Channa aurantimaculata, a new channid fish from Assam

(Brahmaputra River basin), India, with designation of a

neotype for C. amphibeus (McClelland, 1845)
Prachya Musikasinthorn

Laboratory ojtchtt(volog); Tol~.o UniversiO:of Fisheries, 4-5-7 Konan. 3/linato-ku, To~,o 107}-8477, Japan
(e-mail: ad95208@ec, to@o-u-fish, ac.jp)

(Received 27 October 1998; in revised form 20June 1999; accepted 24August 1999I)

Musikasinthorn, P 2000. Channa aurantimaculata, a new channid fish from Assam

Ichthyological (Brahmaputra River basin), India, with designation of a neotype for C. amphibeus (Mc-
Clellan& t845). Ichthyol. Res., 47 (1): 27-37.
Research
('~ Th~ Ichthyological Society of Japan 2000 Abstract A new species ofchannid fish, genus Channa, is described from four speci-
mens collected from the Brahmaputra River basin at Dibrugarh, Assam, india. The new
species, Channa aurantimaculata, is distinguished from all other channid species by the
combination of 45-47 dorsal fin rays, 28-30 anal fin rays, 5 I-54 lateral line scales, 8-12
cheek scales, 50-52 total vertebrae, two large scales on each side of lower jaw undersur-
face, the upper half of body darkish brown to black with 7 or 8 large orange (white in al-
cohol-preserved specimens) irregular blotches and 5 broad vivid vertical black bands on
the pectoral fins with a black blotch at the base. In addition, a neotype is designated and a
redescription given for C amphibeus (McClelland, 1845).

Key words.-- Assam; Channidae; neotype; new species: tropical rain forest.

he family Channidae contains 26 species, 23 oc- species, including the new species, distributed in the
T curring in Asia and the rest in Africa (Bonou and
Teugels, 1985; Musikasinthorn, 1998). Currently, the
same river basin.

Asian species are assigned to the genus Channa

Scopoti, 1777, and the African species to~the genus
Parachanna Teugels and Daget, 1984 (Teugels, 1992;
Nelson, 1994). While the latter are well diagnosed,
those of Channa are still subject to confusion.
From 26 March to t5 April 1998, a field survey
was made by the author in Assam State, one o f the
four principal areas of faunal and floral endemism on
the Indian sub-continent (others being the western
Ghats, and western and eastern Himalayas.) (Rao,
1974; Kurup, 1974; Thirgood and Heath, 1994; Kot-
telat and Whitten, 1996). This region, especially the
northern part, is characterised by its humid "tropical
rain forest" envu'onment (rainfall 2, 480 mm per year
with year-round precipitation) in contrast with the dry
"savanna" climate covering most of the rest o f the In-
dian sub-continent (Ramdas, 1974; Collins et al.,
1991 ; Bailey, 1996). During the survey, an unnamed
channid species, being one of the most colorful mem-
bers of the family, was collected from Dibrugarh,
northern Assam. It is described herein as new. Addi-
tionally, a neotype is designated and a redescription
given for the often confused species C. amphibeus,
which is superficially similar to some other channid
Materials and Methods
Methods for counts, measurements and nomencla-
ture o f the suprabranchial organ followed Musika-
sinthorn (1998). Fin rays were counted with a binocu-
lar microscope or taken from radiographs. "vertebral
counts, including the urostyle, were taken from radi-
ographs. The suprabranchial organ was examined in a
dissected specimen. Institutional codes followed
Leviton et al. (1985), except for the Biodiversity Mu-
seum, Gauhati University, Assam (GUBM), Institute
for Breeding Research, Tokyo University o f Agricul-
ture, Tokyo (IBRP), Southern Regional Station, Zoo-
logical Survey of India, Madras (ZSI-SRS) and East-
ern Regional Station, Zoological Survey of India,
Meghalaya (ZSI-V/ERS and ZSt-V/F/ERS).
Channa attrantimaculata sp. n o v .
(Figs. 1-3)
Holotype. KUMF 3 t35, 190.8mm standard length (SL), mar-
ket at Dibrugarh town. Dibrugarh. Assam. India. 12 April 1998, R
Musikasinthorn.
28 R Musikasin~horn

Fig. t. C}aan~aazr sp. nov., holoD~e, KUMF 3135, 190.8 mm SL, market at Dtgrugar~'~town,
Dibrugarh, Assam, India.

Paratypes~ KUMF 3 i36, !63.7 mm SL:,stream, in Medeta Re-

serve Forest, Dibrugarh, Assam, ;[rid/a, I--7 Apri[ !998. K. K.
Lahkar and R Musikasinthom; NSMT-P 55735 (i) (dissected),
!90.7 mm SL, data as for KUMF 3136; ZSt ,anca~-aloged,t32.0 mm
SL, data as for KUMF 3136.

