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Type: Article
Published: 2019-07-17
Page range: 410–418
Abstract views: 134
PDF downloaded: 7

Aenigmachanna mahabali, a new species of troglophilic snakehead (Pisces: Channidae) from Kerala, India

Peninsular and Marine Fish Genetics Research Centre, ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Kochi, Kerala—682018, India.
Peninsular and Marine Fish Genetics Research Centre, ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Kochi, Kerala—682018, India.
Peninsular and Marine Fish Genetics Research Centre, ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Kochi, Kerala—682018, India.
Pisces Subterranean fish troglomorph anabantiform

Abstract

Aenigmachanna mahabali, a new species of troglophilic snakehead is described on the basis of a single specimen recovered from a well in Kerala, India, over 200km south of the type locality for the only known species in the genus. The new species can be distinguished from its congener in possessing fewer dorsal fin rays (53 vs 56-57), fewer total vertebrae (61 vs 64), fewer scales in lateral series (76 vs 83-85) and in the pectoral-fin rays being extended beyond the margin of the membrane into filaments.

 

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