Kryptoglanis shajii
Kryptoglanis shajii | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Siluriformes |
Family: | Kryptoglanidae , & Raghavan, 2014[2] |
Genus: | Kryptoglanis & , 2011[1] |
Species: | K. shajii
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Binomial name | |
Kryptoglanis shajii & , 2011[1]
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Kryptoglanis shajii is a species of subterranean catfish found in subsurface waters in the Western Ghats in Kerala, India. This cavefish grows to a length of 5.9 centimetres (2.3 in) SL.[1][3] It is currently the only known member of its genus and family.[2] Although first discovered from underground waters, it has also been seen in dense vegetation in paddy fields and was found to be common in this habitat in the Chalakudy.[4] The species strongly avoids light and feeds on small invertebrates.[4]
This genus and Horaglanis, both from the Western Ghats, are the only known underground-living catfish in India.[2][5]
Morphological characteristics[]
The morphology of K. shajii differs from all other known species of catfish and includes such features as the absence of dorsal fin; the presence of four pairs of barbels; an upwardly directed mouth, with a distinctly projecting lower jaw with 4 set of teeth; subcutaneous eyes; anal fin completely confluent with the caudal fin; anal and caudal fins together carry 70–74 fin rays; and no spines in any of the fins. These differences have led to its being assigned to its own family.[2]
References[]
- ^ a b c Vincent, Moncey & Thomas, John (April 2011). "Kryptoglanis shajii, an enigmatic subterranean-spring catfish (Siluriformes, Incertae sedis) from Kerala, India". . 58 (2): 161–165. doi:10.1007/s10228-011-0206-6. S2CID 39313203.
- ^ a b c d Britz, Ralf; Kakkassery, Francy & Raghavan, Rajeev (6 April 2014). "Osteology of Kryptoglanis shajii, a stygobitic catfish (Teleostei: Siluriformes) from Peninsular India with a diagnosis of the new family Kryptoglanidae" (PDF). . 24 (3): 193–207.
- ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2014). "Kryptoglanis shajii" in FishBase. February 2014 version.
- ^ a b Binoy; Roshan & Rakesh (2012). "Occurrence of Kryptoglanis shajii, an enigmatic subterranean-spring catfish (Siluriformes, Incertae sedis) in the channels of paddy fields". Current Science. 102 (2): 161.
- ^ Babu, K.K.S. (2012). "Horaglanis abdulkalami, a new hypogean blind catfish (Siluriformes: Clariidae) from Kerala, India". Samagra CRIKSC Journal. 8: 51–56.
- Catfish of Asia
- Cave fish
- Freshwater fish of India
- Endemic fauna of the Western Ghats
- Fish described in 2011
- Siluriformes stubs