Diagnosis. A species of Cka~na disti:nguishab[e

from all other chaemid species by the f~!lowing com-
bination of characters: dorsal fin rays 45-47; anal fin
rays 28-30; lateral line scates 51-54; cheek sca{es
8-12; total vertebrae 50-52; two large scales on each
side o f lower jaw undersurface (Fig, 2); pelvic fin
length less than 50~ of pectoral fin length; upper half
of b o @ dark b r o v ~ to black with 7 or 8 large irregn-
1at orange (white in alcoho!-preserved specimens)
blotches; pectoral fins with a black b!otch e,.i base and
5 verticN broad vivid black bands,

Description, Frequency distributions of counts

and measurements are given in -FaNes i and 2, re-
spectively:
Dorsal fin r%vs 45-4"7. Ansi fin rays 28--30. Pec-
toral fin rays i5 or [ 6. Pelvic fin rays 6, Principal can-
da! fin rays 14, Total vertebrae 50-52, preca~adal+
c a u d a l = 4 5 - 4 8 + 4 or 5. Cheek scales 8-12. Lateral
iine scales 51--54. Scale rows above lateral line 4,5 or
5,5, below lateral line 11 or t2. Circumpeduncular
scales 25-28, Predorsal scales 13-15. Lateral line Fig, 2. Ventral view of head of Ctzan~a atuzmtimae~data
scales dropping one row following 15-17~h anterior- sp. nov. (paratype, KUMF 3136, 163.7mm SL) showing
two large scales on each side of the lower jaw- (dotted re-
most scales. Two iaxge scales on each side o f lower
gions) and cephalic sensor?" pores (in black). Scale bar indi-
jaw undersurface (Fig. 2). Cephalic sensory pores sin- cates I0.0 man.
 A N e w C h a n n i d Fish f r o m A s s a m 29

Table 1. Meristic characters of Chatma aurantimaculata sp. nov.

Holotype Holotype and paraWpes

KUMF 3135 Frequencies*

Dorsal fin rays 45 45 (l), 46 (21),47 (1)

Anal fin rays 28 28 (1), 29 (1), 30 (2)
Pectoral fin rays 15 15 (I), 16(3)
Pelvic fin rays 6 6 (4)
Caudal fin rays 14 14 (4)
Lateral line scales 5t 5t (1), 52 (1), 53 (1), 34 (1)
Scales above lateral line 5.5 4,5 (1), 5.5 (3)
Scales below lateral line 12 11 (1), t2(3)
Predorsal scales 15 13(I),14(l),15(2)
Cheek scales 10 8(1), 10 (t), It (1), 12(1)
Circumpeduncular scales 25 25 (l), 26 (2), 28 (1)
Vertebrae (total) 50 50(IL 51 (I), 52 (2)
Precaudal vertebrae 45 45 (1), 46 (1), 47 (I), 48 (1)
Caudal vertebrae 5 4(1),5(3)

*Numbers in parentheses indicate number of specimens.

Table 2. Morphometric characters ofChanna aurantimaculata sp. nov.

Holotype Paratype Paratype Paratype

KUMF 3135 NSMT-P 55735 KUMF 3t36 ZSI uncat.

