Schistura scripta, is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Schistura, newly identified from Sri Lanka. It is the third species of Schistura stone loach described from Sri Lanka, the other being the widely distributed native species Schistura notostigma and endemic Schistura madhavai.
| Schistura scripta | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Cypriniformes |
| Family: | Nemacheilidae |
| Genus: | Schistura |
| Species: | S. scripta
|
| Binomial name | |
| Schistura scripta Sudasinghe, 2018
| |
Etymology
editThe specific name scripta means "written words" in Latin.[1]
Description
editBody size is 42.5 mm SL. S. scripta can be identified by incomplete lateral line with 53–76 pores. There are 7–13 post-dorsal bars and 7½ branched dorsal-fin rays. suborbital flap absent. Caudal fin emarginate with 8+* branched rays. Caudal peduncle has a small dorsal adipose crest. Mouth inferior and curved. Lips thick. Body pale brownish with dark brown bars. Barbels light brown. There is an incomplete black bar at the base of caudal-fin. Rays of pectoral, pelvic and anal fins yellowish, whereas those in caudal and dorsal fins are yellowish orange. A black spot found at the origin of dorsal-fin. Two or three rows of black spots visible on dorsal and caudal fin rays.[2]
Ecology
editThe species was discovered in a fast-flowing stream running through palm-oil plantations of Nakiyadeniya Estate in Gin River basin.
References
edit- ^ "New native freshwater fish found in Suriyakanda stream". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
- ^ "A new species of Schistura (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae) from the south-western lowlands of Sri Lanka". Zootaxa 4422(4). Retrieved 3 February 2019.
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