Salmostoma bacaila (Hamilton, 1822)

Banyal, Harinder Singh & Kumar, Sanjeev, 2017, Fish diversity of the Vatrak stream, Sabarmati River system, Rajasthan, Records of the Zoological Survey of India 117 (3), pp. 214-214 : 214-

2. Salmostoma bacaila (Hamilton, 1822)

1822. Cyprinus bacaila, Hamilton-Buchannan, Fishes of Ganges, pages 265-384 (Type –locality: Gangetic provinces).

2013. Salmophasia bacaila, Ahmed et.al. Biodiversity of hill stream fishes in Bangladesh, Zootaxa, 3700 (no. 2): 283-292.

Common name: Large razor belly minnow.

Material examined: 6 exs, Vatrak stream near Jethola Village, Dungarpur , Rajasthan, 15.iii.2014, coll. H. S. Banyal, Reg No. V/3178 .

Diagnostic characters: D ii-iii 7; A iii 10-13; P i 11-1-2; Vi 8. Body elongate and strongly compressed. Mouth oblique; dorsal fin inserted well in advance of anal fin. Gill rakers 17 to 21 on first arch, Scales very small; lateral line slightly decurved, with 86 to 110, silvery scales.

Coloration: Upper side grey-green in life, generally silvery; a broad, lustrous white-green band along margin.Fins hyaline.

Geographical distribution: Widely distributed in India, inhabits plains and sub-montane regions.

Remarks: This species is a surface feeder and is regarded as a useful larvivorous fish.