[Herpetology • 2007] Lankascincus greeri • A New Species of Sri Lankan Litter Skink Genus Lankascincus (Squamata: Scincidae)

Lankascincus greeri 

Batuwita & Pethiyagoda, 2007 

Abstract

Lankascincus greeri, a new species of litter skink, is described from Sri Lanka. The new species, which is widely distributed throughout the rainforests of the south-western lowlands, is distinguished from all other members of this genus by the presence of paired frontoparietals; possessing 2 secondary temporals in contact with each other; and by having 42–45 paravertebrals, 18–21 subdigital lamellae on fourth digit of pes and a maximum SVL of 58.5 mm. A paratype of Sphenomorphus dorsicatenatus is rediscovered (the type series having long been considered lost) and assigned to Lankascincus.

Key words: Reptilia, Sphenomorphus, endemism, Ceylon, Lygosominae

Batuwita, Sudesh and Rohan Pethiyagoda. 2007. Description of New Species of Sri Lankan Litter Skink (Squamata: Scincidae: Lankascincus).
Ceylon Journal of Science (Bio. Sci.) 36(2):80-87

http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/1199264/19894900/1345062546210/Lankaskincus+2007+cjs.pdf

[Herpetology • 2015] Patterns of Reproductive-Mode Evolution in Old World Tree Frogs (Anura, Rhacophoridae)

life-history characteristics: blue – fully aquatic development (AB); red – terrestrial, gel-encapsulated eggs laid over water with initial phases of larval development in the egg and later stages in the water (GN); yellow – terrestrial eggs in foam nest over water with later stages of larval development in the water (FN); green – fully terrestrial development (DD)
Figure 1. — B. The proportionate number of all known rhacophorid species characterized by AB (10 spp.), GN (54 spp), FN (134 spp.) and DD (189 spp.); (i) Buergeria sp. eggs in water; (ii) Gracixalus lumarius eggs above a tree hole; (iii) Gracixalus quangi tadpoles on leaf overhanging water; (iv–vii) Raorchestes resplendens embryonic stages and fully developed metamorphs; (viii) Rhacophorus lateralis and (ix) Rhacophorus malabaricus foam nests (FN).

DOI: 10.1111/zsc.12121

The Old World tree frogs (Anura: Rhacophoridae), with 387 species, display a remarkable diversity of reproductive modes – aquatic breeding, terrestrial gel nesting, terrestrial foam nesting and terrestrial direct development. The evolution of these modes has until now remained poorly studied in the context of recent phylogenies for the clade. Here, we use newly obtained DNA sequences from three nuclear and two mitochondrial gene fragments, together with previously published sequence data, to generate a well-resolved phylogeny from which we determine major patterns of reproductive-mode evolution. We show that basal rhacophorids have fully aquatic eggs and larvae. Bayesian ancestral-state reconstructions suggest that terrestrial gel-encapsulated eggs, with early stages of larval development completed within the egg outside of water, are an intermediate stage in the evolution of terrestrial direct development and foam nesting. The ancestral forms of almost all currently recognized genera (except the fully aquatic basal forms) have a high likelihood of being terrestrial gel nesters. Direct development and foam nesting each appear to have evolved at least twice within Rhacophoridae, suggesting that reproductive modes are labile and may arise multiple times independently. Evolution from a fully aquatic reproductive mode to more terrestrial modes (direct development and foam nesting) occurs through intermediate gel nesting ancestral forms. This suggests that gel nesting is not only a possible transitional state for the evolution of terrestriality, but also that it is a versatile reproductive mode that may give rise to other terrestrial reproductive modes. Evolution of foam nesting may have enabled rhacophorids to lay a larger number of eggs in more open and drier habitats, where protection from desiccation is important. Terrestrial direct development allows frogs to lay eggs independent of bodies of water, in a diversity of humid habitats, and may represent a key innovation that facilitated the evolution of nearly half of all known rhacophorid species.

