Heteropneustes fossilis / microps

[RickE]

Just noticed that the clog says this:

'Species Information
Size 500mm (19.7") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification Easy to confuse with the very similar, but rarer H. microps. The difference lies in the anal and caudal fins are joined in H. microps and distinctly separate in H. fossilis. The albino form is very, very rarely available to the aquarium trade.'

But there is no clog entry for H. microps.

[MatsP]

There is now, however I received an email from Jools saying "isn't this a synonym for H. fossilis". Catalog of Fishes do have it as valid, but also notes the synonymy suggested by for example Ferraris... So I haven't filled in much data to it.

--
Mats

[Jools]

This is from memory, but I think I looked at this before and H. microps was described based on the a split between the anal and caudal fin being present in one of the two species and absent in the other. A more recent work suggested they were the same and I was content to follow that.

So, I don't think there should be a new species, but clearly some updates need done.

Jools

[MatsP]

Ok, so I will rename H. microps to H. kemratensis, which we also haven't got, and I will also add H. longipectoralis. But it will have to wait until I get home, I think.

--
Mats

[Shovelnose]

I will also add H. longipectoralis

I am not sure if this species is considered valid.

[sidguppy]

isn't between microps and fossilis one species present in Sri Lanka, while the other is not and only present on the mainland?

thought I'd read something like that

because if it is, then we're dealing with 2 species ands not just a difference

if it's the same species, one might expect the populations to be mixed of individuals with 1 continuing fin and with a clearly separated tail and anal fin; not separate populations.

[Shovelnose]

isn't between microps and fossilis one species present in Sri Lanka, while the other is not and only present on the mainland?

Heteropneustes fossilis is common in India and H.microps is considered endemic to Sri Lanka but I remembering seeing a picture of a purported H.microps from south India. Let me try to locate it.

[Shovelnose]

Here it is : http://www.scotcat.com/clariidae/hetero ... crops1.htm

[Shovelnose]

Hey Mats,


I have renamed H.microps to H.kemratensis.

[Jools]

I've amended the cat-elog entry. Reference : Heteropneustes microps, a junior synonym of H. fossilis (Osteichthyes: Heteropneustidae) Rohan Pethiyagoda and Mohomed M. Bahir, Journal of South Asian natural History Volume 3 • Number 1 • January, 1998.

We could do with the synonym Marc...

Jools

[Shovelnose]

The text in the "Feeding" row in the

Heteropneustes kemratensis

page should be erased???