Puntius mahecola photo by segrestfarms.com
Abstract
Leuciscus mahecola Valenciennes has long been placed in the synonymy of Leuciscus filamentosus Valenciennes (both species are currently referred to Puntius Hamilton). An examination of the syntype series of P. mahecola together with specimens collected recently in Kerala, India, shows however, that it is a valid species that has been referred in the current literature to P. amphibius (Valenciennes). Puntius mahecola is distinguished from other southern Indian and Sri Lankan Puntius species by having the last simple dorsal ray smooth; body depth 27.2–32.0% SL; a single pair of (maxillary) barbels, about ½ eye diameter long; and a horizontally-elongate black blotch about 1½ times as wide as it is high across 3½ scales of the lateral line immediately behind the anal-fin base. Lectotypes are designated for Leuciscus mahecola and Capoeta amphibia, and the former species redescribed based on the type specimens and a recently-collected series. A lectotype is designated for Barbus melanostigma Day, which is a junior subjective synonym of P. mahecola.
Pethiyagoda, R. & M. Kottelat. 2005. The identity of the south Indian barb Puntius mahecola (Teleostei: Cyprinidae). Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Supplement 12: 145-152. http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/rbz/biblio/s12/s12rbz145-152.pdf
