Abstract:Pethia setnai is an endemic and threatened freshwater fish of the Western Ghats of India. It has a restricted distribution in the west flowing rivers in the states of Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka. We clarify the phylogenetic position of Pethia setnai, provide osteological details of topotypic material, and morphometric data of specimens from Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka. We also provide details on micro-level distribution, habitat and threats to the species in its native range.
The phenomena of colour aberration (albinism, leucism, piebaldism, melanism, hypomelanism, and blue-eyed colour morph) is reported in various mammalian species throughout the world including India. A total of 239 such instances in Indian mammals was tabulated in this study along with maps showing locations of the records. The records from 1886 to 2017 (till July) were gathered from published scientific literature, magazines, and images uploaded on various websites. The records were reviewed along with their order-wise and family-wise representation and were analyzed. Appropriate identification of colour aberration was attempted on the basis of any presented evidence. Altogether, 56 (out of 421) mammalian species belonging to eight orders and 19 families were reported to exhibit various types of colour aberrations, amounting to 13.3% of the total mammalian species found in India. Of these, albinos constituted 21.8%, leucistic 14.2%, piebald 5.4%, melanistic 25.5%, hypomelanistic 18.4%, and blue-eyed white morph 1.3%; the remaining 13.4% was undetermined. The study highlights 1) the absence of records of colour aberrations in the largest mammal family Vespertilionidae, which contrasts with studies elsewhere, 2) the persistent occurrence of albinos in Spotted Deer and Blackbucks in Gujarat, 3) the high number of melanistic leopards in India over the years and recent instances of melanistic Asian Golden Cats in Sikkim, 4) regular records of hypomelanism in Gaurs of the southern Western Ghats except in the last few years. Overall, a need for further studies in colour aberration in mammals is urged.
Pethia sanjaymoluri, a new cyprinid, is described from the Pavana and Nira tributaries of Bhima River, Krishna drainage, Maharashtra, India. It can be distinguished from congeners by a combination of characteristics that includes an incomplete lateral line, absence of barbels, upper lip thick and fleshy, 23-25 lateral series scales, 7-12 lateral-line pored scales, 10 predorsal scales, 11-14 prepelvic scales, 17-20 pre-anal scales, 4½ scales between dorsal-fin origin and lateral line, four scales between lateral line and pelvic-fin origin, 8-15 pairs of serrae on distal half of dorsal-fin spine, 12-14 branched pectoral-fin rays, 4 + 26 total vertebrae, 4 + 5 predorsal vertebrae, 4 + 13 abdominal vertebrae, 13 caudal vertebrae and a unique colour pattern comprising a humeral spot positioned below the lateral line and encompassing the third and fourth lateral-line scales and one scale below, one caudal spot on 17th-21st lateral-line scales with a yellow hue on its anterior side and apical half of dorsal fin studded with melanophores making the fin tip appear black. Genetic analysis based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequence suggests that the species is distinct from other known species of Pethia for which data are available.
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