Badis singenensis

Valdesalici, Stefano & Voort, Stefan Van Der, 2015, Badis laspiophilus, a new miniature addition to the ichthyofauna of West Bengal, north-eastern India, with observations on its ecology and preliminary notes on its ethology (Actinopterygii: Perciformes: Badidae), Zootaxa 3986 (2), pp. 193-200 : 198

Badis singenensis species group

Diagnosis. Members of this group are characterised and distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters and character states: a small size (15.7–21.0 mm SL in B. laspiophilus , 22.3–42.0 mm SL in B. singenensis = total (group) range 15.7–42.0 mm SL), two or three black blotches on the dorsal-fin (one or two anteriorly and always one posteriorly), a single posterior black anal-fin blotch, and a distinct median dark blotch on the caudal-fin base surrounded by a ring of lighter pigmentation.

Included species: B. singenensis and B. laspiophilus .

Remarks. Species groups within the genus Badis were originally defined by Kullander & Britz (2002) based on external morphological characters and colour pattern. Five species groups were diagnosed, and this putative classification received supplementary support through molecular analyses ( Rüber et al. 2004). Valdesalici & van der Voort (2015) added a sixth species group. Badis singenensis and B. laspiophilus do not possess the diagnostic combination of characters or character states of any of those groups (see diagnosis), and instead appear to be closely related to each other. Thus we diagnose a new group to accommodate species with this unique combination of characters and character states.