A new species of the genus Batasio blyth (Teleostei: Bagridae) from Manipur, India

Abstract

Batasio niger sp. nov, is described from Khujailok River, a tributary of Yu River belonging to the Chindwin-Irrawaddy basin in Manipur India. The new species differs from its congeners (except B. elongatus and B. dayi) in having a black oblique predorsal bar on dark grey to blackish plain body. This species is distinguishable from its closest congeners B. elongatus in having shorter adipose fin base (20.1-27.9% SL vs. 29.4-35.1), prepectoral length (17.8-23.5% SL vs. 23.7-27.8), snout length (35.2-39.7% SL vs. 39.7-44) and relatively deeper body at anus (18.4-24.8% SL vs. 15.8-19.3); from B. dayi in having wider interorbital distance (29.5-35.3% HL vs. 25.9-28.6); and from B. tengana in having stouter body (18,4-24.8% SL vs. 16.4) and more widely-set eyes (interorbital distance 29.5-35.3% HL vs. 22.2). © Zoo Outreach Organisation.