Friday, June 8, 2018

[Ichthyology • 2018] Schistura scripta • A New Species of Schistura (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae) from the south-western lowlands of Sri Lanka


Schistura scripta Sudasinghe, 2018


Abstract
Schistura scripta, new species, is described from Nakiyadeniya in the south-western lowlands of Sri Lanka. It can be distinguished from all other congeners from Sri Lankan and peninsular India by the combination of the following characters: an incomplete lateral line with 53–76 pores, ending beneath the dorsal-fin base or slightly beyond; 7–13 post-dorsal bars; 7½ branched dorsal-fin rays; absence of an axillary pelvic lobe; and absence of a suborbital flap.

Keywords: Pisces, Schistura notostigma, Schistura madhavai, biodiversity hotspot, microendemism



FIGURE 1. Variability of coloration in Schistura scripta in its natural habitat, not collected. Sri Lanka, Seethala Dola, Nakiyadeniya, Gin River basin.
A–C, adults, over 35 mm SL; D, adult male.

Schistura scripta, sp. nov.

Etymology. The species-name is a reference to the pattern of bars on the side of the body of this species resembling alphabetical characters; scripta, Latin, ‘written words’. 


Hiranya Sudasinghe. 2018. A New Species of Schistura (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae) from the south-western lowlands of Sri Lanka. Zootaxa. 4422(4); 89–100. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4422.4.2