Pseudecheneis sulcata ( McClelland, 1842 )

Zhou, Wei, Li, Xu & Yang, Ying, 2008, A Review Of The Catfish Genus Pseudecheneis (Siluriformes: Sisoridae) From China, With The Description Of Four New Species From Yunnan, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 56 (1), pp. 107-124 : 120

Pseudecheneis sulcata ( McClelland, 1842)

Glyptosternon sulcatus – McClelland, 1842: 587, Pl. 6 Figs. 1–3 (type locality: Kasyah [Khasi] Hills, Meghalaya, India)

Pseudecheneis sulcatus – Blyth, 1860: 154; Wu et al, 1981: 75– 76 (Motuo and Chayu of Tibet); Wu & Wu, 1992: 534–536, fig. 147 (Motuo of Tibet); Zhang et al, 1995: 131–132 (Chayu of Tibet).

Pseudecheneis sulcata – Ng, 2006a: 47–51 , Fig. 1; Thomson & Page, 2006: 61 (Brahmaputra drainage).

Diagnosis. – Pseudecheneis sulcata is distinguished from congeners except P. paviei , P. sulcatoides , and P. sympelvica in lacking a prominent bony spur on the anterodorsal surface of the first dorsal-fin pterygiophore (vs. spur present; Fig. 2 ). Pseudecheneis sulcata can be distinguished from P. paviei and P. sympelvica in having an elongate body with 36–39 vertebrae (vs. short body with 33–35 vertebrae) and 12–14 (vs. 8–12) transverse laminae on the thoracic adhesive apparatus, and further differs from P. sympelvica in having separate (vs. fused) pelvic fins. It differs from P. sulcatoides in having a longer caudal peduncle (25.0–28.3% SL vs. 22.5– 23.7), a first dorsal-fin element (vs. element absent), and bifid (vs. non-bifid) neural spines on the complex vertebra. Pseudecheneis sulcata can be further distinguished from P. crassicauda in having a more slender caudal peduncle (4.0– 5.2% SL vs. 6.0–6.6) and larger eye (8.8–10.6% HL vs. 7.5– 8.3), from P. eddsi in having a longer pelvic fin (21.2–28.7% SL vs. 18.0–20.9), from P. immaculata in having (vs. lacking) pale colored patches on the body and shorter adipose-fin base (17.8–22.7% SL vs. 27.7), and from P. serracula in having a shorter adipose-fin base (17.8–22.7% SL vs. 26.8–30.4) and the neural spines of the last 2–3 preanal and first 6–7 postanal vertebrae gradually increasing in height (vs. corresponding neural spines strongly elevated). It further differs from P. stenura in having a shorter caudal peduncle (25.0–28.3% SL vs. 30.3–34.5) and pectoral fin (121.6– 156.3% HL vs. 160.4–196.9), and from P. tchangi in having fewer transverse lamellae (12–14 vs. 21) on the thoracic adhesive apparatus. Vertebrae 18+19=37. Diagnosis and data from Ng (2006a).

Distribution. – This species is found in the Brahmaputra drainage ( Fig. 11 ).

Figures

Fig. 2. Premaxillary and mandibular tooth band. A, ventral view of semicircular premaxillary tooth band and four teeth along its outer edge (Pseudecheneis gracilis, SWFC 200102148, paratype, 68 mm SL, DS); B, dorsal view of crescent mandibular tooth band (P. gracilis, SWFC 200102148, paratype, 68 mm SL, DS); C, ventral view of semicircular premaxillary tooth band and eight teeth along its outer edge (P. paviei, SWFC 0005084, 62 mm SL, DS).

Fig. 11. Map showing distribution of Pseudecheneis paucipunctatus, P. paviei, P. stenura, P. sulcata and P. sulcatoides.