Glassfishes of the family Ambassidae, comprising around 50 species, are distributed in the Indo‐West Pacific where they inhabit marine, estuarine, and freshwater ecosystems. We investigated for the first time the molecular phylogenetic and evolutionary relationships of this group using a combined dataset of mitochondrial and nuclear genes, particularly focusing on the taxa occurring in the Indian subcontinent. Results revealed that marine and freshwater genera of Ambassidae diverged during the Paleocene (~62 mya). The enigmatic monotypic genus Chanda is nested within the larger clade currently recognized as Parambassis, indicating its paraphyly. Based on cleared and stained osteological preparations and phylogenetic placement of Chanda nama, we hypothesize that the elongated and protruding lower jaw is an autapomorphic character that might have evolved for the lepidophagous habit of the species. The southern Indian species of Parambassis, Parambassis dayi, and Parambassis thomassi, which formed a monophyletic group, probably diverged from other species of Parambassis and Chanda nama around the Eocene (~42 mya) and can potentially be recognized as a distinct genus in view of the apomorphic characters such as the presence of serration on the ventral fringe of interopercle, densely serrated palatine and ectopterygoid, and the presence of more than 30 serrations along the lower preopercle and the posterior edge. Our analysis provides new insights into the evolution and phylogenetic relationships of glassy perchlets, including detailed relationships among the Indian species within this family.
Length-weight relationships (LWRs) are reported for four freshwater fishes from the Koyna and Nira Rivers of northern Western Ghats of India. Specimens were collected using the cast and gill net (3.5-7.5 cm mesh size) during June 2017 to July 2018. The b values for LWRs varied from 2.941 to 3.336 (r 2 >0.96 and p < 0.0001 for all species).New maximum total length was recorded for Hypselobarbus kolus, which is presently categorized as vulnerable. The results provide baseline information for the sustainable management and conservation of the studied species.
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