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| Sewellia pudens Kottelat, 2025 |
Abstract
Sewellia pudens, new species, is described from the Xe Kaman watershed on Dakchung Plateau, Sekong
Province, southern Laos. It is distinguished from other species of the genus in having a yellowish brown body;
no markings on the fins; in males, a patch of tubercles on the snout divided longitudinally by a deep groove; no
modified pelvic-fin rays with dorsal bone extension. The mouth of Sewellia and the tubercles and ornamentation
on the fins of several species are described; the ‘pelvic valve’ is figured.
Key words. Cobitoidei, loach, pectoral fin, pelvic fin, tubercles, bony extensions
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| Sewellia pudens, MHNG 2799.022, holotype, 49.2 mm SL, male; Laos: Xe Kaman watershed, Dakchung Plateau. Tip of axillary pelvic lobe on left side damaged. |
Sewellia pudens, new species
Diagnosis. Sewellia pudens is distinguished from all species
of Sewellia by the poorly developed patterning of the body
and fins. On the body, black pigments are present in a
vague midlateral stripe and 3–8 small saddles on the back,
especially on caudal peduncle. Some irregular markings are
also present on the body of some specimens, but not forming
a clear pattern. The fins of most specimens have no colour
marks, except for thin black lining along rays in the dorsal,
anal and caudal fins, and, rarely, 1 or 2 faint blotches along
lower edge of the caudal fin. The pectoral and pelvic fins ...
Etymology. The Latin adjective ‘pudens’ means modest,
humble, reserved, discreet. It refers to the absence of
conspicuous pattern on the body and fins (compared to most
other species of the genus) and the absence of ostentatious
modification on pectoral- and pelvic-fin rays. Pudens is
indeclinable.
MAURICE KOTTELAT. 2025. Sewellia pudens, A New Species of loach from Dakchung Plateau, southern Laos (Teleostei: Gastromyzontidae). Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. 73; 304–317.
