Erethistoides is a genus of South Asian river catfishes.

Erethistoides
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Erethistidae
Genus: Erethistoides
Hora, 1950
Type species
Erethistoides montana
Hora, 1950

Species

edit

There are currently 10 recognized species in this genus:[1][2]

Distribution and habitat

edit

This genus is known from the sub-Himalayan region of the Indian subcontinent.[3] They are found in the Brahmaputra and Meghna drainages, northern India and Nepal.[4]

Description

edit

Erethistoides is distinguished from all other erethistids by having the anterior margin of the pectoral fin spine with serrations directed toward the tip of the spine distally, and away from the tip proximally; however, the use of this as a diagnostic character has been questioned as some specimens of Erethistes filamentosa also show this trait.[3] They also lack a thoracic adhesive apparatus present in some other erethistids, and a smooth to granulate anterior margin on the dorsal fin spine, moderate gill openings that extend to the underside of the fish, a papillate upper lip, and 9–11 anal fin rays.[4] The head is depressed and triangular, and the body is elongate and compressed. The eyes are small to moderate and are placed dorsolaterally in the posterior half of the head. The pectoral fin spine is serrated anteriorly and posteriorly. The dorsal fin spine is serrated posteriorly but not anteriorly.[4]

References

edit
  1. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Erethistoides". FishBase. December 2011 version.
  2. ^ a b c d Ng, H.H., Ferraris, C.J.Jr. & Neely, D.A. (2012): The catfish genus Erethistoides (Siluriformes: Sisoridae) in Myanmar, with descriptions of three new species. Zootaxa, 3254: 55–68.
  3. ^ a b Ng, Heok Hee (2005). "Erethistoides sicula, a new catfish (Teleostei: Erethistidae) from India" (PDF). Zootaxa. 1021: 1–12.
  4. ^ a b c Thomson, Alfred W.; Page, Lawrence M. (2006). "Genera of the Asian Catfish Families Sisoridae and Erethistidae (Teleostei: Siluriformes)" (PDF). Zootaxa. 1345: 1–96.