Standard length (mm) 190.8 190.7 163.7 132.0

In % of standard length:
Head length 31.0 31,8 32.8 31.4
Head depth 15.3 l 6.1 15.9 16.6
Head width " 19.3 19.2 20.2 20,5
Body depth l 5.4 15.6 15.8 16.5
Body width 13.4 12.5 12.7 13.8
Caudal peduncle length 9.4 8.8 9.2 9.9
Caudal peduncle depth 10.4 10.7 10.5 10.5
Predorsal length 30.7 29.7 30.4 31.1
Prepectorat length 31.5 32.3 32.7 33.0
Preanal length 51.3 51.5 53.1 52.5
Prepelvic length 35.6 36.2 36.7 37.7
Length of dorsal fin base 66.7 67.5 66.5 65.0
Len~h of anal fin base 41.6 41.7 40.1 4 t.8
Pectoral fin length 20.1 20.6 21.4 22.3
Pelvic fin length 7.6 7.8 8.5 7.8
Head length (mm) 59. l 60.7 53.7 41.5
In % of head length:
Head depth 49,2 50.6 48.4 52.8
Head width 62.3 60.5 6 t.5 65.1
Snout length 21.5 21.0 21.4 20.5
Eye diameter 14.3 14.2 14.9 16.9
Preorbital head depth 28.5 28.4 28.2 31.3
Postnrbital head length 68.0 67.8 66.7 66. t
Postorbital head depth 36.4 36.3 36,3 38.6
[nterorbital width 27.2 28.3 28.1 26.4
Upper jaw length 45.7 45.7 45.9 44.6
30 E Musikasinthorn
Fig. 3. Suprabranchial organs (right side) of Channa aurantimaculata sp. nov. (paratype, NSMT-P 55735,
190.7 mm SL). Scale bars indicate 5.0 ram.
gle, without satellite openings (Fig. 2).
Bodyelongated, relatively slender, cross-section at-
most circular in anterior portion, somewhat com-
pressed posteriorly, Body depth greatest at insertion
of dorsal fin. Body width greatest at insertion of pec-
toral fin. Dorsal and anal fin bases long (65.0-67.5%
and 40.1-41.8% SL, respectively). Pelvic fin short
(7.6-8.5% SL), length less than 50% of pectoral fin
length, not reaching anal fin. Outer margins of pec-
toral and caudal fins rounded.
Head elongated (31.0-32.8% SL). Snout broad,
rounded. Interorbital region almost flat. Orbit not
reaching dorsal contour of head in lateral view.
Mouth large (44.6-45.9% HL), maxilla extending
clearly beyond posterior margin of eye.
Dentition.- Many small conical teeth embedded
in premaxilla, an additional series of somewhat larger
conical teeth embedded anteromedially. Some small
teeth and 3 large conical teeth on prevomer. A row of
variously-sized conical teeth with 7 or 8 large canine-
like teeth on each side of palatine. A row of small to
medium-sized conical teeth on each side of dentary,
irregulary interspersed with 5 or 6 large canine-like
teeth. Maw small conical teeth on outer portion of
anterior region of dentary.
Morphology of suprabranchia! organ (Fig. 3 ) . -
Inner surface of suprabranchial chamber generally
smooth. Surface structure of epibranchial respiratory
fold and hyomandibular process generally simplified
except for many tiny projections on lower portions
of both. Top of epibranchial respiratory fold indented,
middle portion constricted. Hyomandibular process
expanded, dorsoventrally elongated with a dorsome-
dial notch, and stalked almost at a right angle
from inner surface of gill cover. Hyomandibular
process almost completely supported by part of
hyomandibular bone.
Coloration.- In life: Dorsal side of body dark
brown to black, ventral side whitish. Seven or eight
large irregular orange blotches on upper half of body,
with several smaller, and very pate orange blotches
between former in some specimens. Lower lateral
side of body yellow, golden or orange, becoming blue
ventrally. Small irregularly-shaped black spots scat-
tered ventrolaterally on body. Five black vertical
bands on pectoral fins, vivid orange between bands.
Pectoral fin base blue with a black medium to large-
sized blotch. Pelvic fin rays gray, membranes white.
Dorsal and anal fins blackish-orange basally and
blackish to black distally. Many small laterally elon-
gated black spots on dorsal and anal fin membranes,
forming 3-4 band-like rows, especially posteriorly.
Caudal fin background generally blackish-orange,
with 3 or 4 black band-like rows anteriorly.
Dorsal and lateral side of head dark brown to
black, greenish-blue to blue between scales. Lower
lateral portion of gilt cover orange to yellow'. Ventral
side of head whitish with many small to medium-
sized irregular black blotches. Gill membrane black-
ish.
 A N e w Channid Fish from Assam
Fig. 4. Type locality of Channa aurcmtimaculata sp. nov. (~). Dotted area indicates Assam State, India.
Broken lines indicate national boundaries.
In alcohol: Similar to flesh coloration, but all for-
merly orange, yellow and golden areas white, and
greenish and bluish colors lost.
Distribution. The new species is known only
from the Brahmaputra River basin at Dibrugarh,
northern Assam, India (Fig. 3).
Etymology. The specific name, aurantimaculata,
is a Latin adjective refering to the orange blotches
(aurantium=orange, maculatus=blotch) on sides of
the body in the new species.
Remarks. Channa aurantimacuIata is superfi-
cially similar to C. batva (Hamilton, 1822), C. stew-
artii (Playfair, t867) and C. amphibeus (McCletland,
1845)(often misspelled as Channa amphibius), all of
which were originally described from the same river
basin (the Brahmaputra) and are presently considered
valid, in body size (ca. 250-900 mm in total length),
overall body appearance, head shape (generally
rounded in lateral view), pelvic fin length (less than
50 % of pectoral fin length) and coloration (numerous
31
small black spots scattered on body) (Hamilton
[1822]; Playfair [1867]; Shaw and Shebbeare [1938];
Talwar and Jhingran [ 199 t ]; present study).
C. barca, C. stewartii and C. amphibeus can be
distinguished from C. aurantimacuIata by lateral line
scale, and dorsal and anal fin ray counts (Table 3), as
well as by the absence of large orange blotches (white
in preserved specimens). The black vertical bands on
the pectoral fin are very vivid, the orange colored re-
gions between them also being clear in C. auranti-
maculata (Fig. 1), whereas the bands are less vivid,
thinner and obscure on the posterior portion of the
pectoral fin in C. barca and C. stewartii, and absent
in C. amphibeus (in similarly-sized specimens). As
the taxonomic status of C. amphibeus has been un-
clear in the literature, a redescription of the species is
provided here along with designation of a neotype
(see below).
C. aurantimaculata can also be distinguished read-
ity from all other channid fishes presently considered
as valid, as noted below: from C. argus (Cantor,
1842), C. bankanensis (Bteeker, 1852), C. baramensis
(Steindachner, !90t), C. cyanospilos (Bleeker, 1853),
 32 P. Musikasinthorn

