Badis laspiophilus, Valdesalici, Stefano & Voort, Stefan Van Der, 2015

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 : 194-198

Badis laspiophilus , new species

( Figs. 1–3 )

Badis sp. “Buxar”: van der Voort, 2009

Holotype. MTD F 32869, 21.0 mm SL, male, 5 January 2013; India: West Bengal: Jalpaiguri District: buffer zone of the Buxa Tiger Reserve, Shipra swamp area, Torsa River drainage, 26°30’234” N 89°44’ 095”E, elevation: 54 metres; coll. D. Nopany.

Paratypes. MTD F 32870–32873, 4, 17.8–20.1 mm SL, MTD F 32874, 1, C&S, 20.2 mm SL, MSNG 57414, 3, 15.7–20.7 mm SL, same location as holotype.

Non-type. MSNG 58040, 1, 33.7 mm SL, male, 13 October 2013, same location as given for type series.

Diagnosis. Badis laspiophilus displays a colour pattern that differentiates it from all remaining Badis species. Badis laspiophilus can be distinguished from every member of the B. assamensis group (included species: B. assamensis Ahl and B. blosyrus Kullander & Britz ) by absence of an opercular blotch and absence of two parallel rows of dark spots and alternating light and dark stripes along the flank, from all members of the B. badis group (included species: B. badis (Hamilton) , B. chittagongis Kullander & Britz , B. dibruensis Geetakumari & Vishwanath , B. ferrarisi Kullander & Britz , B. kanabos Kullander & Britz , B. soraya Valdesalici & van der Voort and B. tuivaiei Vishwanath & Shanta ) by absence of a blotch on the superficial part of the cleithrum above the pectoral-fin base, from every member of the B. corycaeus group (included species: B. corycaeus Kullander & Britz and B. pyema Kullander & Britz ) by presence of a combination of two dorsal-fin blotches and a single round blotch on the anal fin, from all members of the B. ruber group (included species: B. khwae Kullander & Britz , B. ruber Schreitmüller and B. siamensis Klausewitz ) by absence of a cleithral blotch and absence of a blotch on the dorsolateral aspect of the caudal peduncle, from every member of the B. autumnum group (included species: B. andrewraoi Valdesalici & van der Voort, B. autumnum Valdesalici & van der Voort and B. kyanos Valdesalici & van der Voort) by absence of a twelfth flank bar, from B. kyar Kullander & Britz by presence of a conspicuous median black blotch on the caudal peduncle, from B. singenensis Geetakumari & Kadu by absence of a posterodorsal opercle blotch and absence of a second anterior dorsal-fin blotch, from B. juergenschmidti Schindler & Linke by absence of white margins on dorsal and ventral aspects of the caudal fin in males and presence of a strongly curved caudal-fin base bar, and from B. britzi Dahanukar et al. by presence of a conspicuous median black blotch on the caudal peduncle. Its colour pattern, consisting of a dark blotch on caudal-fin base, surrounded by a ring of lighter pigmentation, most closely resembles that of B. corycaeus and B. pyema , from which it can be distinguished by lacking reduced sensory pores on the head (lachrymal pores 3 and dentary pores 3 vs. lachrymal pores 2 and dentary pores 1–2), whereas the presence of a particular combination of dorsal-fin blotches and a single round blotch on the anal fin is reminiscent of B. singenensis , from which it can be distinguished by its smaller size (15.7– 21.0 mm SL vs. 22.3–42.0), fewer circumpeduncular row scales (14–16 vs. 19–20), smaller interorbital width (6.7– 8.9 % SL vs. 9.2–13.3), and longer upper and lower jaws (8.2–9.2 and 10.2–13.4 % SL vs. 7.6–8.8 and 9.4–10.2, respectively).

Etymology. The specific name laspiophilus is a derivative from the Greek words λάσπη (láspi̱; mud) and ϕίλοϛ (philos; friend), and refers to the substrate of the type locality plus the benthic ecology of the new species. An adjective.

