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:
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.
