On the identity of the banded gourami Trichogaster fasciata with notes on the taxonomic status of Trichopodus bejeus (Teleostei: Perciformes: Osphronemidae).

Based on its original description and putative topotypes, the identity of the banded gourami Trichogaster fasciata is resolved. Trichogaster lalia is a synonym of T. fasciata, and the name Trichogaster bejeus is applied to the species hitherto identified as T. fasciata. T. fasciata is distinguished from its congeners in the shape of caudal fin, colouration, lip morphology and meristic and mensural characters.

Resolving the taxonomic enigma of the iconic game fish, the hump-backed mahseer from the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, India.

Growing to lengths and weights exceeding 1.5 m and 45 kg, the hump-backed mahseer fish of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, India, is an iconic, mega-faunal species that is globally recognized as a premier freshwater game fish. Despite reports of their high extinction risk, conservation approaches are currently constrained by their lack of valid taxonomic identity. Using an integrative approach, incorporating morphology, molecular analysis and historical photographs, this fish can now be revealed to be conspecific with Tor remadevii, a species lacking a common name, that was initially, but poorly, described in 2007 from the River Pambar, a tributary of the River Cauvery in Kerala. Currently known to be endemic and restricted to the River Cauvery basin in the Western Ghats, T. remadevii is distinguished from congeners by its prominent hump originating above the pre-opercle and extending to the origin of the dorsal fin, a well-developed mandible resulting in a terminal or slightly superior mouth position, and the dorsal orientation of the eyes. While body colouration varies (silver, bronze, greenish) and is not considered a reliable diagnostic character, orange coloration of the caudal fin (sometimes extending to all fins) is considered a consistent characteristic. Having been first brought to the attention of the scientific community in 1849, and the recreational angling (game fishing) community in 1873, it has taken over 150 years to finally provide this iconic fish with a valid scientific name. This taxonomic clarity should now assist development and delivery of urgent conservation actions commensurate with their extinction risk.

Hypselobarbus bicolor, a new species of large barb (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) from the Western Ghats of India.

There has been much confusion around the identity of Hypselobarbus pulchellus, an endemic large barb of the Western Ghats. Recent works highlighted the fact that it is likely that two similar-looking species have been considered as H. pulchellus. A genetic analysis helps differentiate the two forms: viz., H. pulchellus and a new species, here described as H. bicolor sp. nov. Hypselobarbus bicolor can be distinguished from all other species of Hypselobarbus based on a combination of the following characters: two pairs of barbels, lateral line complete, with 34-36+1-2 pored scales, ½6/1/3½ scales in the transverse row; 11-12 predorsal scales; last simple dorsal ray weak, dorsal fin with 9½ branched rays, gill rakers short and simple, 4-6+11-12 on first gill arch; proximal end of fifth ceratobranchial slightly curved, with 5+3+2 teeth; overall coloration dark grey with an ill-defined silver- or bronze-coloured band running along length of body, two scales high, on lateral-line scale-row and row above it; fins devoid of any markings; and small, closely-placed tubercles restricted to the tip of the snout in large males.

Description of two new species of Laubuka (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) from River Cauvery, southern Iandia.

Fishes currently identified as Laubuka laubuca from the Cauvery River and its tributaries in the Western Ghats of India are shown to represent two different species: Laubuka trevori, sp. nov., and L. latens, sp. nov., distinguished from all species of Chela and Laubuka by possessing 7½ branched dorsal-fin rays; 14 precaudal vertebrae; 17-18 predorsal scales; 5 branched pelvic-fin rays and 5+4+2 teeth on the fifth ceratobranchial. Laubuka trevori is further distinguished from its congeners by possessing 14½-15½ branched anal-fin rays; ½6/1/1½ scales in transverse line on body; a short pelvic fin (10.1-16.3% SL) and two longitudinal stripes: a golden and a bluish-green stripe on the body, running from behind the opercle to the base of the caudal fin, the latter broken and less distinct in the anterior half of the body. Laubuka latens is further distinguished by its long pelvic fin (23.2-26.9% SL) and the absence of any markings on the side of the body other than a humeral spot and a caudal-peduncle spot.

Barilius ardens (Teleostei: Cyprinidae), a new species from the Western Ghats, India, with redescription of B. malabaricus and B. canarensis.

The identities of Barilius canarensis and B. malabaricus have hitherto been confused. An attempt to resolve their identities by examining fresh collections from their respective type localities, i.e., southern Karnataka and northern Kerala, yielded a new species, which is herein described as B. ardens. The new species differs from B. canarensis and B. malabaricus by the presence of a row of 7-9 large vertically elongate blotches on the flank, in large adults the first three blotches broken into a smaller row of intercalate spots (vs. two rows of spots: the first consisting of 9-11oval spots, the second with 3-4 smaller spots); and 5+4+3 (vs. 5+4+2) pharyngeal teeth. The new species is distinguished from B. bakeri by having 5+4+3 (vs. 5+4+2) pharyngeal teeth; and the dorsal and anal fins margined with bright orange (vs. white). Barilius malabaricus (hitherto in the synonymy of B. canarensis) is shown to be a valid species distinguished from the latter by having 11½ (vs. 10½) branched dorsal-fin rays and 14½-15½ (vs. 13½) branched anal-fin rays; both species are redescribed.

A review of the species of Oreichthys (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) in the Western Ghats, India.