Description. See Fig. 1 for general appearance. Biometric data of the holotype and 8 paratypes are summarised in Table 1 . Body moderately elongate and laterally compressed. Snout rounded. Head rounded in lateral aspect. Orbit situated in anterior half of head and mid-axis of body. Opercular spine triangular, with a single tip. Predorsal contour concave, in smaller specimens more straight. Dorsal-fin base slightly concave. Caudal peduncle with straight dorsal and ventral edge, longer than deep. Abdominal contour typically slightly concave in males, slightly convex in females.

Dentary pores 3, anguloarticular pores 2, preopercular pores 6, nasal pores 2, extrascapular pores 2, coronalis pore 1, lachrymal pores 3, infraorbital pores 1–3 and 1–2 neuromasts. Predorsal scales 4 anterior to coronalis pore, 6–7 posteriorly.

Scales on side strongly ctenoid, on top of head and side of chest cycloid. Opercular, preopercular and subopercular scales ctenoid. Circumpeduncular row scales 14–16. Scales in vertical row 1½ above and 6 (6), rarely 7 (1), below lateral line. Scales in lateral row 23 (1), 24 (3), 25 (1), 26 (3). Tubed scales in lateral line 20/4 (2), 22/ 4 (2), 22/6 (1). Dorsal-fin base scaled with 1 scale row anteriorly and 1½ posteriorly, anal-fin base with 1 scale row. Caudal-fin base with 3–5 scale rows. Soft dorsal and anal fin rounded, reaching caudal fin. Dorsal-fin rays XIII+8 (1), XIV+8 (4), XIV+9 (1), XV+8 (1). Anal-fin rays III+5 (1), III+6 (2), III+7 (2). Pectoral-fin rays 12 (4), 13 (3), 14 (1).

Colouration in preservative. General appearance as in Figure 1 . Base colour brown-reddish or whitish to light grey; dorsally darker, ventrally lighter. Head sides grey. Postorbital stripe dark grey and crossing eye to lower jaw. Suborbital stripe grey. Ventral margins of gill plates black, forming elongate patch on throat. A dark blotch medially on caudal-fin base, surrounded by a ring of lighter pigmentation. Eleven vertical dark grey flank bars, well-defined posteriorly. Dorsal fin hyaline with broad dark grey band between 3rd–4th and 6th spines, slightly dusky on margin, usually with two distinct black blotches on dorsal-fin; first blotch between 3rd–4th and 6th spines, second blotch between 6th soft dorsal-fin ray and last soft dorsal-fin ray. Anal fin hyaline, slightly dusky near base, with a single distinct black blotch on anal fin between 4th–5th soft anal-fin rays and last soft anal-fin ray. Caudal fin hyaline. Pectoral fin hyaline. Pelvic fin hyaline, dusky medially.

Colouration in life. General appearance as in Figures 2–3 , however colouration is mood-dependent. Adult dominant male: base colour light brown or yellowish dorsally, whitish ventrally. Scales with a bright red-orange spot. Postorbital stripe black, crossing eye to lower jaw. Ventral margins of gill plates dark grey to black, forming elongate patch on throat. Operculum red-orange. Eleven vertical dark orange-red to blackish flank bars sometimes displayed. On occasion, posterior bars more distinct than anterior bars. A dark blotch medially on caudal-fin base surrounded by a ring of lighter pigmentation. Dorsal fin light orange, hyaline at base, white stripe on margin and a blackish submargin, two distinct black blotches on dorsal-fin with first blotch between 3rd–4th and 6th spines, second blotch between 6th soft dorsal-fin ray and last soft dorsal-fin ray, and a dark grey to black median stripe. Anal fin light orange, hyaline at base, one distinct black blotch on anal fin between 4th–5th soft anal-fin rays and posterior soft anal-fin ray. Caudal fin light orange. Pectoral fins and pelvic fins hyaline to light orange. Nuptial males with dark to almost black body and fins. Adult female: base colour whitish to light brown dorsally, whitish ventrally. Bright red-orange spot on each body scale. Vertical flank bars dark grey to brown. Dark grey to black patch on throat. Dorsal fin hyaline, white stripe on margin and a blackish submargin, two distinct black blotches on dorsalfin, first blotch between 3rd–4th and 6th spines, second blotch between 6th soft dorsal-fin ray and posterior soft dorsalfin ray. Anal fin hyaline, with a distinct black blotch between 4th–5th soft rays and posterior soft ray. Caudal fin, pectoral fins and pelvic fins hyaline to light yellow.