C. lucius (Cuvier, 1831), C. maculata (Lacep6de,

t801), C. marulius (Hamilton, 1822), C. marulioides
(Bleeker, 1851), C. melanopterzus (Bleeker, 1855), C.
melasoma (Bleeker, 185t), C. micropeltes (Cuvier,
1831), C. pleurophthahnus (Bleeker, 185t), C. sia-
mensis (Gfinther, 1861) and C. striata (Bloch, t793)
~'~'~'~'~'~ by the presence of two large scales on each side of the
~ 9 1 6 9 1 6 9 1 6 9
lower jaw undersurface (Fig. 2) (vs. absence); from
C. asiatica (Linnaeus, 1758), C. bleheri Vierke, I991,
P: and C. orientalis Bloch and Schneider, 180t by the
'I9
0D presence of pelvic fins (vs. absence); from C. gachua
(Hamilton, 1822), C. panaw Musikasinthorn, 1998
and C. punctata (Bloch, 1793) by 8-12 cheek scales
..-<
(vs. 4-7 [usually 5]); and from atl species of the
9
= = E genus Parachamm by 51-54 lateral line scales (vs.
9
65-86) (for C. panaw and C. puncmta, data from
9
Musikasintborn [t998], and for Parachanna, from
O Bonou and Teugels [1985]).
Field surveys by the author in Assam indicated the
~~~ZgG distribution of C. aurantimaculata to be restricted to
the northern part of that region, distinguished from
the southern part by a rain forest environment
"~ 9
(Collins et al. [1991]; World Conservation Monitor-
ing Centre [[992: 276]). Locals experienced in col-
:T. r w-~
lecting C. aurantimaculata stated that the species
usually inhabited forest streams, swamps and ponds
--4- e,.~ ~ ,.~ ~
connected with the Brahmaputra River. It is possible
that it] lowland areas of Assam, C. aurantimaculata
survives in the discontinuous "patches" of rain forest
present (see Collins [199t: 132-133]; World Conser-
vation Monitoring Centre [1992: 276]). Local fish
.~ cx 1
sellers also stated that C. aurantimaculata (locally
t~
called "naga-cheng") grows to at least 400mm in
oZ
total length.
Of the nine species of channid fishes presently
known to be distributed in the Brahmaputra River
2 ,z basin, viz. Channa amphibeus, C. aurantimaculata,
C. barca, C. bleheri, C. gachua, C. matTdius, C.
punctata, C. stewartii and C. striata (Talwar and Jhin-
gran, 199t; Vierke, 1991; present paper), three (C.
amphibeus, C. aurantimaculata, and C. bleheri" are
z eD
considered endemic to that basin.

Channa amphibeus (McClelland, 1845)

~UN (Fig. 5)
9, ~ O
o " Ophicephalus amphibeus McClelland, 1 8 4 5 : 2 7 4 - 2 7 9 (the vtcinity
p. =Zg o f Chail River, one of the tributaries o f the Teesta at the foot of
the Boutan mountains).
o 'Ca -=2 Ophiocephalus amphibius (sic), Day, 1 8 7 6 : 3 6 5 ( p a r t i m ) ( n o addi-
tional records).
Ophicephahts amphibius (sic); Shaw & Shebbeare, 1938:119-121.
pl. 1, 6 (the vicinity of the Chel River, Northern Bengal)
Channa amphibia (sic); Jayaram, 1 9 8 1 : 3 0 6 - 3 0 7 (no additional
 A N e w C h a n n i d Fish from A s s a m
Fig, 5. Channaamphibeus (McClellan& 1845), neotype, ZSI F11435/1, 184.6mm SL.
records).
Channaaml)hihius(sic); Tatwar& Jltingran, [991:[015-1016 (no
additional records).
Ophiocephalus omphihi,es tsic); Eschmeyer. 1998: 92, 2430 (list
only).
Designation of a Neotype of
Channa amphibeus (McClelland, 1845)
C. amphibeus was originally described by McClel-
land (1845) from the Chail (=?Chel) River basin
(Teesta [=Tista] river drainage), in the Brahmaputra
basin at the foot of the Boutan (=Bhutan) mountains.
In the original description, some meristics, morpho-
metrics and coloration were noted, but no scale
counts, lengths or number of specimens examined
were given (.all characters comparable with other
species are shown in Table 3). Such meristics that
were provided did not agree with those shown in a
drawing of the species in McCtetland (1840), which
he originally identified as Ophiocephalus barca
Hamilton, 1822 (=Channa barca), tn McClelland's
(1845) subsequent description of the species as C
amphibeus, which name he then applied to his earlier
drawing, no type specimens were designated (Al-
though several searches for the "type" material[s] of
C amphibeus were conducted by me in the Zoologi-
cal Survey of India, Calcutta [ZSI] [in 1996 and
1998] and the Natural Histow Museum, London
[BMNH] [in 1996], institutions most likely to house
such, none were found). Thus a problem was apparent
owing to the strong likelihood that the original de-
scription and earlier drawing were either based on
different specimens or indeed species, or that the
drawing was inaccurate. Later, C. amphibeus was
treated as a junior synonym of C. barca by Day
(t876), who described some features of a specimen
33
stated to be "the type" of C. amphibeus (meristics
shown in Table 3). Shaw and Shebbeare (1938) sub-
sequently resurrected C. amphibeus based on speci-
mens collected from the vicinity of the Chel River
given on previous page. One of their specimens, ZSI
