Abstract
Owing to the spectacular colouration, fish species of the genus Rasboroides have a substantial economic value in the aquarium trade of the world. All the species of Rasboroides categorized as threatened fishes. The studies revealed that some species of the genus Rasboroides are having a stable population in the South-western wet zone of Sri Lanka. Osteology of these important species was studied and the findings further support the recently described or re-described species within the genus. One of the important characters of the genus is danionin notch which was only observed in R. pallidus . This character is always observed in related Cyprinid genera Devario . The presence of danionin notch in R. pallidus is mystifying since it is independently found in two different tribes of subfamily Danioninae. Further studies ought to reveal the status of this character within the Danioninae.
Highlights
Sri Lanka possesses a highly diverse endemic fauna and flora (Myers et al, 2000) and is a reservoir of unique evolutionary history (Bossuyt et al, 2004)
The aspects of osteology, ethology and ecology of fishes are handful in Sri Lanka (Costa and Fernando, 1967; De Silva et al, 1977; Kortmulder, 1986; Moyle and Senanayake, 1984; Wickramanayake, 1990)
Brittan (1972) was the first reviser, who recognized the uniqueness of Rasbora vaterifloris and placed in subgenus, Rasbora (Rasboroides)
Summary
Sri Lanka possesses a highly diverse endemic fauna and flora (Myers et al, 2000) and is a reservoir of unique evolutionary history (Bossuyt et al, 2004). During the British rule of the island, several large scale-taxonomic studies on the fishes of Sri Lanka have been carried out. The aspects of osteology, ethology and ecology of fishes are handful in Sri Lanka (Costa and Fernando, 1967; De Silva et al, 1977; Kortmulder, 1986; Moyle and Senanayake, 1984; Wickramanayake, 1990). Rasboroides vaterifloris (Rasbora vaterifloris) was originally reported in Gilimale, Sabaragamuwa Province of Sri Lanka (Deraniyagala, 1930). Brittan (1972) was the first reviser, who recognized the uniqueness of Rasbora vaterifloris and placed in subgenus, Rasbora (Rasboroides). Previous study of Batuwita et al (2013) on the genera Horadandia and Rasboroides discusses about a few characters of cranium, suspensorium, and 5th gill arch. This study discusses descriptive osteology of all congeners of genera Rasboroides
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