Cat-eLog Right Sisoridae Right Sisorinae Right Pseudolaguvia  |  | 

Down Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name Pseudolaguvia austrina  Radhakrishnan, Sivanpillai & Ng, 2011
Common Name
Type Locality Kunthi River, tributary of Bharathapuzha River, at Mannarkkad, 11°21'N, 76°53'E, Kerala, India.
Pronunciation sue doh lah GOO vee ah - aus tree na
Etymology The specific epithet comes from the Latin adjective austrinus, meaning southern, in reference to the distribution of this species (Western Ghats), which is the southernmost in the Indian subcontinent.
Down Species Information
Identification Members of the genus Pseudolaguvia are small erethistid catfishes inhabiting hill streams and large rivers in the area bordered by the Ganges River drainage (northern India) to the west and the Sittang River drainage (east-central Myanmar) to the east. They can be distinguished from other sisorids by their small size,a combination of a thoracic adhesive apparatus with a median depression and prominent postcoracoid processes.

Pseudolaguvia austrina is diagnosed from congeners in having a color pattern consisting largely of uniform pale brown body ( vs. color pattern of mottled brown body or brown body with a pattern of pale patches or transversebands), a strongly projecting snout in which the premaxillary teeth are almost entirely exposed (vs. barely exposed) when the mouth is closed , and a shorter (8.8-14.7 % SL vs. 13.9-25.6) and deeper caudal peduncle (10.3-14.7 % SL, vs.5.0-9.0). The field of the thoracic adhesive apparatus of P. austrina is also more rhomboidal, which differs from the more elongate, elliptical shape seen in all congeners except P. foveolata.
General Remarks It is very likely that this species has not been exported for the trade as yet but general care will be very similar to that of other Pseudolaguvia species. This is the first record of this genus in peninsular India.
Down Habitat Information
Distribution Known from Kunthi River, a principal tributary of Bharathapuzha River, Kerala, Peninsular India.
Indian waters, Kerala State Waters, Bharathappuzha, Kunthi (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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IUCN Red List Category
Data Deficient
, range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2011.
Other Parameters The water should be cool and heavily oxygenated with a good flow as these fish occur in hill streams. Anything above 25 C will hamper long term survival as these fish tend to burn away at higher temperatures. Pseudolaguvia austrina was collected from the small crevices of a sand barrier built across the river with a moderate water depth (ca.15 cm) and current velocity (0.25-0.40 m · s–1). The habitat was riffle-pool type. The water was well oxygenated with dissolved oxygen 7-8 ppm and a pH of 7.5-8.0. Some of the specimens were also collected from the adjoining clayey area with clumps of leaf litter. Samplings were carried out during the hot and dry fortnight periods in premonsoon season, during March, when water was clear and atmospheric temperature 32-35 °C.
Down Husbandry Information
Feeding Known to take only live food like blood worms, frozen brine shrimp etc. Spot feeding will help in case tank mates are voracious feeders. User data.
Furniture Fine sand for the bottom and smooth pebbles / rocks.
Compatibility A peaceful species suitable for a hillstream biotope. Extreme care should be taken while choosing their tankmates as these fish are extremely poor at competing for food.
Suggested Tankmates Cyprinids like Barilius and Danios and Balitorine loaches like Homaloptera species. Other species collected along with P.austrina include Glyptothorax madraspatanum (Sisoridae), Lepidocephalichthys thermalis (Cobitidae) and Glossogobius giuris (Gobiidae).
Breeding Unreported in the aquarium.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Down Further Information
Reference Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters v. 21 (no. 4). Dec. 2010, pp 378, Figs. 1, 2a, 3a.
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
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Last Update 2024 Feb 01 13:56 (species record created: 2011 Mar 01 12:30)