Distribution, threats and conservation status of Hypselobarbus thomassi (Day, 1874), a poorly known cyprinid fish of the Western Ghats freshwater ecoregion

Anvar Ali,Rajeev Raghavan,C.R. Renjithkumar,Neelesh Dahanukar,Siby Philip,A. Bijukumar

doi:10.11609/jott.o3838.5202-13

Abstract

The Red Canarese Barb, Hypselobarbus thomassi (Day, 1874) is an endemic cyprinid fish of the rivers of the Western Ghats of India, which has been listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Like many of its congeners, H. thomassi is poorly known with very few verified records and voucher specimens in the past decades. Based on fresh materials collected from three west flowing rivers of Kerala, we provide information on its identity, distribution, phylogenetic position, threats and conservation. An updated conservation assessment of this species following the IUCN Red List criteria is also provided.

Highlights

Hypselobarbus thomassi (Day, 1874) (Images 1 & 2) is a poorly known large cyprinid species endemic to the Western Ghats freshwater ecoregion in peninsular India (Devi & Ali 2011). Day (1874, p707) described Barbus (= Hypselobarbus) thomassi from South Canara as a large barb growing to more than 450mm in length
Like many other species within this genus, H. thomassi has been poorly represented in collections, and not many records are available in the primary literature
The first record of H. thomassi outside its type locality was most likely made by Jayaram et al (1976) from the rivers of the Cardamom Hills, as previous ichthyological surveys in Travancore (e.g., Pillai 1929; John 1936) and the Anamalai Hills (Silas 1951) had not mentioned this species

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Hypselobarbus thomassi (Day, 1874) (Images 1 & 2) is a poorly known large cyprinid species endemic to the Western Ghats freshwater ecoregion in peninsular India (Devi & Ali 2011). Day (1874, p707) described Barbus (= Hypselobarbus) thomassi from South Canara as a large barb growing to more than 450mm in length. Hypselobarbus thomassi (Day, 1874) (Images 1 & 2) is a poorly known large cyprinid species endemic to the Western Ghats freshwater ecoregion in peninsular India (Devi & Ali 2011). Subsequent compilations and checklists (for e.g., Talwar & Jhingran 1991; Menon 1999; Easa & Shaji 2003; Devi et al 2005) provided the distribution range for H. thomassi as South Canara and Cardamom Hills. Based on specimens collected from the Chalakudy, Periyar and Kallada rivers as well as re-examining materials that formed the basis of the study of Abraham et al (2010), we provide additional information on the current distribution range of H. thomassi in the Western Ghats freshwater ecoregion. Based on the updated information on distribution and threats, we propose an updated Red List assessment for this endemic species

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

CONCLUSIONS