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Dr. Mathews Plamoottil (2)

Description: The new species can be differentiated from all its congeners in having a markedly elongated body (body height 15.0- 16.9 % SL), shorter head (18.9- 22.5% SL), smaller eyes (16.7- 20.4 % HL), shorter rayed dorsal (14.3- 15.4 % SL) and shorter pectoral fin (13.3- 14.3 % SL). Mystus heoki can be differentiated from Mystus malabaricus in having seven branched rays in pectoral fin (vs. eight in M. malabaricus), shorter head (18.9- 22.5 % SL vs. 23.8- 24.7), and greater inter dorsal distance (12.9- 15.3 % SL vs. 8.2- 11.3). The new species differs from Mystus canarensis in having a longer snout (36.4- 41.7 % HL vs. 31.7- 36.3 in the new species), 7 branched rays in pectoral fin (vs. 8) and a distinct blue band present on mid lateral line (vs. absent). The new species differs from Mystus armatus, M. montanus and M. oculatus in having short occipital process which never reach basal bone of dorsal fin (vs. comparatively long occipital process which reaches basal bone of dorsal fin), dorsal spine without distinct teeth (vs. 6-8 teeth), shorter head and shorter pectoral spine, (Plamoottil & Abraham, 2013). Colouration: Fresh specimens: greenish above lateral line, below it greenish white; fins hyaline to light greenish. A bluish oval spot present on shoulder, another triangular bluish spot on caudal base and a distinct and thick band of bluish color in between the two along the lateral line, width of which is more than half the diameter of eyes. Body and fins decorated with tiny black dots, (Plamoottil & Abraham, 2013). Habitat: Manimala River at Elankadu, the type locality of Mystus hoeki, is floored generally by rocky substratum; patches of cobbles, boulders and gravelly sand occurs at certain places, (Plamoottil & Abraham, 2013). Etymology: The specific epithet “heoki” is named after the eminent scientist Heok Hee Ng, Singapore. who contributed much to the taxonomy of catfishes.

Elongated Kerala Mystus

None

Bagridae

South Asia: Manimala River drainage, Kerala, India. Type Locality: Currently known only from the type locality in Kerala.

13.5cm. (5¼ins)

22-26°C (71-79°F)

6.0-7.0.

Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2024. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 02/2024 )
Plamoottil, M. and Abraham N. P. 2013. Mystus indicus and M. heoki, two new catfishes from Kerala, India. Prof. T.C. Narenderan Trust for Animal Taxonomy.