Figure 1. —A. 50% majority-rule consensus tree from the Bayesian analysis. Major developmental modes of Rhacophoridae indicating Bayesian ancestral-trait reconstruction probabilities for the following life-history characteristics: blue – fully aquatic development (AB); red – terrestrial, gel-encapsulated eggs laid over water with initial phases of larval development in the egg and later stages in the water (GN); yellow – terrestrial eggs in foam nest over water with later stages of larval development in the water (FN); green – fully terrestrial development (DD). The basal life-history strategy for rhacophorids was AB; GN arose multiple times, subsequently giving rise to FN twice and DD two or three times.
—B. The proportionate number of all known rhacophorid species characterized by AB (10 spp.), GN (54 spp), FN (134 spp.) and DD (189 spp.); (i) Buergeria sp. eggs in water; (ii) Gracixalus lumarius eggs above a tree hole; (iii) Gracixalus quangi tadpoles on leaf overhanging water; (iv–vii) Raorchestes resplendens embryonic stages and fully developed metamorphs; (viii) Rhacophorus lateralis and (ix) Rhacophorus malabaricus foam nests (FN).
—C–E. Worldwide distribution of AB, GN, FN and DD. FN is the most widespread, whereas AB is the least.

DOI: 10.1111/zsc.12121

Madhava Meegaskumbura, Gayani Senevirathne, S. D. Biju, Sonali Garg, Suyama Meegaskumbura, Rohan Pethiyagoda, James Hanken and Christopher J. Schneider. 2015. Patterns of Reproductive-Mode Evolution in Old World Tree Frogs (Anura, Rhacophoridae).
Zoological Scripta. DOI: 10.1111/zsc.12121

 ResearchGate.net/publication/277405664_Patterns_of_reproductive-mode_evolution_in_Old_World_tree_frogs_(Anura_Rhacophoridae)

ResearchGate.net/publication/277144659_DNA_barcoding_and_the_identification_of_tree_frogs_(Amphibia_Anura_Rhacophoridae)

[Herpetology • 2014] Calotes pethiyagodai • A New Species of the Genus Calotes (Squamata: Agamidae) from High Elevations of the Knuckles Massif of Sri Lanka

Calotes pethiyagodai Amarasinghe, Karunarathna & Hallermann 2014 

photo: V. Weeratunga | window2nature.wordpress.com

Calotes pethiyagodai

Amarasinghe, Karunarathna & Hallermann
in Amarasinghe, Karunarathna, Hallermann, Fujinuma, Grillitsch & Campbell, 2014

Suggested English name: Pethiyagoda’s Crestless Lizard;
Sinhala (local) name: Pethiyagodagë Nosilu Katussa; Tamil (local) name: Pethiyagodavin Oonan.

Abstract

A new species of agamid lizard, of the genus Calotes, is described based on morphological evidence. This species is restricted to the Knuckles massif (>900 m elevation) of Sri Lanka. The genus Calotes consists of seven species in Sri Lanka, five of which appear to form an endemic radiation. The new species most closely resembles C. liocephalus Günther, 1872 which has an isolated population in the central highlands and is only known from Pundaluoya (~1000m), Dickoya (~1200m), Upcot (~1400m), Agrapatanas (1665m) and Peak Wilderness (Sri Pada) (>1400m). The populations from Pundaluoya and Dickoya appear to be locally extinct from the wild and are known only from museum specimens collected over 120 years ago. Males of the new species are different from males of C. liocephalus because of the absence of a gular pouch; by having mid gular scales smaller in size than those of its counterpart; scales on the snout which are larger in size than those on the occipital and forehead; pectoral scales which are not enlarged; elongated subcaudal scales; slightly carinate and acuminate abdominal scales; and scales on venter which are somewhat larger in size than those on dorsum at the same level. Finally, we also redescribe Calotes liocephalus, and provide a key to the Sri Lankan species of genus Calotes.

