Abstract
The freshwater pufferfish, Tetraodon barbatus Roberts, 1998, previously considered as a synonym of Tetraodon cambodgiensis Chabanaud, 1923, is validated. It differs distinctly from T. cambodgiensis by the combination of characters of that its caudal peduncle is smooth without small spinules and the head is broader (head width at preorbital, post orbital and nape: 54.1–59.8, 69.1–77.8 and 76.5–86.8 % head length (HL), respectively, in T. barbatus vs. 48.7–53.3, 60.2–64.3 and 68.5–74.3 %HL, respectively, in T. cambodgiensis).
Key words: Tetraodon barbatus, valid species, Mekong River
Geographic distribution.– T. barbatus is only known from the middle and lower Mekong basin (Roberts, 1998). The data from the field trips in Mekong basin of Thailand revealed that T. barbatus is not only found in Mekong mainstream but also in its larger tributaries, especially in places with rocky, sandy or muddy substrate. Moreover, T. barbatus inhabits rapids and is often found in the same habitat as T. suvattii and T. baileyi.
Pasakorn Saenjundaeng, Chaiwut Grudpun and Chavalit Vidthayanon. 2013. Validation of Tetraodon barbatus Roberts, 1998, a Freshwater Pufferfish (Family Tetraodontidae) from the Mekong River. Tropical Natural History. 13(2): 77-85