Fishes currently assigned to Oreichthys cosuatis from the Western Ghats are shown to belong to a closely-related group of three valid species: Puntius coorgensis, which is raised from synonymy, and two new species, O. duospilus and O. incognito. Oreichthys coorgensis can be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of characters that include 22-23+1-2 scales in the longitudinal series with 5-8 pored scales; ½3/1/2½ scales in the transverse row; 6-7 predorsal scales and usually a faint blackish spot on the caudal-fin base. Oreichthys duospilus,  sp. nov., can be distinguished by possessing an almost complete lateral line with 11-21 pored scales and two black spots: one on the dorsal fin and the other on the anal fin. Oreichthys incognito,  sp. nov., can be distinguished by a lateral line with 5 pored scales; ½3/1/1½ scales in the transverse row; 8 predorsal scales and a vertical black bar on the dorsal fin. 

Pethia rutila (Teleostei: Cyprinidae), a new species from Mizoram, Northeast India.

Pethia rutila, a new species is described from Karnaphuli drainage, Mizoram, Northeast India. It is distinguished from its congeners in having a complete lateral line with 21-22 scales, an inconspicuous black humeral spot on the scale row below the 3rd and 4th lateral-line scales, a black blotch on the caudal peduncle centered above the insertion of the last anal-fin ray, overlapping lateral-line scales 16-18 or 17-19 and ½4/1/3½ scales in transverse line from dorsal-fin origin to pelvic-fin origin.

A further note on the identity of Barbus mussullah Sykes (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) .

Knight et al. (2013a) clarified the identity of Barbus mussullah Sykes, the type species of Hypselobarbus Bleeker, showing it to represent a lineage clearly distinct from Tor Gray (type species Tor hamiltonii Gray (= Cyprinus tor Hamilton)). They showed the two species to be distinguished by a suite of characters, with Hypselobarbus lacking the distinctive median fleshy lobe of the lower lip (present in T. tor), having the last simple ray of the dorsal fin weak (vs. strong, 'osseous'), gill rakers long and branched (vs. short and simple, unbranched) on first gill arch, and the proximal end of the fifth ceratobranchial hooked (vs. only slightly curved). Nevertheless, some subsequent authors (e.g., Ambili et al. 2014; Khare et al. 2014) have persisted in referring Barbus mussullah to Tor, in effect synonymyzing Hypselobarbus (in which 12 species are currently recognized) with Tor and thereby causing confusion with regard to the identities of these groups of fishes which, being large and relatively common cyprinids, are of significant economic importance. 

Pethia aurea (Teleostei: Cyprinidae), a new species of barb from West Bengal, India, with redescription of P. gelius and P. canius.

Fishes currently assigned to Pethia gelius Hamilton from West Bengal are shown to belong to a closely-related group of three species: P gelius, its erstwhile synonym P canius Hamilton and a new species, P aurea. The three species are distinguished from all other species of Pethia by having the lateral line incomplete, with 3-4 pored scales; 20-26 scales in lateral series on body; ½4-5/l/2-3½ scales in transverse line on body; 8-9 predorsal scales; barbels absent and by a unique colour pattern consisting of two or three black blotches on the body (which, however, fade on preservation), the first behind the opercle, the second beneath the origin of the dorsal fin, extending to the mid-lateral region, and the third above the origin of the anal fin. A black spot is also present at the base of the dorsal and anal fins. Additionally, P gelius is distinguished by having the last unbranched dorsal-fin ray thick, straight, serrated, with 20-25 serrae on its posterior margin; a snout length of 6.1-8.4% standard length (SL); a body depth of 32.6-37.7% SL; and a dorsal-fin height of 19.4-22.8% SL. Pethia canius is additionally distinguished by having a snout length of 8.9-11.8% SL; a body depth of 28.1-32.2% SL; and dorsal-fin height of 26.9-32.8% SL. Pethia aurea, new species, is additionally distinguished from all its congeners by having ½5/1/3-3½ scales in transverse line on body; 9 pre-dorsal scales; and last unbranched dorsal-fin ray slender, serrated, with 19-22 serrae on posterior margin.

On the identities of Barbus mussullah Sykes and Cyprinus curmuca Hamilton with notes on the status of Gobio canarensis Jerdon (Teleostei: Cyprinidae).

The identity and generic placement of Barbus mussullah Sykes, the type species of Hypselobarbus Bleeker, have for long been unclear, variously having been considered a synonym of Cyprinus curmuca Hamilton or a species of Tor Gray or Gonoproktopterus Bleeker. Here, through a re-examination of the original descriptions and the examination of specimens from western peninsular India, we redescribe H. mussullah and show that Hypselobarbus is a valid genus, of which Gonoproktopertus is a junior synonym. Hypselobarbus mussullah is distinguished from all other species of Hypselobarbus by possessing both rostral and maxillary barbels; having the last simple dorsal-fin ray weak and smooth; the lateral line complete, with 41 +1 pored scales; 9/1/4 scales in transverse line between origins of dorsal and pelvic fins; and 5½ scales between lateral line and anal-fin origin. Species of Hypselobarbus are distinguished from other genera of Cyprinidae by possessing long, branched gill rakers and the anal fin distally rounded in adults. Hypselobarbus canarensis was found to be a valid species and H. kurali is considered its synonym. Hypselobarbus canarensis can be distinguished from all congeners by possessing both rostral and maxillary barbels; having the last simple dorsal-fin ray weak and smooth; the lateral line complete, with 40-42+1 pored scales; ½7-½8/1/3½ scales in transverse line from dorsal-fin origin to pelvic-fin origin; 4½ scales between lateral line and anal-fin origin. Hypselobarbus kolus is considered a synonym of H. curmuca, which is redescribed: it is distinguished from all congeners by possessing maxillary barbels only; the last simple dorsal-fin ray weak and smooth; 41-43+1 lateral-line scales; 9-10/1/4½-5 scales in transverse line between origins of dorsal and pelvic fins; and 5½-6 scales between lateral line and anal-fin origin.