Gagata rhodobarbus (Sisoridae) new species from India

[lfinley58]

Bhakat, S. & Sinha, A.K. 2019. A new sisorid catfish of the genus Gagata, Bleeker, 1858 from West Bengal, India. International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies, 7(1): 274-279.

Abstract:

A new species of Gagata (Family: Sisoridae), Gagata rhodobarbus nov. has been collected from Mayurakshi river, belonging to Gangetic river system. The species is diagnosed by the presence of red barbels along with five saddles from head to tail, black blotches on caudal peduncle and lobes of caudal fin. Maxillary barbels shorter than head and serrated pectoral spine bearing filamentous extension are the other two distinguishing characters. The species differs from its banded congeners viz. G. itchkea, G. cenia, G. youssoufi and G. sexualis by several characters like least height of caudal peduncle in its length, eye diameter in % of inter orbital distance, head length in % of standard length, inter-dorsal in adipose dorsal base, head width in % of head length and specially having rosy red coloured barbels.

Open access at:
http://www.fisheriesjournal.com/archive ... 19-637.pdf

[Bas Pels]

What a pity the description does not have a nice picture of these red barbesl in a life specimen.

[Silurus]

The barbels are not red in life. Another case of preservation artifacts making people think they have a new species.