Barilius kamjongensis, Arunkumar & Thoibi & Jajo, 2023

Arunkumar, L., Thoibi, M. & Jajo, E., 2023, Barilius Kamjongensis, A New Bariliine Fish Species (Danionidae, Danioninae) From The Chindwin Basin Of Manipur, India, Zoodiversity 57 (1), pp. 65-74 : 66-70

Barilius kamjongensis sp. n. ( fig. 1 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:61794FCD-7D88-4B2E-B541-1B9CC4326D14

Material. Type. Holotype: 125/NH/ MUM, 27.II.2021, 24°86´N & 94°50´E, 101.1 mm SL, 111.7 mm TL, Taret-lok at Lunbung, Kamjong District , Manipur, India, Coll. Ersilia Jajo & her party.

Paratypes: 125/NH/ MUM, 5 exs, 75.5–97.2 mm SL, 96.5–121.6 mm TL, data as for holotype .

Diagnosis. Barilius kamjongensis sp. n. differs from its congeners based on the following combination of characters: presence of 2 pairs of barbels, 16–19 predorsal scales, 12–15 lateral body bars, inter-bars wider than bars, 40–43 perforated lateral line scales, 7.5/2.5 lateral line transverse scales, dorsal-fin without a distinct transverse blue-black band, origin of dorsal-fin closed to base of caudal-fin, not equidistant from the middle of eye and base of caudal-fin and far behind the vertical through the origin of pelvic-fin, pectoral-fin shorter than head length, pelvic-fin origin far in front of dorsal-fin origin, caudal-fin unequal lobes, body depth at dorsal-fin origin 22.8–26.6 % SL, caudal peduncle depth depth 8.5–10.3 % SL, predorsal length 55.8–57.7 % SL, head length 23.4–25.4 % SL, head length at occiput 12.5–18.4 % SL and 75.7–77.8 % HL, narrow head 10.4–12.7 % SL, eye diameter 6.4–7.9 % SL and 26.0–33.6 % HL respectively. See detailed comparison in the Discussion below.

Description. Morphometric data are shown in table 1 and table 2. Body shape is shown in fig. 1 . Body laterally compressed, ventral profile slightly rounded Post dorsal region in a slanted straight line. Head length usually longer and larger than head depth. Snout tip nearby blunt. Mouth gape below anterior margin of eye and mouth upturned, upper and lower jaws more or less same in length. Dentary tubercles of row developed and shown in fig. 2.

Snout slightly longer than eye diameter. Inter-orbital region slightly convex. Nares located closed to eyes than tip of snout. Dorsal margin of eye never reaches to the dorsal profile of head and its lower margin never reaches to the level of angle of mouth. Origin of dorsal-fin closed to the base of caudal-fin, not equidistant from the middle of eye and base of caudal-fin but equal to the post-orbit and base of caudal-fin. Tip end of dorsal-fin straight, with posterior tip surpassing vertical through posterior base of anal-fin. Dorsalfin with ii, 7 rays. Pectoral-fin shorter than head length and often reaching base of pelvicfin. Pectoral-fin with i, 11 rays. Pelvic-fin origin far in front of dorsal-fin origin, its tip not reaching origin of anal-fin. Pelvic-fin with I, 7–8 rays Pectoral and pelvic-fins with lobate axial scales. Anal-fin originated far behind vertical through the last posterior origin of dorsal-fin ray with ii, 10 rays. Caudal-fin unequal, lower lobe longer than upper lobe and ii, 8+8. Ii rays. Circumpeduncular scales 14.

Colouration. In fresh specimen, dorsal and dorso-lateral surfaces of head and body faintly greyish green, ventral portion anterior to pelvic-fin origin silver coloured. Belly creamy to light golden yellowish. Lateral body with 12–15 dark blue bars and not touched lateral line scales. Pectoral, pelvic and anal-fins are light orange in colour. Caudal-fin edge yellowish with blackish upper and lower lobe margins.

Local Name. ‘Ngapaila’ in Tangkhul language and ‘Ngawa’ in Manipuri language.

D i s t r i b u t i o n a n d h a b i t a t. Barilius kamjongensis sp. n. is presently known only the Taret-lok River, Kamjong District of Manipur ( fig. 3–4 ). Taret-Lok River is originated from Nungshit-Haibi, then it joins the Nungjaopokpi River, southern part of Sita village, Tengnoupal District and flows through Tuyungbi at Yongkhun village which mainly dominated by Maring tribe and then joined to the Maklang River at Nambasi. There are three main hill streams of Nambasi viz., Lungbung, Kartangtak and Lungkuna which are the main hill stream fishing centres of the Taret-lok River of Kamjong District of Manipur. B. kamjongensis sp. n. is associated with the following fish species viz., Garna moyonkhulleni, Neolissochilus hexagonolepis, Poropuntius burtoni, Schistura reticulata, Glyptothorax chivomensis and Amblyceps sp.

E t y m o l o g y. The species is named after the Kamjong District of Manipur from where it was collected.

Figures

Fig. 1. A — Barilius kamjongensis sp. n., 125/NH/MUM, 101.1 mm SL (Holotype) before preservation; B — Barilius kamjongensis sp. n. 97.2 mm SL (Paratype) after preservation.

Fig.3. Distribution and type locality of Barilius kamjongensissp.n. in Manipur, India, indicatedas ared triangle.

Fig. 4. Taretlok River at Lunbung, Kamjong District, Manipur, India: habitat and type loclity of Barilius kamjongjenesis sp. n.