Keywords: biogeography, Calotes liocephalus, conservation, Reptilia, systematics, taxonomy

Amarasinghe, A. A. T., D. M. S. S. Karunarathna, Jakob Hallermann, Junichi Fujinuma, Heinz Grillitsch & Patrick D. Campbell. 2014. A New Species of the Genus Calotes (Squamata: Agamidae) from High Elevations of the Knuckles Massif of Sri Lanka. Zootaxa. 3785 (1); 59–78. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3785.1.5

http://mapress.com/zootaxa/2014/f/z03785p078f.pdf facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10201755427716458

[Ichthyology • 2013] A Review of the danionine Genera Rasboroides and Horadandia (Pisces: Cyprinidae), with Description of A New Species from Sri Lanka

Abstract

The taxonomy of Rasboroides and Horadandia, two genera of small danionine cyprinids that occur in southern India and Sri Lanka, is reviewed. Rasboroides comprises four species, distinguished as follows: R. vaterifloris and R. nigromarginatus differ from their congeners by a lesser body depth (26.9-33.0 % SL); and from each other by a greater interorbital width in males (29-33 % HL vs. 17-22) and greater anal-fin depth in females (23.5-24.8 % SL vs. 17.4-22.7) of R. vaterifloris. Rasboroides pallidus differs from Rasboroides rohani, new species, by its smaller size (up to 24.6 mm vs. 35.5 mm SL), by possessing fewer scales in transverse line on body (1/2 6 1/2-1/2 7 1/2 vs. 1/2 8 1/2) and in lateral series (20-24 vs. 25-28). 

Rasboroides differs from Horadandia, its sister group, by the presence in males of a series of tubercles on the leading edge of the pectoral fin (absent in Horadandia) and by possessing 3 (vs. 2) rows of pharyngeal teeth, while the pharyngeal teeth of Horadandia are ornamented distally by a series of cusps, a character absent in Rasboroides. Horadandia brittani is recognized as a valid species, distinguished from H. atukorali by possessing a smaller eye (eye diameter 27-37 % HL, vs. 37-41) and having the dorsal-fin origin closer to the hypural notch (vs. midway between snout-tip and hypural notch). 

The genus Rasboroides is restricted to shaded rainforest streams in the south-western ‘wet zone’ (Kalu to Walawe Rivers) of Sri Lanka, whereas Horadandia occurs in the coastal floodplains of western Sri Lanka and southern India.

-:   Rasboroides Brittan, 1954   :-

Diagnosis. Rasboroides is distinguished from the two genera most closely related to it, viz. Trigonostigma and Horadandia (see Kottelat & Vidthayanon, 1993; Fang et al., 2009; Liao et al., 2010; Tang et al., 2010)

The gender of Rasboroides is masculine (see ICZN (1999), art. 30.1.4.4). The genus is restricted to rainforest streams in south-western Sri Lanka, from the Kalu to the Walwe River basins.

• Rasboroides vaterifloris (Deraniyagala, 1930)

• Rasboroides nigromarginatus (Meinken, 1957)

• Rasboroides pallidus Deraniyagala, 1958

• Rasboroides rohani, new species, Batuwita, Silva & Edirisinghe, 2013

Etymology. The species is named in honour of Rohan Pethiyagoda, Founder of the Wildlife Heritage Trust of Sri Lanka (WHT), for his special commitment to the ichthyofauna of Sri Lanka and India; and for continuing support of biodiversity research and conservation in Sri Lanka.

-:   Horadandia Deraniyagala, 1943   :-

 Horadandia has a wide distribution in the coastal floodplains of southern India, and southern and western Sri Lanka.