F11435/l (Fig. 5), was examined in the present study.
Recently, Talwar and Jhingran (199l) also treated C
amphibeus as a valid species.
Because of the disagreement between the earlier
description and the original drawing, and the absence
of type material(s) of C. amphibeus, it is not possible
to determine the identity of C, amphibeus sensu
stricto.
Accordingly, as first revisor, t herein designate ZSI
F 11435/l (Fig. 5) as a neotype for C. amphibeus, for
the following reasons: l) although there exists a dif-
ference in scale counts above and below the lateral
line (which can vary by method and position of
counting), ZSI F11435/1 and "the type" of C. am-
phibeus examined by Day (1876) are very similar in
their lateral scale counts (Table 3); 2) ZSI Ft 1435/1
and the original description do not differ markedly in
dorsal, anal and pectoral fin ray counts, as well as in
the number of "alternately dark and whitish trans-
verse bars on the sides" (24 in the original descrip-
t i o n - s e e Table 3); 3) ZSI F11435/1 was collected in
the same general vicinity as the specimen(s) upon
which the original description was based.
Furthermore, it is clear that the three similar
species, C. barca, C. stewarrii and C. aurantimacu-
lata, can be distinguished not only from the neotype
of C. arnphibeus (ZSI F11435/1), but also from the
original description, earlier drawing and "type" of C.
amphibeus observed by Day (1876) by dorsal and
anal fin ray and lateral line scale counts, presence of
vertical black bands on the pectoral fin and number of
 34 R Musikasinthorn

"alternately dark and whitish transverse bars on the served.

sides" (Table 3). Coloration.--In alcohol: Body uniformly light
brown, ventral surface whitish. Eleven vertical brown
Neotype. ZSI F 11435/i, 184.6mm SL, Northern Bengal, G.
E. Shaw & E. O. Shebbeare. bars on upper half of body, extending below lateral
line. Brown color emphasized at bar tips on or just
Diagnosis. A species of Chamza distinguishable above lateral line, giving the appearance of brown
from all other channid species by the tbllowing com- blotches and clusters of small brown spots on the an-
bination of characters: dorsal fin rays 50; anal fin rays terior and posterior halves of the body, respectively.
35; lateral line scales 81; cheek scales 9; two large Dorsal, anal, pectoral and pelvic fin membranes
scales on each side of lower jaw undersurface; head brown to dark brown. Caudal fin membrane very dark
length 27.6% SL, depth 50.4% HL, 13.9% SL; pos- brown. Edges of dorsal, anal and caudal fins whitish.
torbital head depth 50.4% HL; upper jaw length Dorsal surface of head brown with numerous irreg-
48.4% HL, 11.3% SL; ventral fin length less than ularly-shaped, scattered dark brown spots extending
50% of pectoral fin length; upper and lower lips later- on to lateral and ventral side surfaces. Dark brown
ally flattened, with several narrow dark vertical reticulation anterior to posterior margin of eye. Upper
bands; no bands or spots on pectoral fin; 11 dark ver- and lower lips with several narrow dark brown bands
tical bands on upper half of body. (about 9 on left side of upper lip).
in life: According to Shaw and Shebbeare (1938:
Description (based on neotype). Measurements 12t): Body ground-color blue when viewed obliquely
given in Table 4. Dorsal fin rays 50. Anal fin rays 35. and iridescent green when viewed at angles to the
Pectoral fin rays 15. Pelvic fin rays 6. Principal caudal surface; pectoral fin deep orange; tipper lip bright
fin rays (upper/lower) 7/4+? (damaged). Cheek
scales 9. Lateral line scales 81. Scale rows above lat-
eral line 5.5, below lateral line 13. Circumpeduncular Table 4. Morphometric characters of the neotype of
scales 3 t. Predorsal scales 17. Lateral line running at- Channa amphibeus (ZS I F 11435/1 )
most parallel with body axis, descending anteriorly.
Total length (ram) 230.0
Two large scales on left side of lower jaw undersur-
Standard length (ram) t84.6
face (right side, not able to be observed [scales seem
In % of standard length:
to be concealed under skin]). Cephalic sensory pores Head length 27.6
single, without satellite openings. Body elongated, Head depth 13.9
cross-section almost circular in anterior portion, com- Head width 16.5
pressed posteriorly. Body depth greatest at insertion Body depth 17.6
of anal fin. Body width greatest at insertion of pec- Body width 10.0
toral fin. Dorsal and anal fin bases long (72.0% and Caudal peduncle length 8.1
47.1% SL, respectively). Pelvic fins short (6.5% SL), Caudal peduncle depth 10.2
length less than 50% of pectoral fin length, not reach- Predorsal length 27.7
ing anal fin. Outer margins of pectoral and caudal fins Prepectoral length 28.0
