Pseudecheneis eddsi, Heok Hee Ng, 2006

Heok Hee Ng, 2006, The identity of Pseudecheneis sulcata (M'Clelland, 1842), with descriptions of two new species of rheophilic catfish (Teleostei: Sisoridae) from Nepal and China., Zootaxa 1254, pp. 45-68 : 51-57

Pseudecheneis eddsi sp. nov.

(Fig. 4)

Pseudecheneis sulcata (non M’Clelland, 1842) Shrestha, 1981: 197, Fig. 91 (in part); 1994: 62, Fig. 97 (in part); Ng & Edds, 2005: 17 (in part).

Type material

Holotype: KU 36872, 84.1 mm SL; Nepal: Tanahun, Khairenitar, Seti River (Ganges River drainage), 28°2’0.0"N 84°4’0.0"E; D. Edds, 15 November 1996.

Paratypes: CAS 44188 (3), 45.5-62.1 mm SL : CAS 50306 (30), 34.7-45.8 mm SL; Nepal: Mahesh Khola, 24-32 km WNW of Kathmandu, on the road to Pokhara (Ganges River drainage); T. R. Roberts, 3 May 1975 . KU 29084 (3), 55.8-94.4 mm SL; Nepal: Tanahun, Khairenitar, Seti River (Ganges River drainage), 28°2’0.0"N 84°4’0.0"E; D. Edds, 15 June 1996 . KU 29629 (5), 40.5-74.4 mm SL; data as for holotype .

Diagnosis

Pseudecheneis eddsi is distinguished from congeners in having smaller pelvic fins (18.0-20.9% SL vs. 20.4-28.7), and from P. paviei , P. sulcata , P. sulcatoides , and P. sympelvica in having a prominent bony spur on the anterodorsal surface of the first dorsalfin pterygiophore (vs. spur absent; Fig. 2). It further differs from P. crassicauda in having a slenderer caudal peduncle (3.5-5.3% SL vs. 6.0-6.6) and larger eye (9.6-12.8% HL vs. 7.5-8.3), and from P. immaculata in having (vs. lacking) pale colored patches on the body and a shorter adipose-fin base (19.5-24.3% SL vs. 27.7). Pseudecheneis eddsi is further distinguished from P. paviei and P. sympelvica in having more vertebrae (36-39 vs. 33-35), and further differs from P. sympelvica in having the pelvic fins separate (vs. fused at midline). It further differs from P. serracula in having a shorter adipose-fin base (19.5-24.3% SL vs. 26.8-30.4) and the neural spines of the last 2-3 preanal and first 6-7 postanal vertebrae gradually increasing in height (vs. corresponding neural spines strongly elevated), from P. sulcatoides in having a longer caudal peduncle (25.2-27.8% SL vs. 22.5-23.7), a prominent bony spur on the anterodorsal surface of the first dorsal-fin pterygiophore (vs. spur absent), a first dorsal-fin element (vs. element absent) and bifid (vs. non-bifid) neural spines on the complex vertebra, and from P. stenura in having a shorter caudal peduncle (25.2-27.8% SL vs. 30.3-34.5) and pectoral fin (114.9-156.0% HL vs. 160.4-196.9).

Description

Morphometric data as in Table 2. Head and abdominal region narrow and strongly depressed. Dorsal profile rising gently from tip of snout to origin of dorsal fin, then almost horizontal or sloping very gently ventrally to end of caudal peduncle. Ventral profile horizontal to anal-fin base, then sloping very gently dorsally to end of caudal peduncle. Caudal peduncle long and moderately compressed. Anus and urogenital openings located at posteriormost extent of pelvic fin. Skin smooth, tuberculate in some areas. Lateral line complete and midlateral. Vertebrae 18+18=36 (5), 18+19=37 (1), 19+18=37* (8), 20+17=37 (4), 18+20=38 (1), 19+19=38 (11), 20+18=38 (5), 19+20=39 (1), or 20+19=39 (6).

Head acutely rounded when viewed from above. Snout gently convex when viewed laterally. Gill openings moderate, extending from posttemporal region to base of first pectoral-fin element. Head covered with thick, tuberculate skin. Ventral surface of head with unculiferous collar on distal margin of branchiostegal membrane immediately anterior to thoracic adhesive apparatus.

Thoracic adhesive apparatus consisting of 13-18 transverse ridges (laminae) separated by grooves (sulcae); ridges frequently not meeting at midline of adhesive apparatus. Adhesive apparatus extending from immediately posterior to collar on distal margin of branchiostegal membrane to level of last pectoral-fin ray.