• Horadandia atukorali Deraniyagala, 1943

• Horadandia brittani Rema Devi & Menon, 1992

Batuwita, S., Silva, M.d. & Edirisinghe, U. 2013. A Review of the danionine Genera Rasboroides and Horadandia (Pisces: Cyprinidae), with Description of A New Species from Sri Lanka. Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters. 24 (2): 121-140.

http://www.wildlife.lk/data_files/downloads/Rasboroides_Horadandia_2013.pdf

http://www.pfeil-verlag.de/04biol/pdf/ief_24_2_02.pdf

facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152070380649672

[Ichthyology • 2013] Haludaria, a replacement generic name for Dravidia (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) | endemic to the peninsula of India

http://www.thinkfish.co.uk/fish/melon-barb.html

Haludaria (Dravidia (Puntius)) fasciatus

http://www.aquariumhome.ru/shop/360/11691.htm

Pethiyagoda et al. (2012) made available the genus-group name Dravidia (type species Cirrhinus fasciatus Jerdon, 1849: 305) for the ‘Puntius fasciatus’ group of fishes endemic to the peninsula of India. We were unaware at the time this paper was written (2010) that this name had shortly before been preoccupied by Dravidia Lehrer, 2010, in Diptera: Sarcophagidae. As such, a replacement name for this genus of fishes becomes necessary.

Here I propose Haludaria (type species Cirrhinus fasciatus Jerdon, 1849: 305) as the replacement name for Dravidia Pethiyagoda, Meegaskumbura & Maduwage, 2012, the diagnosis of which is provided in that work. Haludaria nom. nov. is named for ‘Haludar, a Bengal youth’ who ca 1797 was ‘the artist who made the exquisite illustrations of “Gangetic Fishes”’ depicted in Francis Hamilton’s (1822) book on the fishes of the Ganges River (see Hora, 1931), a founder work in Indian ichthyology.

As first reviser, I also give Dawkinsia precedence over Dravidia, which names were simultaneously published in Pethiyagoda, Meegaskumbura & Maduwage (2012).

Haludaria (Dravidia (Puntius)) fasciatus

http://www.schwabenaquaristik.de

Pethiyagoda, R., Meegaskumbura, M. & Maduwage, K. 2012. A synopsis of the South Asian fishes referred to Puntius (Pisces: Cyprinidae). Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters. 23(1), 69–95. http://www.pfeil-verlag.de/04biol/pdf/ief23_1_12.pdf

Pethiyagoda, R. 2013. Haludaria, a replacement generic name for Dravidia (Teleostei: Cyprinidae). Zootaxa. http://mapress.com/zootaxa/2013/f/zt03646p199.pdf

Sri Lanka identifies new genus of fresh-water fish | http://dawn.com/2012/07/16/sri-lanka-identifies-new-genus-of-fresh-water-fish/ via @dawn_com

[Ichthyology • 2012] A synopsis of the South Asian fishes referred to Puntius (Pisces: Cyprinidae) | with 3 new genera proposed; Dawkinsia, (Dravidia) Haludaria & Pethia

Dawkinsia singhala

The tropical Asian cyprinid genus Puntius, which contains some 120 valid species, has long been suspected to be polyphyletic. Here, through an examination of external morphology, osteology, and analysis of 16S ribosomal RNA and cytochrome b gene fragments from 31 South Asian species hitherto referred to Puntius, we show that these fishes represent at least five lineages recognisable as genera. Puntius sensu stricto has the rostral barbels absent; last unbranched dorsal-fin ray weak or strong, smooth; and lateral line complete, with 22-28 pored scales. Systomus possesses maxillary and rostral barbels; last unbranched dorsal-fin ray stiff (‘osseous’), serrated; and lateral line complete, with 27-34 scales. Three new genera are proposed: Dawkinsia (type species Leuciscus fila­mentosus) is distinguished by lacking rostral barbels; having the last unbranched dorsal-fin ray smooth; lateral line complete, with 18-22 scales; and a juvenile colour pattern that includes three black bars on the body. Dra­vidia (type species Cirrhinus fasciatus) is distinguished by having both rostral and maxillary barbels present; lateral line complete, with 18–26 pored scales; dorsal fin with 4 unbranched and 8 branched rays, last unbranched dorsal-fin ray smooth; infraorbital 3 deep, partly overlapping the preoperculum; and free uroneural and postepiphysial fontanelle absent. Pethia (type species Barbus nigrofasciatus) is distinguished by having the last unbranched dorsal-fin ray stiff, serrated; infraorbital 3 deep, partially overlapping preoperculum; rostral barbels absent; maxillary barbels absent or minute; a black blotch on the caudal peduncle; and frequently, black blotches, spots or bars on the side of the body. The identities of Puntius sophore and Systomus immaculatus are clarified through the designation of neotypes; a lectotype is designated for Neolissochilus bovanicus; and precedence is given to the spelling bovanicus over bovianicus.

