Thursday, February 8, 2018

[Ichthyology • 2017] Opsarius kanaensis • A New Species of Bariliine Fish (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) from Manipur, Northeastern India


 Opsarius kanaensis  Arunkumar & Moyon, 2017

   Species. 18(61) 

ABSTRACT
 Opsarius kanaensis is a new species from cyprinid fishes, Manipur. The new species is differentiated with other cyprinid fishes through the combination of morphological characters: 1 pair of short maxillary barbel, no mandibular knob, length of the origin of dorsal fin to the upper end of caudal fin lobe is longer than the distance between the origin of dorsal fin to the anterior margin of nares, 8-10 blue black lateral bands, a round blue black spot at the anterior base of caudal fin which is overlap by the last vertical band, a mid-transverse band of black colour in the dorsal fin, distinct red colouration of anal fin, depth of caudal peduncle 9.2-9.9% SL; eye diameter 6.3-8.5% SL; post dorsal length 72.1-78.5% SL; head length 18.7-24.2% SL; head depth at occiput 17.2-21.2% SL; and at eye 64.6-70.0% HL; snout length 30.8-37.2% HL; interorbital width 32.2-35.8% HL and width of head at neck 42.6-48.5% HL. A key to the species Opsarius from the Chindwin basin of Manipur is provided. 

Key words: Opsarius kanaensis, North eastern India, New species. 


Opsarius kanaensis new species

Diagnosis Opsarius kanaensis, a new species of bariliine cyprinid fish is described from the Yu River basin of Manipur, north eastern India. The new species can be differentiated from its congeners occurring in the Chindwin basin of Manipur in having the following combination of characters:1pair of short rudimentary maxillary barbel, no mandibular knob, length of the origin of dorsal fin to the upper end of caudal fin lobe is longer than the distance between the origin of dorsal fin to the anterior margin of nares, 8-10 blue black lateral bands, a round blue black spot at the anterior base of caudal fin which is overlap by the last vertical band, a midtransverse band of black colour in the dorsal fin, distinct red colouration of anal fin, depth of caudal peduncle 9.2-9.9% SL; eye diameter 6.3-8.5% SL; post dorsal length 72.1-78.5% SL; head length 18.7-24.2% SL; head depth at occiput 17.2-21.2% SL; and at eye 64.6-70.0% HL; snout length 30.8-37.2% HL; interorbital width 32.2-35.8% HL and width of head at neck 42.6-48.5% HL.

Habitat Opsarius kanaensis is found in fast-flowing stream and river with clear water, gravel or cobble bottoms (Figure 4). The new species O. kanaensisis accompanied with Schistura manipurensis, Pethia meingangbii; Glyptothorax granulus; Channa marulius; Rasbora ornatus; Devario aequipinnatus; Acanthocobitis zonalternans; Botia histronica etc. 

Distribution Opsarius kanaensisis at present is known only from the Kana River, a tributary headwater of the Yu River basin of Manipur (Figure 5).

 Etymology The species Opsarius kanaensis is named after the Kana River of Sajik-Tampak, located at Chakpikarong of Chandel District, Manipur.


Arunkumar L. and Wanglar Alphonsa Moyon. 2017. Opsarius kanaensis A New Species of Bariliine Fish (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) from Manipur, Northeastern India. Species. 18(61); 160-169.