Preanal length 46.6
rounded. Head relatively small (27.6% SL). Head and
Prepelvic length 32.2
snout rounded in lateral view. Snout somewhat
Length of dorsal fin base 72.0
pointed in dorsal view. tnterorbital region somewhat Length of anal fin base 47.1
swollen. Orbit not reaching dorsal contour of head in Pectoral fin length 16.8
lateral view. Mouth large, maxilla extending far be- Pelvic fin length 6.5
yond the posterior margin of eye (upper jaw length Head length (mm) 51.0
48.4% HL, 13.4% SL). Upper and lower lips laterally In % of head length:
flattened. (-Vertebrae not counted.) Head depth 50.4
Dentition.- Many small conical teeth embedded Head width 59.6
in premaxilla. Three large conical teeth embedded in Snout length 22.0
prevomer. About 4 medium-sized canine-like teeth on Eye diameter t 4.7
Preorbitat head depth 28.0
each side of palatine. A row of about 5 canine-like
Postordital head len~h 69.2
teeth, somewhat smaller than those of palatine, on
Postorbital head depth 37.6
each side of the inner portion of dentary. Many small [nterorbitat width 23.5
conical teeth on outer portion of dentary. Upper jaw length 48.4
Morphology of suprabranchial o r g a n . - not ob-
 A N e w C h a n n i d Fish from Assam
blue with rich brown; pelvic fin blue; basal half of the
dorsal fin brown or orange, the outer half blue or
green, darkening outwards but having a narrow pale
blue or white edge; anal fin iridescent blue or green
with a narrow dark border; caudal fin brown at the
base, then iridescent blue or green then blackish with
a narrow white or bluish-white border; margins of the
vertical bands on body orange with brown; dark spots
scattered on the upper half of the body but absent at
the belly (see description and a color drawing in
Shaw and Shebbeare [1938] for details ).
Distribution. C h a n n a a m p h i b e u s is known only
from the Che[ River basin, in the Brahmaputra River
drainage of northcastern India and Bhutan.
Key to c h a n n i d species of
the G a n g e s - B r a h m a p u t r a River b a s i n
The following key is based on materials collected
from the Ganges-Brahmaputra River basin. Single as-
terisk (*) indicates species endemic to that basin.
Double asterisks (**) indicate species restricted only
to the Brahmaputra River basin.
la. 1 or 2 large scales on each side of lower jaw .. 2
lb. Scale absent on lower jaw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2a. Pelvic fin absent; 4-11 medium to large irregu-
lar red or orange spots on caudal fin (white in
preserved specimens), sometime coalesce . . . . .
........................ Channa bleheri**
2b. Pelvic fin present; no red or orange (white)
spots on caudal fin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3a. Cheek scales 4-6(usually 5); upper jaw length
less than 45 % HL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3b. Cheek scales 8-12; upper jaw length more than
44 % HL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
4a, Pelvic fin length more than 50% of pectoral fin
length; pectoral fin lacking vertical black bands
lateral line scales 35-38; dorsal fin rays 29-32 ,
............................. C. p u n c t a t a
4b. Pelvic fin length less than 50% of pectoral fin
length; pectoral fin with 2-6 vertical black
bands; lateral line scales more than 38; dorsal
fin rays more than 29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5a. Many small black spots scattered on side of
body; dorsal fin rays 38-41; anal fin rays 24-27;
lateral line scales 45-49 . . . . . . . . . C. s t e w a r t i i *
5b. No small black spots scattered on side of body;
dorsal fin rays 30-39; anal fin rays 19-27; lat-
eral tine scales 39-48 . . . . . . . . . . . . . C. g a c h u a
6ao Lateral line scales 8 t; dorsal fin rays 50; anal fin
35
rays 35 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C. a m p h i b e u s * *
6b. Lateral line scales 60-64; dorsal fin rays 49-52;
anal fin rays 32-36 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C. b a r c a *
6c. Lateral line scales 51-54; dorsal fin rays 45--47;
anal fin rays 28-30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.............. C. a u r a n t i m a c u l a t a sp. nov.**
7a. Dorsal fin rays 50-55; anal fin rays 31-35; ocel-
lus on upper portion of caudal fin base (some-
times absent in specimens over ca. 300 mm SL)
............................. C. m a r u l i u s
7b. Dorsal fin rays 42.45; anal fin rays 25-27; ocel-
lus absent on caudal fin base . . . . . . . . C. s t r i a t a
Comparative Materials. Channa arg,~s: ASIZB 44263 (t),
142.4mm SL, Baiyang Dian Lake, Hebei, China, 19 Aug. 1958;
NSMT-P 55738 (1), 288.3 ram SL, market at Sich~mn, China, Au-
