D.3/8,A.2/5,P.1/11,V.1/6/1,C.19Lateral
here as a new species. line complete.
Bodycylindrical, eyessmall,nostrilsclose
MaterialandMethods
to each other, anterior tubular. Mouth
The material examined in this study semicircular. Barbelswell developed. Dorsal fin
inserted almost equidistantbetween tip ofsnout
'AcceptedSeptember,1997
"DeDveapgairrtim,eCnatloicfuZtoo8l.ogy,St.Joseph’sCollege, and caDuedpatlhfibnobdayse1.2.C2a-u1d4a.l5 f(iMn f=or1k3e.d1.6) % SL,
3PeriyarTigerReserve,Thekkady 685536,Kerala. length of head 19.5-23.9 (M-21.52) %, snout
288 JOURNAL, BOMBAYNATURAL HISTORYSOCIETY, 96(2) AUG. 1999
NEWDESCRIPTIONS
I cm 1
1
Fig. 1: Lateral view ofNoemacheilusmenoni, sp. nov.
length 7.3-8.6 (M=7.96) % SL, 32.7-41.6 reticulationofdarkblotchesandwavybandswith
%
(M=37.24) HL. Eye shorter than snout, its light or creamy interspaces; blotches and bands
diameter9.9-17.7(M=13.8)%HLand38.4-56.6 being more prominent on the upper half. Dorsal
%
(M=47.5) inter-orbital width. 2 pairs of and caudal fins have three narrow bands each,
barbels are shorter than eye, its length 8.4-14.5 anal and pelvic have one each; caudal fin has a
(M=12.2%) % HL secondpairofrostralbarbels blackblotch at its base.
arelongerthaneye,itslength20-26.7(M=22.32) Distribution: The Periyar River at
%
HL, Maxillary barbels are almost equal to Malappara, Kerala, South India.
secondpair ofrostralbarbels, its length 20-26.7 Remarks: More than 450 species are
%
(M=22.94) HL. describedunderNoemacheilus(Kottelat, 1982).
Caudal peduncle length 12.2-14.5 These species are quite varied and diverse, and
(M=12.94) %, its least height 40.0-50.0 form severalrecognisable groups or subgenera.
(M=44.86) % HL, 71.4-76.6 (M=74.28) % of These fishes inhabit hill streams and are
its own length. restricted to South China, Southeast Asia,
Squamation: Lateral line complete, well Baluchistan, Western Iran, South Anatolia and
distinguishable up to end of base of anal fin. Lake Tsana in N.E. Africa.
Scalessmallandimbricateexceptonventralside The species N. menoni described here
ofbody. appearstobecloselyrelatedtoN. triangularisDay
Fins: Dorsal origin between tip of snout occurring inthe Western Ghats ofKerala (Kallar,
andbase ofcaudal, its height less thanlength of Periyar, Pamba and Bharatapuzha drainage) and
head, 14.2-15.8 (14.88) % SL, height of anal TamilNadu (Thambrapami drainage). Both have
%
fin 49.1-60 (M=54.34) HL. Pectoral fin 8 branchedrays inthe dorsal fin, slightly tubular
smaller than head, length ofpectoral 16.3-18.7 anterior nostrils without nasal barbels, forked
(M=17.12)% SL. Pelvic fin smaller than head caudalandanirregularpatternofdarkbands,bars
andpectoralfin, itslength 12.5-14.5 (M=13.54) or blotches characteristic of the subgenus
%
SL. Caudalfinforked, longerthanhead, lobes Mesonoemacheilus. However,thenewspeciescan
somewhatpointed,predorsaldistance49.3-52.9 be separatedfromN. triangularis bythe irregular
%
(M=51.34) SL. Pre-pelvic distance48.8-54.1 reticulationofdarkblotchesandwavybandswith
%
(M=51.62) SL; distance between origin of light or creamy interspaces as against the six or
%
pectoral and pelvic fms 22.9-33.0 (M=27.9) seven oblique yellow bands edged with black of
SL,pelvictoanaldistance23.7-25.7(M=24.62) N. triangularis. N. guentheri Day, another
%
SL. related species, can be separated by the 2 or 3
Coloration: Body with irregular dark rows oflarge yellow spots edged with black on
blotches on back, sides marked by irregular itsbody.
JOURNAL, BOMBAYNATURAL HISTORYSOCIETY. 96(2), AUG. 1999 289
NEWDESCRIPTIONS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Wearegrateful toDr.A.G.K. Menon forhis Remadevi,Scientist,ZSIMadrasfortheirkindhelp
help,suggestionsandcommentsonthispaper.Our in preparing the paper and for their suggestions.
sincere thanks are due to Mr. Radhakrishnan, Helpandco-operationreceivedfromMr.O.P.Kaler,
Deputy Director, Mr. K.C. Gopi and Dr. P.M. IFS, Wildlife Preservation Officer, Periyar Tiger
Sureshan Scientists, ZSI Calicut and Dr. K. Reserveisgratefully acknowledged.
References
Kottelat,M.(1982):AnewNoemacheilinaeloachfrom pp.x+259.
ThailandandBurma,Jap.J.Ichthyol. 29(2): 169-172. Talwar,P.K.&ArunG.Jhingran(1991): InlandFishes
Menon,A.G.K. (1987): Faunaof Indiaandtheadjacent ofIndiaandAdjacentCountries-Vol. 1 and2,Oxford
countries.Pisces,4(PartI). Homalopteridae,Calcutta and IBHPublishingCo.Pvt. Ltd.,NewDelhi.
290 JOURNAL BOMBAYNATURAL HISTORYSOCIETY. 96(2) AUG. 1999