Pethiyagoda, R., M. Meegaskumbura and K. Maduwage. 2012. A synopsis of the South Asian fishes referred to Puntius (Pisces: Cyprinidae). Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters. 23(1): 69-95

http://www.pfeil-verlag.de/04biol/pdf/ief23_1_12.pdf

http://www.seriouslyfish.com/new-genus-named-after-richard-dawkins-in-major-review-of-genus-puntius

http://window2nature.wordpress.com/2013/01/25/environmentalists-not-in-favour-of-breeding-rare-fish-for-export/

[Herpetology • 1998] Adenomus dasi | Das's Toad • A synopsis of the Sri Lankan Bufonidae (Amphibia: Anura)

http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?seq_num=295217&one=T

© 2009 Andreas & Christel Nöllert

Adenomus dasi 

Manamendra-Arachchi & Pethiyagoda, 1998

http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?seq_num=348055&one=T

© 2011 Milivoje Krvavac

Manamendra-Arachchi, K. and Pethiyagoda, R. 1998. A synopsis of the Sri Lankan Bufonidae (Amphibia: Anura), with description of two new species. Journal of South Asian Natural History (J. South Asian nat. Hist.). 3(2): 213-246.

[Herpetology • 1998] Duttaphrynus noellerti | Noellert's Toad • A synopsis of the Sri Lankan Bufonidae (Amphibia: Anura)

http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?seq_num=298726&one=T

© 2009 Andreas & Christel Nöllert

Noellert`s Toad |
Duttaphrynus noellerti (Manamendra-Arachchi and Pethiyagoda, 1998)
Synonym: Bufo noellerti Manamendra-Arachchi and Pethiyagoda, 1998

http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?seq_num=305647&one=T

© 2009 Dr. Madhava Meegaskumbura

Manamendra-Arachchi, K. and Pethiyagoda, R. 1998. A synopsis of the Sri Lankan Bufonidae (Amphibia: Anura), with description of two new species. Journal of South Asian Natural History (J. South Asian nat. Hist.). 3(2): 213-246.

[Herpetology • 2005] Molecular phylogenetics of Sri Lankan Ichthyophis (Amphibia: Gymnophiona: Ichthyophiidae), with discovery of a cryptic species

Abstract

Based on previous morphological analyses, the caecilian amphibian (Gymnophiona) fauna of Sri Lanka has been considered to consist of three endemic species of the ichthyophiid genus Ichthyophis, two of which have a lateral yellow stripe. We examined the relationships of Sri Lankan caecilians using partial sequences of mitochondrial 12S and 16S rRNA and cytochrome b genes for 18 Sri Lankan Ichthyophis from 14 localities. Based on the latest keys, these 18 samples represent one striped (I. glutinosus) and one unstriped (I. orthoplicatus) species. Sequences for these samples were aligned against previously reported sequences for Indian and Southeast Asian Ichthyophis, and analysed using parsimony, maximum likelihood, distance and Bayesian methods. Results from all methods are in close agreement. Inferred trees strongly support the

hypothesis that Sri Lankan caecilians are monophyletic, though their relationships to other Asian caecilians are unclear. While most of the striped specimens that key out as I. glutinosus comprise a clade, a small subset from a single locality are robustly recovered as more closely related to the unstriped I. orthoplicatus. These individuals are interpreted as a possibly new, morphologically cryptic species. The I. glutinosus clade is the most widespread among our samples, and it contains some weakly supported, but consistently recovered hierarchical structure. Most notably, all specimens from the southwestern corner of Sri Lanka comprise a clade, possibly representing a relatively recent dispersal from the central highlands.