,gust 1996; MCZ 32411 (i of 3), 362.6 mm SL, Chanka Lake (Us-
suri River basin), East Siberia, U. S. S. R., 1929. C. asiatica: KtZ
60233 (1), 139.9mm SL, Nanpan R., China, 1960; KIZ $45014
(1), Nanning, China, April t984; NSMT-P 27573 (I), l l0.4mm
SL, Taiwan, 26 August 1975. C. hank~znensix: RMNH 7870 (2),
103.4-120.8mm SL, Sintang, western Borneo, Indonesia, July
1894; NSMT-P 54031 (2), 132.5-140.5, Martapura, south Borneo,
Indonesia, 9 Nov, 1963. C. baramensis: SMF 860 0ectotype) (t),
218.7mm SL, had. Ozean, Borneo, Baram flul3, 1894; SMF 8473
(paralectotype) (1),102.5, data as for tectotype; FMNH 51702 (3),
106.2-169.3 mm SL, Clear water tributary of Little Kretam R.
below falls, Kinabatangan District, Sabah, Borneo, I1 May, 1950.
C. barca: AMS B. 7793 (1), 237.7mm SL, Calcutta, date un-
known; BMNH 1860. 3. 19. 17 (1), 207.3 mm SL, Calcutta. date
unknown; RMNH 1663 (I), 220.3, Calcutta, date unknown; ZSI
1387 (I), 260.7mm SL, Calcutta, date unknown; ZSI 2705/l (i),
240.2mm SL, Bulagunj, Sylhet, date unknown; ZSI 9999 (1),
238.3mm SL, India: ZSI 378 (i), 233.1 mm SL, Cachar, Assam,
date unknown; GUBM uncat. (1), 447.7, Marigoan Market, Guwa-
hati, Assam, India, Oct.-Nov. 1997; MNHN A. 628 (l)(holotypc of
Ophicephalus [=Channa] nigricans), 200.5 mm SL, Calcutta, date
unknown. C. bleheri: ZFMK 16555 (hotc~type) (1), 105.0 mm SL,
3 upper reaches of Dibru R., near Guijan, Assam, 12 and 13 Nov,
1987; ZFMK 16556 (paratype), 80.9ram SL, darn as for holotype;
4 KUMF 3137 (8), streams in Medela Reserve ForesL Dibrugarh,
Assam, India, I-7 April 1998. C. c3"anospilos: ZRC 14252 (1),
166,8 mm SL, Sungai Wumbih, tributary of Sungai Alas, southern
Aeeh, Rundeng, northern Sumatra, 21 Feb. 1984. C. gachua:
ANSP 159636 (I), 78.5mm SL, Bishnuputi R., Kathmandu, at
Ring Road, Nepal 18 June 1983; UMMZ 208577 IlL 123.9mm
SL, Dakatia River at Char Masha, Comilla, Bangladesh, 3 Jan,
1978; CAS 135602 (5), 64.4-132.3mm SL, Uttarbhag, Ganges
Delta, India, 14 April 1937; UMMZ 208997 (1), 55.4mm SL,
Tangam R. at Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Bangladesh, 6 April I978;
ZMA 121. 643 (6), 50.0-147.tmm SL, Balassang River near
Kurseong, West Bengal, India, Dec. 1898; ZSI-SRS 4781 (,1), 78.6
5 mm SL, Dubri, Lower Assam, India, 30 Nov. t994; ZSI-V/ERS 75
(1), 90.25 mm SL, Barapani, Shil/ong, Assam, India, 15 June 1961;
ZSI- V/ERS I324 (I), 215.9mm SL, Songsak Res. forest, Garo
Hills, Meghalaya, India, 15 April 1973; CAS 114535 (6),
56.0-72.8 mm SL, Kalimpong Duars and Siliguli Terai, Tista R.
drainage, Terai, West Bengal, India, Nov. 1938; CAS 502ll (5 of
6), 55.3-97.0mm SL, Chitawan Valley, 1-2 miles (1.6-3.2 kms)
south of Khoriamohan in Someswar Hills (Ha~himara KEola),
Nepal, 29 April !,975; KUMF 3148 (3), 74.0-84.1 mm SL. market
 3(? R Musikasinthorn
at Shiltong, Meghalaya, India, 4 April 1998; ZSI-V/ERS 8043 (2
of 3), Thabrongiri, West Garo Hills, Meghak~ya, India, 28 Aug.
1983; ZSI-V/F/ERS 99 (2 of 18), 88.2-108.5mm SL, Thanga Is-
Inn& Horeng Moureny, Man(put, India, 9 Feb. 1993. C. lucius:
RMNH t138 (stuffed) (t), 213.9 mm SL, Java, date unknown (col-
lection of Kuht and van Hasselt); RMNH 1140 (stuffed) ( 11, 411.8
mm SL, data as tbr I~MNII 1138; UMMZ 223283 (6), 129.0-229.0
mm SL, stream at confluence of Keijin R. (Baram R. drainage),
Sarawak, Malaysia, I 1 Feb. 1980. C. maczdata: AMNH 79470 (21,
144.9-163.9 mm SL, Guangdong, China, Aug. 1925; CAS 118299
(11, 238.2 mm SL, Tatpei, Taiwan, 1908. C. marulius: CAS 135719
(11, 221.0ram SL, Calcutta, West Bengal State, India, 8 April
1937: UMMZ 187867 (I of 2), 232.6mm SL, Pond at H@ganj,
Comilla, Bangladesh, 24 May I968; UMMZ 208567 (11. I87.2 ram
SL, Kamchar Khal, Comilla, Bangladesh, 1I Jan. 1978; BMNH
89.2. 1. 3791-6 (8), 57.0--108.0 mm SL, Calcutta; NSMT-P 47709
(1), 134. l mm SL, Chandpur, Bangladesh, 1971; NSMT-P 58526
([), 255.1 mm SL, Ganga R., India, date m&nown; KUMF 3143
(2), 205.6-284.85 mm SL, Dharapur Market, Guwahati, Assam, 27
blarch-8 April 1998; NSMT-P 58527 (l), 455.4mm SL, Tara(.
Nepal, July 1997; KUMF 3147 (4), 162.2-192.7mm SL, a road
side market on the way between Diamond Harbour and Calcutta,
West Bengal, 8 Jan. 1996; NSMT-P 58528 (3), 237.5-267.6mm
SL, market at Calcutta. West Bengal, Jan. I996; NSMT-P 58529
(l), 430.5mm SL, data as for NSMT-P 58528. C. mavulioides':
RMNH 6421 (holotype) (1), 217.0 mm SL, Sambas, western Bor-
neo, date unknown; ZMA 121.117 (2), i52.8-194.4mm SL,
Rawang Swamp, Djambi, Sumatra, Indonesia, 29 April 1909. C.
melanopterus: RMNH 6416 IHolotype) (11, 476.3 mm SL, Pon-
tianak, western Borneo, date unknown. C. melasoma: CAS 132652
(7), 74.5-214.4 mm SL, Mandai Road. Singapore, 14 May 1937. C.
micropeltes: RMNH 2318 (stuffed) (1), 592.6mm SL, Java, date
