Mystus malabaricus

Mystus malabaricus
Conservation status
Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Siluriformes
Family:	Bagridae
Genus:	Mystus
Species:	M. malabaricus
Binomial name
Mystus malabaricus (Jerdon, 1849)
Synonyms [2]
Bagrus malabaricusJerdon, 1849 Hara malabarica(Jerdon, 1849) Macrones malabaricus(Jerdon, 1849)

Mystus malabaricus, commonly known as the Jerdon's catfish or koori, ^[1] is a small to medium-sized freshwater fish of the family Bagridae found in the Western Ghats region of India. ^[3] They are found in the hilly streams of Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. ^[4]

Etymology

The generic epithet, Mystus, is probably derived from mystax (Greek; "whiskered", referring to the four pairs of barbels characteristic of the family). The specific epithet malabaricus refers to Malabar, region in southern India, where the type locality is situated. ^{[4] [5]}

Ecology

Members of this genus have been reported as facultative air-breathers. ^[6] M. malabaricus is amphidromous, meaning they migrate to brackish waters for purposes other than breeding. They have demersal habit, ^[4] found in shallow hill streams with rocky bottom.^{[ citation needed ]}

Description and diagnosis

Nasal barbels never reach occiput, it reaches a middle point between occiput and orbit; outer mandibulars reach to tip of pectorals; occipital process connected to dorsal front by an interneural shield; tip of rayed dorsal reaches to base of adipose dorsal front; any other fins touch each other; dorsal spine smooth both internally and externally; anal fin inserted considerably behind anal opening; upper caudal lobe longer than lower one. Sensory organs distinctly seen on lateral line. Color: body greenish; eyes blackish blue.^{[ citation needed ]}

Diagnosis

Body elongate; dorsal and ventral profiles nearly straight; maxillary barbels reach to middle or end of pelvic fins; cephalic fontanel single, shallow and never reach to occiput; occipital process short and it do not reach dorsal front; the former cannot be seen externally as predorsal region is covered by a thick layer of flesh; caudal lobes rounded.^{[ citation needed ]}

Other species from the region include (list incomplete) ^[7] -

• Mystus montanus (Jerdon, 1849) ; TL - Mananthawady, Wayanad
• Mystus armatus (Day 1895) ; TL - 'Cochin Malabar'- Trichur
• Mystus oculatus (Valenciennes 1840) ; TL - Kuttiady, Malabar
• Mystus sengtee (Sykes 1839) TL- Dukhun, India

Distribution

M. malabaricus has been reported from the Western Ghats across Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu ^{[ citation needed ]} and Maharashtra. ^[4] The type locality is assigned as "mountain streams of Malabar" by Jerdon ^[8]

References

1. Abraham, R. (2020) [errata version of 2011 assessment]. "Mystus malabaricus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2011: e.T172343A174791134. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T172343A174791134.en . Retrieved 30 August 2024.
2. "Mystus malabaricus (Jerdon, 1849)". Global Biodiversity Information Facility . Retrieved 30 August 2024.
3. "Mystus malabaricus (Jerdon, 1849) | Species". India Biodiversity Portal. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
4. "Mystus malabaricus : fisheries". www.fishbase.se. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
5. "PlanetCatfish.com - Mystus malabaricus (Bagridae) Cat-eLog". www.planetcatfish.com. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
6. "References", Air-Breathing Fishes, Elsevier, pp. 265–288, 1997, doi:10.1016/b978-012294860-2/50011-8, ISBN   978-0-12-294860-2 , retrieved 2024-08-30
7. "Fish Identification". fishbase.de. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
8. Madras Literary Society. Madras Journal of Literature and Science. London Natural History Museum Library. Colombo: Madras Literary Society.