Mystus malabaricus
| Mystus malabaricus | |
|---|---|
| File:Mystus malabaricus from Trivandrum, India.jpg | |
| Scientific classification Edit this classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Bagridae |
| Genus: | Mystus |
| Species: | M. malabaricus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Mystus malabaricus (Jerdon, 1849)
| |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Mystus malabaricus, commonly known as the Jerdon's catfish or koori,[1] is a small to medium-sized freshwater fish of the family Bagridae found in the Western Ghats region of India.[3] They are found in the hilly streams of Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.[4]
Etymology
[edit | edit source]The generic epithet, Mystus, is probably derived from mystax (Greek; "whiskered", referring to the four pairs of barbels characteristic of the family). The specific epithet malabaricus refers to Malabar, region in southern India, where the type locality is situated.[4][5]
Ecology
[edit | edit source]Members of this genus have been reported as facultative air-breathers.[6] M. malabaricus is amphidromous, meaning they migrate to brackish waters for purposes other than breeding. They have demersal habit,[4] found in shallow hill streams with rocky bottom.[citation needed]
Description and diagnosis
[edit | edit source]Nasal barbels never reach occiput, it reaches a middle point between occiput and orbit; outer mandibulars reach to tip of pectorals; occipital process connected to dorsal front by an interneural shield; tip of rayed dorsal reaches to base of adipose dorsal front; any other fins touch each other; dorsal spine smooth both internally and externally; anal fin inserted considerably behind anal opening; upper caudal lobe longer than lower one. Sensory organs distinctly seen on lateral line. Color: body greenish; eyes blackish blue.[citation needed]
Diagnosis
[edit | edit source]Body elongate; dorsal and ventral profiles nearly straight; maxillary barbels reach to middle or end of pelvic fins; cephalic fontanel single, shallow and never reach to occiput; occipital process short and it do not reach dorsal front; the former cannot be seen externally as predorsal region is covered by a thick layer of flesh; caudal lobes rounded.[citation needed]
Other species from the region include (list incomplete)[7] -
- Mystus montanus (Jerdon, 1849); TL - Mananthawady, Wayanad
- Mystus armatus (Day 1895); TL - 'Cochin Malabar'- Trichur
- Mystus oculatus (Valenciennes 1840); TL - Kuttiady, Malabar
- Mystus sengtee (Sykes 1839) TL- Dukhun, India
Distribution
[edit | edit source]M. malabaricus has been reported from the Western Ghats across Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu[citation needed] and Maharashtra.[4] The type locality is assigned as "mountain streams of Malabar" by Jerdon[8]
References
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