Distribution. Badis laspiophilus is currently only known from the type locality, the Shipra swamp area, Torsa River drainage, West Bengal state, northeast India ( Fig. 4 ).

Ecological notes. The Shipra swamp area, commonly also known as Shipra, is connected to the Rydak River which drains the Siwalik mountain range. The type locality contained fairly clear water with a slow current and a silty substrate without aquatic vegetation. In July, at the time of first collection, the following measurements were made in the early morning: water temperature 30.6 °C, pH 6.7, conductivity 226 ΜS.

Ethology. Long-term observations of Badis laspiophilus in captivity revealed it to be a benthic species. Despite its ability to swim and maintain position in open water resting on and gliding just above the substrate in short bursts is preferred. The resting posture is achieved by utilising the ventral portion of the caudal, anal and pelvic fins for support. From a behavioural comparison with sixteen other species of Badis (viz. B. assamensis , B. blosyrus , B. badis , B. soraya , B. ferrarisi , B. kanabos , B. cf. kanabos , B. tuivaiei , B. corycaeus , B. pyema , B. ruber , B. juergenschmidti , B. kyar , B. andrewraoi , B. autumnum , and B. kyanos ) maintained under comparable conditions, it can be concluded that none of these badids display benthic behaviour (pers. obs., the authors). Geetakumari & Kadu (2011) did not study the ethology of B. singenensis , so it is presently unknown whether or not this species is also benthic.

Reproductive behaviour. All observations of captive specimens demonstrated Badis laspiophilus to be a cave brooder. Post-spawning, males display well-developed broodcare behaviour and aggressively reject other males and females, including former partners, from a small territory surrounding the nest.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Badis laspiophilus, topotypic male, MSNG 58040, 33.7 mm SL, kept in captivity for a few months.

FIGURE 2. Live colouration of Badis laspiophilus, topotypic male, displaying orange-red flank bars, not preserved.

FIGURE 3. Live colouration of Badis laspiophilus, topotypic female, displaying dark flank bars, not preserved.

FIGURE 4. Type locality of Badis laspiophilus (asterisk) and type locality of B. singenensis (square) in north-eastern India.

Tables

TABLE 1. Selected biometric characters of Badis laspiophilus (n = 9) expressed as a percentage of standard length (SL) in mm or head length (HL).

	Holotype	Range	Mean ± SD
Standard length	21.0	15.7–21.0	19.3 ± 1.70
% of Standard length
Head length	32.3	29.9–34.1	31.8 ± 1.20
Snout length	6.1	5.3–7.8	6.4 ± 0.88
Orbital diameter	10.4	8.9–12.7	10.3 ± 1.10
Interorbital width	7.1	6.7–8.9	7.4 ± 0.72
Upper jaw length	8.0	8.0–9.2	8.6 ± 0.38
Lower jaw length	10.4	10.2–13.4	12.0 ± 1.30
Body depth	32.8	28.6–34.6	30.7 ± 1.93
Pelvic fin length	20.9	20.9–26.3	23.2 ± 1.52
Pelvic to anal distance	29.5	26.9–35.1	31.1 ± 2.61
% of Head length
Snout length	19.1	15.7–23.8	20.4 ± 2.67
Orbital diameter	32.3	25.7–40.0	32.1 ± 4.07
Interorbital width	22.0	21.6–28.1	23.2 ± 2.02