Abstract
Amblyceps waikhomi sp. nov. is described from the Nongkon stream which drains into the Noa Dehing River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra River, in Arunachal Pradesh, India. The new species can be distinguished from congeners (except A. torrentis) in having a deeper body depth at anus. It further differs from congeners (except A. mangois and A. serratum) in having fewer vertebrae, from A. mangois in lacking (vs. having) strongly-developed projections on the proximal lepidotrichia of the median caudal-fin rays, and in having a longer, wider, and deeper head; and from A. serratum in having a posteriorly smooth (vs. with 4–5 serrations) pectoral spine, and unequal jaw length (lower jaw longer and weakly-projecting anteriorly vs. equal upper and lower jaws). It additionally differs from A. murraystuarti, A. torrentis, A. apangi, A. laticeps, and A. cerinum in having a deeply forked (vs. emarginate or truncate) caudal fin. This species is the seventh amblycipitid species known to occur in the Ganga-Brahmaputra River system.
Highlights
Fishes of the genus Amblyceps Blyth are small-bodied, elongate catfishes, occurring in fast flowing streams and rivers of mainland Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent [1]
Measurements of head length (HL) and body parts were expressed as percent proportions of standard length (SL) while measurements of the subunits of the head were expressed as percent proportions of head length
Fig) differs from all congeners in having a deeper body and fewer total vertebrae (34–35 vs. 37–48) (S1 Table). It differs from A. mangois in lacking strongly-developed projections on the proximal lepidotrichia of the median caudal-fin rays and in having a longer, wider, and deeper head (S2 Table); and from A. serratum in having a posteriorly smooth pectoral spine, and unequal jaw length
Summary
Fishes of the genus Amblyceps Blyth are small-bodied, elongate catfishes, occurring in fast flowing streams and rivers of mainland Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent [1]. The genus can be diagnosed by a double fold of skin on both the upper and lower lips, pinnate-like rays on the anterior margins of the procurrent caudal-fin rays, the anterior nostril situated immediately anterior to the base of the nasal barbel, and the epiphyseal commissure of the supraorbital sensory canals located immediately anterior to and not passing through the epiphyseal bar [2]. Eighteen species of Amblyceps are presently considered valid viz. A_apangi Nath and Dey, A. arunachalensis Nath and Dey, A. caecutiens Blyth, A. carinatum Ng, A. cerinum Ng and Wright, A. foratum Ng and Kottelat, A. kurzii (Day), A. laticeps (McClelland), A. macropterus. A New Species of Catfish fund has been allotted for publication under the mentioned schemes
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