Kryptoglanis shajii

Kryptoglanis shajii is a cave-dwelling species from the order of catfish -like ( Siluriformes ). It is the only species in the monotypic genus thus Kryptoglanis. Species and genus were described in 2011. The genus name was because of the hidden life of the fish assigned ( Latin: " crypta " = tunnel, underground passage; " glanis " = catfish ), the type - epithet honors the Fischtaxonomen CP Shaji, who has rendered outstanding services to the study of the fish fauna of the Western Ghats. Type locality of the species is an underground source in the Western Ghats in the southern Indian state of Kerala in Thrissur District. The species was assigned to the beginning of 2014 an independent family because they osteologically very different from other catfish families. More closely related fish are possibly with the genuine catfish ( Siluridae ). This is indicated by the reduced palatine bone of both taxa.

Features

Kryptoglanis shajii reaches a standard maximum length of about 5.9 cm. The body is elongated, and flesh color. The body height increases from front to back more and more, and is, at the level of the pectoral fins approach from 8.5 to 11.7 % of standard length and 1.1 and 2.3% of the standard length of the tail fin shaft. Between the pectoral fins of the body cross- section is round, flattened further back side. A dorsal fin is missing, the anal fin is conjoined with the tail fin and takes as Flossensaum a large part of the body length. The Flossensaum is supported 70-74 fin rays. The pectoral fins are fan-shaped. All fins are spineless. The head is flattened and wider than the body. The upwardly directed mouth is surrounded by four pairs Bartel. The lower jaw protrudes significantly. Both jaws are studded with tiny teeth. The eyes are at the skin. The anterior nares are tubular. The fish have eleven Branchiostegalstrahlen. The lateral line is complete.

Biology

Kryptoglanis shajii lives in underground springs and groundwater flow in rock and laterite. Some of the captive spawning females were ready and had eggs by bloated bellies. In aquariums held animals ate worms and brine shrimp.

Swell

• Moncey Vincent and John Thomas: Kryptoglanis shajii, from at enigmatic subterranean -spring catfish ( Siluriformes, Incertae sedis ) Kerala, India. Ichthyological Research, Volume 58, Number 2, 161-165, doi: 10.1007/s10228-011-0206-6
• Britz, R., Kakkassery, F. & Raghavan, R. ( 2014): Osteology of Kryptoglanis shajii, a stygobitic catfish ( Teleostei: Siluriformes ) from Peninsular India with a diagnosis of the new family Kryptoglanidae. Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters, 24 ( 3): 193-207.