Erethistes

Taxobox
name = "Erethistes"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Siluriformes
familia = Erethistidae
genus = "Erethistes"
genus_authority = Müller & Troschel, 1849
subdivision_ranks = Binomial name
subdivision =
"Erethistes filamentosus"
(Blyth, 1860)
"Erethistes hara"
(Hamilton, 1822)
"Erethistes horai"
(Misra, 1976)
"Erethistes jerdoni"
(Day, 1870)
"Erethistes maesotensis"
Kottelat, 1983
"Erethistes pusillus"
Müller & Troschel, 1849
"Erethistes serratus"
(Vishwanath & Kosygin, 2000)
synonyms =
*"Hara"
Blyth, 1860
*"Laguvia"
Hora, 1921

"Erethistes" is a genus of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Erethistidae. With the inclusion of the synonyms "Hara" and "Laguvia", this genus includes seven species, "E. filamentosus", "E. hara", "E. horai", "E. jerdoni", "E. maesotensis", "E. pusillus", and "E. serratus".cite journal|url=http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2006f/zt01345p096.pdf|title=Genera of the Asian Catfish Families Sisoridae and Erethistidae (Teleostei: Siluriformes)|first=Alfred W.|last=Thomson|coauthors=Page, Lawrence M.|journal=Zootaxa|volume=1345|pages=1–96|year=2006|format=PDF]

Distribution

This genus is distributed in the Ganges and Brahmaputra drainages in northern India and Nepal, and east and south to the Salween drainage on the border of Myanmar and Thailand. "E. filamentosus" is from the Irrawaddy, Sittang, and Salween drainages, Myanmar as well as from the Rangoon River drainage in Myanmar. "E. hara" inhabits the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Irrawaddy drainages, northeast India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Myanmar. "E. horai" originates from the Brahmaputra drainage, northeast India. "E. jerdoni" is found in the Ganges and Brahmaputra drainages, northeast India and Bangladesh. "E. pusillus" inhabits the Ganges and Brahmaputra drainages of Northeast India. "H. serratus" originates from the Barak and Jiri Rivers of the Brahmaputra drainage, Manipur, India. "E. maesotensis" is known from Moei River, a tributary of the Salween River near Mae Sot on the Thai-Burmese border.cite journal|title=A new species of "Erethistes" Muller & Troschel from Thailand and Burma (Osteichthyes : Siluriformes: Sisoridae)|first=Maurice|last=Kottelat|journal=Hydrobiologia|volume=107|pages=71–74|year=1983|doi=10.1007/BF00126706]

Description

"Erethistes" species lack a thoracic adhesive apparatus, a smooth to granulate anterior margin on a strong dorsal fin spine, a papillate upper lip, and 8–12 anal fin rays. The pectoral fin spine is serrated anteriorly and posteriorly. The anterior margin of the pectoral fin spine either has serrations all pointing toward tip of spine; arranged in divergent pairs; or outwardly directed and not divergent. The head is large and broad with a conical snout. The body is robust rather than slender as in some other erethistid genera, and is moderately short and flattened. All barbels are annulated with black rings.

Species range from in length from about 2–13 centimetres (.8–5 in) SL.FishBase species|genus=Erethistes|species=maesotensis|year=2007|month=June] FishBase species|genus=Erethistes|species=pusilllus|year=2007|month=June] FishBase species|genus=Hara|species=hara|year=2007|month=June] FishBase species|genus=Hara|species=horai|year=2007|month=June] FishBase species|genus=Hara|species=serratus|year=2007|month=June]

Ecology

"E. maesotensis" has been observed to inhabit fast-moving waters; during the rainy season, the water depth can increase by at least 3 metres (10 ft). The substrate mainly consists of small stones and sand with numerous empty gastropod shells.

"E. pusillus" occurs mainly in hill streams. This species is found in muddy parts of rivers overgrown with vegetation. "E. horai" is found in rivers and streams. "E. hara" is found in slow-moving rivers and streams.

References