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.
