Description:
7 dorsal rays (8 total); 10 anal rays; approximately
10 pectoral rays. 4 pairs of barbels (2 chin+ 1 maxillary
+ 1 nasal). Maxillary barbels reach caudal fin. Diet:
Feed on plants, shrimps. Insects and detritus. 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 name seengtee: Marathi
vernacular for this species in India, which, as Sykes
explained in 1841, he adopted “so that naturalists
who travel the country can always obtain” the
species.
Common
Name:
None
Synonyms:
Pimelodus seengtee
Family:
Bagridae
Distribution:
South Asia:
Krishna and Cauvery river basins, India. Type
locality: Deccan, India.
Size:
15.5cm (6ins)
Temp:
22-27°C (71-81°F)
p.H.
6.0-7.0.
IUCN
Red List
Mystus
seengtee is assessed as Least Concern as it is
widely distributed in southern India and there are no
known major threats to the species. Nevertheless, research
is needed on population trends, harvesting trends and
threats. Taxonomic status needs to be validated using
molecular techniques (needs updating IUCN 2011).
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