Key words:–  caecilians, evolution, mitochondrial DNA, Sri Lanka, systematics, taxonomy.

Gower, D.J., Bahir, M.M., Mapatuna, Y., Pethiyagoda, R., Raheem, D. and Wilkinson, M. 2005. Molecular phylogenetics of Sri Lankan Ichthyophis (Amphibia: Gymnophiona: Ichthyophiidae), with discovery of a cryptic species. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Supplement: 153-161.: 

http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/rbz/biblio/s12/s12rbz153-161.pdf

[Ichthyology • 2010] Puntius rohani • a new species of barb (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) in the Puntius filamentosus group from the southern Western Ghats of India

A - C: Puntius rohani sp. nov. 

A - holotype; B - juvenile; C - paratype, ZSI/SRS F.8345, 80mm SL

Abstract

Puntius rohani, a new species of cyprinid fish, is described from the Kanyakumari District, southern India.  This species can be distinguished from the other members of the Puntius filamentosus Group by the combination of the following characters: the absence of vertical black bands near the tips of the caudal fin; the presence of an elongate black club-shaped blotch 1.5 scales high extending from the 12-13th lateral-line scales to the caudal-fin base; and possessing 2-3+6-9 gill rakers on the first gill arch, 21-23 lateral-line scales, seven predorsal scales, ½4+1+3-3½ scales in transverse line from the dorsal-fin origin to the mid-ventral scale row, and 2-2½ scales between the lateral line and the pelvic-fin origin.

Keywords: Fish, new species, Puntius filamentosus group, Western Ghats.

Etymology: The species is named after Rohan Pethiyagoda, in appreciation of his extensive work on the freshwater fishes of India and Sri Lanka.  The species name is formed as a noun in the masculine genitive singular.

Distribution: Puntius rohani sp. nov. is at present known only from the hill streams of Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu, India, draining into the Arabian Sea

devi, K., t.J. Indra & J.d.M. Knight. 2010. Puntius rohani (Teleostei: Cyprinidae), a new species of barb in the Puntius filamentosus group from the southern Western Ghats of India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 2(9): 1121–1129. 

http://threatenedtaxa.org/ZooPrintJournal/2010/August/o250526viii101121-1129.pdf

ZSI e-NEWS - August 2010: http://zsi.gov.in/archives/August_2010.pdf

[Ichthyology • 2008] Puntius kelumi • a new species of cyprinid fish (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) from Sri Lanka

Puntius kelumi 

Pethiyagoda, Anjana Silva, Maduwage & Meegaskumbura, 2008

Puntius kelumi, new species, is described from south-western Sri Lanka. It is distinguished from all other Sri Lankan and Peninsular-Indian Puntius by having the last unbranched dorsal-fin ray smooth; body depth 28.6-35.5 % of SL; rostral barbels absent; maxillary barbels present, about as long as eye diameter; 20-23 lateral-line scales on body; .... scales in transverse line from mid-dorsum to pelvic-fin origin; and sides of head and body of breeding males rough, extensively tuberculated. Puntius layardi Günther is apparently a valid species from Sri Lanka, but has not been observed in the wild since 1868. Leuciscus binotatus Blyth, its replacement name Barbus tetraspilus Günther, and its junior objective synonym B. innominatus Day, remain species inquirendae.

Pethiyagoda R., A. Silva, K. Maduwage & M. Meegaskumbura. 2008. Puntius kelumi, a new species of cyprinid fish from Sri Lanka (Teleostei: Cyprinidae). Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters. 19(3), 201-214. http://www.pfeil-verlag.de/04biol/pdf/ief19_3_02.pdf

2008: A promising year for Sri Lanka's freshwater fish

http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2009/01/04/foc05.asp

[Ichthyology • 2008] Puntius reval • a new barb (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) from the Maha drainage, Sri Lanka

