Revalidation and redescription of Pterocryptis anomala (Herre, 1933), a catfish (Teleostei: Siluridae) from southern China

Abstract

Pterocryptis anomala (Herre, 1933) is resurrected from synonymy with P. cochinchinensis (Valenciennes, 1839) and redescribed in this study. This species of catfish from southern China and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region can be distinguished from congeners by the unique combination of the following characters: length of dorsal fin 7.9–10.1% SL, depth of caudal peduncle 7.2–9.7% SL, head length 16.6–20.7% SL, eye diameter 9.2–13.7% SL, dorsal-fin rays 3– 4, anal-fin rays 59–69, principal caudal rays 14–16, small conical genital papilla in both sexes, anal and caudal fins separated by a deep notch, narrow cheeks, circular eye and weakly contrasting mottled coloration. Characters for diagnosing Pterocryptis species are identified and discussed.