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Glyptothorax botius (Hamilton, 1822)

Image contributors to this species:

Andrew Rao (3) Beta Mahatvaraj (1) Abhisek Mishra (1) Mahbubur Rahman Sampod (1)

ScotCat Sources:

Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

Description: Dorsal spines (total): 1; Vertebrae: 34 - 36. Distinguished from its congeners, except Glyptothorax telchitta, in northeast India in having a combination of large, prominent tubercles on the head and body, a thoracic adhesive apparatus without a median depression, and a very slender body and caudal peduncle (sometimes described as spindle shaped). Differs from G. telchitta in having more rounded snout when viewed laterally, the presence of dark saddles on the body, a thoracic adhesive apparatus with broader folds of skin, a longer adipose-fin base (12.0-16.4% SL vs. 9.5-11.5) and a more slender caudal peduncle (3.1-4.2% SL vs. 4.7-5.9. Habitat: Glyptothorax botius is known from the Ganges and Brahmaputra River drainages in India (and presumably also present in Bangladesh). Whilst there is limited information on the species distribution and population, it is present within two large drainages and is not thought to be heavily utilised. This species inhabits large, swift-flowing rivers with a sandy/muddy bottom. Etymology: The specific name botius: Presumably a local Bengali name for this catfish in India.

Common Name:

None

Synonyms:

Pimelodus botius

Family:

Sisoridae

Distribution:

India: Hooghly River. Type locality: Northern rivers of Bengal [now India: west Bengal: Hooghly River at Kalna, 23º13'30.0"N, 88º22'39.0"E by neotype designation].

Size:

8.0cm. (3¼ins)

Temp:

18-24°c (63-75°f.)

p.H.

6.0-7.0.

IUCN Red List

Glyptothorax botius is known from the Ganges and Brahmaputra River drainages in India (and presumably also present in Bangladesh). Whilst there is limited information on the species distribution and population, it is present within two large drainages and is not thought to be heavily utilised. It is assessed as Least Concern at present, but does need updating, (IUCN 2010).

Reference:

Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2018. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 06/2018 ).
Ng, H.H., 2005. Glyptothorax botius (Hamilton, 1822), a valid species of catfish (Teleostei: Sisoridae) from northeast India, with notes on the identity of G. telchitta (Hamilton, 1822). Zootaxa 930:1-19.
Ng, H.H. 2010. Glyptothorax botius. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010.

Family: Sisoridae Back to Ident-A-Cat Click on Thumbnails

Glyptothorax botius

Glyptothorax botius
Dorsal view

Glyptothorax botius

Glyptothorax botius

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