New species of stinging catfish Heteropneustes nani (Siluriformes: Heteropneustidae) from Noakhali, Bangladesh

Abstract

The Meghna deltaic region in Noakhali, Bangladesh is endowed with favourable diverse freshwater ecosystems for varieties of fishes. Here a new species, Heteropneustes nani sp. nov. is described after detailed morphological examination and careful comparisons with other congeners. The new species H. nani differs from other congeners in having shortest standard length, greater head length than body depth, terminal mouth with equal jaws, separated pectoral spine from rays and bears antrorse serrae along entire inner and outer edges, and united anal and caudal fin.