unknown (collection of Kuhl and van Hasselt); RMNH 1131
(stuffed) (l), 214.1 mm SL. data as for RMNH 23t8; RMNH 1132
(stuffed) (11, 250.4mm SL, data as t'or RMNH 23t8; NSMT-P
35969 (121, I64.7-215.6mm SL, Ratchaprapa Dam, Suratthani,
Thailand, Oct. 1992. C. orienralis: ZMB 5029 (6), 59.7-79.9mm
SL, Rnmboddi, Ceylon, date unknown; USNM 332536 (1), 81.6
mm SL, Trib. to Kuda Ganga, 3.3 mi. east of Agatawatta on Road
to Badureli Ya, Agalawatta District, Sri Lanka, 7 July 1969. C~
pleurophthalmus: RMNIq 6422 (Holotype), 287.9 mm SL. Band-
jermassing, Borneo, Indonesia, date unknown; ANSP 167385 (11,
225.8 mm SL, Kapuas R., western Borneo, 1897; UMMZ 171681
(31, 150.2-186.1 mm SL, Palembang, Sumatra, 1929. C. punctata:
ZMB 1394 (Syntypes) (211, i07.5-152.0mm SL, Malabarischen
Kfiste (Malabar coast), India, date unknown; NSMT-P 47541,
92.9-104.3mm SL, (4), Koshi River, Nepal, July 1968; ZSI FF
3182 (1), 90Atom SL, Jarakat villege, I2 kms west of Charjh,
Hazanibugh District, Bihar, India, 12 June 1994; ZSt-SRS F 4644
(2), 75.5-98.0mm SL, Goalpara. Brahmaputra River Basin,
Assam, india, 8 Nov. 1995; ZSI-SRS 4623 (27, 67.4-70.1 mm SL,
Kulsi River, Brahmaputra, India, 17 Nov. 1995; UMMZ 208542
(t), 140.gmm SL, Borrow Pit Canal, Meghna Drainage, Comilla,
Bangladesh, 23~ 90039 'E, 9 Jan. 1978; UMMZ 208936 (l),
94.6mm SL, Ghaghat River. Brahmaputra Drainage, Rangpur,
Bangladesh, 25045 ' N, 89~ ' E, 3 April 1978; KUMF 3056 (6),
155.9-179.4 mm SL, Market at Calcutta, West Bengal, India, Jan.
1996; KUMF 3047 (l l, 179.4 mm SL, Market at Calcutta, VCest
Bengal, India, Jan. 1996; NSMT-P 36122 (1 of 2), 139.6mm SL,
Ganga River, India, date unknown; NSMT-P 36123 (5), 70.7-93.0
mm SL, Parvanipur Fisheries Station, Nepal, 30 May 1969; NSMT-
P 36124 (11~ 92.6mm SL, Birganj, Nepal, 21 Nov. 1960; NSMT-P
36125 1121, 95.3-103.3 mm SL, Phewa Tat (Pokhara), Nepal, 15
July 1969: IBRP 7750 (27, 86.9-92.7mm SL. Dharan BazaL
Nepal, 3 April I982; NSMT-P 36126, Hetaunda, Nepal, 25
June-t0 July 1969. C. siamensis: BMNH 1859. 7. 1:71 (1)(holo-
type), 74.2mm SL, Siam (Thailand), 1858-1860. C. stewarrii:
BMNH 1867.2.14.19-20 (syntype) ( 1 of 2), 203.5 mm SL, Cachar;
NSM%P 54039 (l), 139.7 mm SL, Nepal, date unknown; NSMT-P
55736 t12), 237.3-240.8 mm SL, market at Dibrugarh town, Dibru-
garb, Assam, India, 10-14 April 1998; NSMT-P 55737 (i3),
950-135,8 mm SL, Mirigaon Forest, Dibrugarh, Assam, India. t-7
April 1998; KUMF 3149 (1), 142.1ram SL, data as NSMT-P
55737; PaMNH 1656 (11, Assam, date unknown; ZSI-ERS V/ERS
5091 (11, 154.1 rmn SL, East Khasi Hill, Meghalaya, India, 31 July
1978; ZSI-ERS V/ERS 3443 (1 of 3), 104.7, Bagha, North Cachar
Hills, Assam, 13 March 1970. C. striata.: ZMB 1400 (syntypes)
(2), 154.2-170.6mm SL, Tranquebar, Malabar coast, India; KUblF
3144 (4), 210.0-222.9mm SL. Dharapur Market, Guwahati,
Assam, India, 27 March-8 April !998; KUMF 3145 (10), a pond at
Calcutta, West Bengal, India, Jan. 1996; NSMT-P 58530 (2),
218.0-234.0mm SL, Ganga R., India, date unknown; NSMT~P
58531 (1), 259.7mm SL, Birgan], Nepal, 21 June 1960; KUbIF
3146 (1), 218.0mm SL, Market at Calcutta, West Bengal, India,
Jan. I996: NSMT-P 58532 (31. 185.9-224.9mm SL, data as tbr
KUMF 3146; CAS 114555 (2), 130.2-133.5mm SL, Madura,
Tamil Nadu, india, 2/ Jan. 1941; CAS 133815 (3), 176.8-192.4
mm SL, Rangoon, Myanmar. 31 March 1937.
A c k l w ~ c [ e d g m e n t s . - I am grateful to the following per-
sons for assistance enabling my collection of the new
species and their hospitality during fieldwork in India: M.
Bora, R. Pachuau (Guwahati, Assam), M. M. Goswami
(Gauhati University, Assam), K. K. Lahkar (Dibrugarh,
Assam) and Sumit Dutta (Calcutta). R. S. Lal Mohan (CaIi-
cut, Kerala, India) and T. R. Roberts (CAS) kindly provided
useful information prior to my fieldwork in northeastern
India. My special thanks go to Y. Taki, H. Kohno, K. Fujita,
N. Teitler (Tokyo University of Fisheries) and K. Matsuura
(NSMT-P) for their invaluable suggestions and critical read-
ing of the manuscript. I am also grateful to the following
persons for loans, information on specimens and facilita-
tion of museum visits: T. K. Sen, A. K. Karmakar (ZSI). N.
Sen (ZSI-ERS), P. "12 Chef(an, K. Rema Devi (ZSI-SRS), O.
Crimmen (BMNH), D. Catania (CAS), K. Sakamoto (Bio-
logical Laboratory, Imperial Household Agency, Tokyo); S.
Sontirat (KUMF), D. W. Nelson (UMMZ), M. A. Rogers
(FMNH), J.-X. Yang, Y.-R. Chen (KIZ), E Krupp, U. Za-
jonz (SMF), M. J. E van Oijen (RMNH), M. McGrouther
rAMS), H.-J. Paepke (ZMB), C. Zhang (ASIZB), K. E.
Hartel (MCZ), C. M. Yang, E K. L. Ng, K. K. P. Lira
(ZRC), Klaus Busse (ZFMK), G. Duhamet, J.-C. Hureau
(MNHN), S. L. Jewett (USNM).
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