Schistura obliquofascia, a new loach from Uttarakhand, India (Cypriniformes: Nemacheilidae)

Abstract

A new nemacheilid loach, Schistura obliquofascia, is described from Kalsa, a stream near Chanfi, tributary of Gola River, Ganga basin in Uttarakhand, India. The new species is readily distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: 12-14 oblique olivaceous dark bars on the body and three rows of black spots on the dorsal fin; lateral line complete with 104-112 pores, dorsal fin with 3-4 simple and 8 1/2 branched rays; 8+8 branched rays in caudal fin; dorsal adipose crest prominent; males lacking suborbital flap; and 10-11 pores in preoperculo-mandibular canal. The sequence of the cytochrome b gene of length 307 base pairs was used for molecular characterization of the species. Copyright © 2001-2012 Magnolia Press.