Two new species of stone loaches of the genus Schistura from the Koladyne basin, Mizoram, India (Teleostei: Cobitoidei: Nemacheilidae)

Abstract

Two new species of Schistura are described from the Koladyne basin of Mizoram, India. Schistura nebeshwari is distinguished from its congeners by the combination of the following characters: a prominent dorsal adipose crest on the caudal peduncle, 11-14 dark olivaceous bars on the body, the entire ventral surface of head with numerous small melanophores, an incomplete lateral line, three black spots at the dorsal-fin base, a complete prominent black basicaudal bar, lower jaw with a shallow median notch, and no suborbital flaps in males. Schistura scyphovecteta differs from its congeners by the combination of the following characters: six dark brown saddles, each one continuing to the flank, forming globular-shaped bars overlaying a background brown stripe along the lateral line, a complete lateral line, two black spots at the dorsal-fin base, an incomplete black basicaudal bar, no median notch on the lower jaw, and a suborbital flap present in males.