Barbels flattened, and in four pairs. Maxillary barbel with ventral surface densely covered with papillae, and pointed tip; barbel extending about two-thirds of distance between its base and base of first pectoral-fin element. Distal half of barbel attached to snout via large, thin flap of skin. Nasal barbel with small flap of thin skin fringing posterior margin and extending midway to distance between posterior nares and anterior orbital margin. Inner mandibular-barbel densely covered with papillae; origin close to midline, extending to collar on distal margin of branchiostegal membrane. Outer mandibular barbel originates posterolateral of inner mandibular barbel, extending to level of anterior orbital margin. Eye small and almost rounded, subcutaneous and located on dorsal surface of head.

Mouth inferior, with moderately broad, thin papillate lips. Rictal lobe large and papillate. Premaxillary tooth band not exposed when mouth is closed. Premaxillary teeth short and conical, arranged in irregular rows on a moderately large quadrangular patch. Dentary teeth long, thin and somewhat rounded at tip; arranged in irregular rows on two separated, roughly triangular patches.

Dorsal-fin origin located at point through anterior third of body. First and second dorsal fin-ray elements not ossified, bearing i,6 (42) rays, and fin margin straight. Adipose fin with short base, approximately 1.5 to 2 times of anal-fin base length; located in middle third of postdorsal region. Adipose fin margin gently convex; posterior end deeply incised. Caudal fin forked, with i,7,7,i (4), i,7,8,i* (38) principal rays; procurrent rays symmetrical and extend only slightly anterior to fin base. Anal fin with short base extending less than half of adipose fin-base length and iii,7 (40) or iv,7* (2) rays. Anal fin margin almost straight.

Pelvic-fin origin at vertical through second or third dorsal fin-ray base. Pelvic fin greatly enlarged, extending to base of first anal-fin ray. Anterior fin margin strongly convex, first element broadened and with regular striae on ventral surface; with i,5 (42) rays. Pectoral fin greatly enlarged and with convex anterior margin, reaching to just beyond pelvic-fin base. First element not ossified, broadened and with regular striae on ventral surface; fin with i,12* (41) or i,13 (1) rays.

Coloration

In 70% ethanol: chestnut brown on dorsal and lateral surfaces of head and body, fading to very light brown on ventral region. Dorsal surfaces of head and body with distinctive series of small very light brown spots and bands: one ovate spot on base of first dorsal-fin ray, and another pair on each side of body immediately posterior to last dorsal-fin ray; one band on each side of body at adipose-fin origin, and another on caudal peduncle at base of caudal fin. Dorsal and anal fins hyaline, with brown base and brown subdistal band; brown coloration of base and subdistal band connected to each other at anterior third of fin. Adipose fin light brown, with lighter color around distal edge, especially at posterior end of fin. Caudal fin brown, with hyaline distal margin. Dorsal surfaces of pectoral and pelvic fins brown, ventral surfaces light yellow. Maxillary and nasal barbels brown dorsally and light yellow ventrally.

Distribution

Presently known only from the Gandaki drainage of central Nepal, in foothills of the Himalayas (Fig. 3). The Seti and Mahesh rivers are tributaries to the Trisuli, which joins the Kali Gandaki to become the Narayani (= Sapta Gandaki) in Nepal. The Narayani (= Gandak in India) is a major tributary of the Ganges River in India.

Habitat and ecology

The type locality of this species (the Seti River) has plenty of cool and swift, rocky riffles, which is presumably where the fish were obtained (they were obtained by fishermen and the exact microhabitat could not be ascertained). Other congeners are known to occur in riffles (Kottelat, 1998; Ng & Edds, 2005; pers. obs.), so it is reasonable to assume that P. eddsi inhabits similar habitats.

Other fish species found in the same locality include Garra annandalei (Cyprinidae), G. gotyla (Cyprinidae), Neolissochilus hexagonolepis (Cyprinidae), Schizothoraichthys progastus (Cyprinidae), Schizothorax richardsonii (Cyprinidae), Semiplotus semiplotus (Cyprinidae), Tor putitora (Cyprinidae), Psilorhynchus balitora (Psilorhynchidae), Botia almorhae (Cobitidae), Acanthocobitis botia (Balitoridae), Balitora brucei (Balitoridae), Schistura beavani (Balitoridae), Glyptothorax cavia (Sisoridae), G. telchitta (Sisoridae), Pseudecheneis serracula (Sisoridae), and Mastacembelus armatus (Mastacembelidae).

Etymology

This species is named after David Edds, who collected part of the type series and in honor of his work on Nepalese fishes.