Puntius reval Meegaskumbura, Anjana Silva, Maduwage & Pethiyagoda, 2008

Abstract

Puntius cumingii, a Sri Lankan endemic, has long been known to be dichromatic. In one colour morph the dorsal, anal and pelvic fins are yellow, while in the other these fins are red. We show that P. cumingii in fact comprises two species. Puntius reval, new species, is distinguished from all other Sri Lankan and south Indian congeners by having the last unbranched dorsal ray serrated; lateral line incomplete, perforating 4-9 scales; scale rows above lateral line arranged in a distinctive pattern; dorsal, anal and pelvic fins red (pale yellow in the Kalu River population); body colour pattern consisting of two black bars, one behind gill pening and one above posterior extremity of anal-fin base; and by lacking barbels. The new species is further distinguished from P. cumingii by having a maximum standard length of 33.6 mm (vs. 41.2 mm); a smaller eye diameter (9.8-10.5, vs. 10.8-12.1 percent of standard length); 11+13 (vs. 11+15) vertebrae; cleithrum with a single spine (vs. smooth); and proximal arm of fifth ceratobranchial with an oval foramen of diameter less than (vs. greater than) basal diameter of teeth. The cytochrome b divergence between P. reval and P. cumingii is 2.0-2.5 %. Puntius reval is described from the Kelani drainage, though it ranges throughout the lowlands northwards to the Maha drainage, whereas P. cumingii is recorded from the more southerly Bentara and Gin drainages.

Puntius cumingii

New barb was confused with Puntius cumingii: 

http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/content.php?sid=1795

http://www.siamfishing.com/board/view.php?tid=51664&begin=0

Meegaskumbura M., Silva A., Maduwage K. & Pethiyagoda R. 2008. Puntius reval, a new barb from Sri Lanka (Teleostei: Cyprinidae), Ichthyol Explor. Freshwaters, 19(2), 141-152.

http://www.pfeil-verlag.de/04biol/pdf/ief19_2_07.pdf

[Ichthyology • 2005] Puntius exclamatio from southern Kerala State of India • A review of the barbs of the Puntius filamentosus group (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) of Southern India and Sri Lanka

Puntius exclamatio, new species, described from the Kallada River, southern Kerala State of India

Abstract

The Puntius filamentosus (Valenciennes) group of medium-sized (< 115 mm SL) cyprinids from southern India and Sri Lanka is reviewed. The group is characterised by adult males of most species developing filament-like extensions to the branched dorsal-fin rays and the distinctive ontogenic colour pattern of three black bars on the side of the body. Puntius singhala (Duncker), P. arulius (Jerdon), P. srilankensis (Senanayake) and P. tambraparniei (Silas) are considered valid species within this group. The name Puntius assimilis (Jerdon), hitherto in the synonymy of P. filamentosus, is re-validated and P. lepidus Day, and P. maderaspatensis (Jerdon) are treated as junior synonyms of P. assimilis and P. filamentosus, respectively. A new species, P. exclamatio, is described from the Kallada River, southern Kerala State; adults of this species differ from all other Indian and Sri Lankan Cyprinidae by their unique colour pattern: a black blotch 2–3 scales wide commencing on and above scale 6 or 7 of lateral-line series; and another horizontally-elongate, black, tear-shaped blotch about 1½ scales high commencing on lateral line slightly anterior to or above anal-fin origin, on about lateral-line scale row 13 and continuing to base of caudal fin. Puntius filamentosus is shown to have a wide distribution throughout the lowlands of southern India, while P. assimilis is known from disjunct populations in the Netravati River, southern Karnataka State, and the Chalakudy and Kallada Rivers, Kerala State. Puntius singhala and P. srilankensis are endemic to Sri Lanka.

Key words: Puntius filamentosus, India, Sri Lanka, Kerala, Cyprinidae, taxonomy.

Pethiyagoda, R. & M. Kottelat. 2005. A review of the barbs of the Puntius filamentosus group (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) of Southern India and Sri Lanka. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Supplement 12: 127-144.

http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/rbz/biblio/s12/s12rbz127-144.pdf

[Ichthyology • 2005] The identity of the south Indian barb Puntius mahecola (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) • redescribe based on recent collections from Kerala, India

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.

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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