A new species of the catfish genus Akysis (Siluriformes: Akysidae) from southern Borneo

Abstract

A new species of akysid catfish, Akysis meridionalis, is described from the Barito River drainage of southern Borneo. The new species is distinguished from all congeners by the following combination of characters: 1) upper jaw projects more strongly forward, premaxillary teeth exposed when the mouth is closed; 2) head width 18.2 19.4 % SL, body depth at anus 10.7 11.5 % SL, depth of caudal peduncle 6.5 6.7 % SL, interorbital distance 32 34 % HL, length of maxillary barbels 104 110 % HL; 3) presence of 5 teeth on posterior edge of the pectoral spine; and 4) colour pattern of dark background with light patches. Akysis meridionalis is the first record of the genus from the Barito River drainage.