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Mathews Plamoottil (3)

Description: Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7; Anal soft rays: 13. Distinguished from its relatives by its elongated, wider but less deep head, smaller eyes, deeper anterior part of frontal groove, longer base of adipose dorsal fin, elongated pelvic fin, anal fin and pectoral spine, weaker pectoral spine and longer base of rayed dorsal fin base. Can be further diagnosed from other species of Mystus by the possession of very long maxillary barbels which reach beyond caudal base, a distinct mid lateral stripe and elongated humeral spot and triangular caudal spot. Colouration: Body pale yellowish green; eyes bluish black; 4- 5 small black spots present below the root of 3rd6th dorsal fin rays. A light brownish black elongated humeral spot and a similar but triangular spot on caudal base; a light brownish green line goes through lateral line in between humeral and caudal spots.
Reproduction: Oviparous, distinct pairing possibly like other members of the same family. Etymology: The genus name Mystus: "Mystax" meaning whiskered (hair on the upper lip) Mystus was first used by Belon in 1553 to describe all fish with whiskers. The specific epithet “keralai” refers to Kerala, the state of India from which the new species was described firstly.

Long whiskered Kerala catfish

None

Bagridae

South Asia: Manimala River drainage, Kerala, India.

6.0cm (2½ins)

22-27°C (71-81°F)

6.5-7.5.

Plamoottil, M. and N.P. Abraham, 2014. Mystus keralai (Siluriformes: Bagridae), a new fish species from Kerala, India. Intl. J. Pure Appl. Zool. 2(3):231-240.