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Down Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name Kryptoglanis shajii  Vincent & Thomas, 2011
Common Name
Type Locality A water well at 10°20.30'N, 76°18.37'E, Thrissur District, Kerala, India, depth of well 5.5 meters.
Etymology Is a reference to the cryptic habitat of the type species, the Latin crypta, a vault or tunnel and glanis, a catfish. Named to honor the distinguished fish taxonomist, C.P. Shaji, who significantly contributed to the documentation of freshwater fish diversity of the Kerala region of Western Ghats by the Kerala Forest Research Institute.
Down Species Information
Size 59mm or 2.3" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification Can be distinguished from all other genera of Siluriformes by the following combination of characters: viz. dorsal fin absent; anal fin with long base, completely confluent with caudal fin; total number of fin rays in the anal and caudal fins 70-74; eyes subcutaneous; mouth upwardly directed with distinctly projecting lower jaw; pectoral fin fan-like, lacking any spines; and four pairs of barbels, one pair being nasal barbels.

No dorsal fin, no adipose fin. In freshly collected, live fishes, body translucent, a reddish band visible inside body from middle of head region to caudal-fin base. A few days after collection the body darkened but still reddish brown at head region with bluish area behind pectoral-fin base and bluish tinge on flanks towards caudal region. Some black pigmentation present on ventral surface, especially on anal fin.
Sexing Abdomen yellow in live females because of presence of yolky ova.
General Remarks Its habitat of subterranean streams, reduced eyes, diminished body pigmentation, smaller body size and exaggerated appearance of chemo- and mechano- receptors gives it the status of a troglomorphic fish. This subterranean habitat is under constant threat from active urbanization. There are also two species of subterranean clariids, Horaglanis krishnai and Horaglanis alikunhi reported from deep wells in Kerala State.
Down Habitat Information
Distribution Collected from wells fed from groundwater springs, Subterranean, Thrissur District, Kerala, India.
Indian waters, Kerala State Waters, Kerala subterranian wells (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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IUCN Red List Category Endangered, range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2021.
Down Husbandry Information
Feeding Collected fishes were fed and thrived on Artemia nauplii and minced earthworms in the laboratory. User data.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Down Further Information
Reference Ichthyological Research v. 58 (no. 2), pp 162, Fig. 1.
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Last Update 2019 Oct 26 05:19 (species record created: 2011 Jun 18 05:28)