Taxonomic Studies on the Fishes of the Family Cyprinidae from Lake Kolleru, Andhra Pradesh*

Proe. Indian Acad. Sci., Vol, 85 B, No. 3, 1977, pp. 107-146.

Taxonomic studies on the fishes of the family Cyprinidae from lake Kolleru, Andhra Pradesh*

V. SRIRAMACHANDRA MURTY** Department of Zoology, Nagarjuna University, Nagarjuna Nagar 522510 (A.P.) MS received 4 October 1976; in revised form 7 December 1976

ABSTRACT

The paper gives descriptions of 18 cyprinid species from lake Kolleru. These descriptions have been proved necessary lxcause comparison of specimens of each of the species from the lake with relevant existing descriptions has shown that many of the latter are inadequate. Of the 18 species, 8 are new records for the lake. Danio devario reported for the first time from the lake also happens to be a new rtcord for the entire area of Krishna-Godavary river systems. The taxonomic study has shown that : (1) Chela laubuca (Ham. Buch.) is polytypic, (2) the differences between Oxygaster and Chela justify their being treated as distinct genera though these were considered as congeneric by some ¢~arlier workers, (3) available data are not adequate to establish whether the subspecies recognised under B. sarana are valid or not, (4) the specimens with a pair of barbels from Madras identified as B. sophore by Raj may be B. chola (Ham. Buch.), (5) the specimens identified by Day as B. sophore are not so; these specimens are now without a valid name, (6) Barbus sophoroides Giinther appears to be a junior synonym of B. chola on available evidence, (7) B. ticto from different localities shows variation in the number of pored lateral line scales and the differences observed in this character do not seem to be of infraspecific significance, (8)the genus Rohtee Sykes is provisionally considered as including three subgenera: Rohtee s. str., Mystacoleucus and Osteobrama. Keys to identify the species of Barbus, Cirrhinus, and Labeo are given.

1 . INTRODUCTION

THE fishes of the family Cyprinidae, with over 230 species, form the largest group of freshwater fishes from India. There are several publications on

* Formed part of the author's thesis approved fc,r the award of Ph.D. degree of the Andhra University. ** Present a6dress: Kakinada Research Centre of Central Marine Fisheries Research Irtstitute, Kakinada 533002. 107 B 1-- March 77 108 V. SRIRAMACHANDRA MURTY this group which are too many to be cited here but the works of Hamilton- Buchanan, 1 McClelland, ~ Sykes, s Cuvier and Valenciennes,4 Jerdon, 5 Bleeker,6 Giinther, 7 Day s and those of Dr. Hora and coworkersJ" need special mention here. There have been comparatively few revisions of species of different genera. Ahl, 9 and later Hora and Mukerji TM revised the genus Esomus Swainson. Hora and Misra, ~1 Brittan, TM and Silas ~3 revised the genera Rohtee Sykes, Rasbora Bleeker, and Chela Hamilton-Buchanan respectively.

Hamilton-Buchanan,1 who described most of the Indian freshwater fishes, based his descriptions on the figures he made and on his field notes. He did not leave behind types or other collections (Horal4). This has been a handicap to later taxonomists because comparison of specimens from different localities with the type specimens is not possible. Day's s descriptions and those of most later authors suffer from the disadvantage in that they are based on inadequate material and did not take into account possible intraspecific variation. Even the recent workers like Misra is and Srivastava 16 did not attempt to add anything significant to already available descriptions. They have only given current scientific names and adopted more recent classification.

A perusal of the existing literature shows that there is no comprehensive taxonomic work on Cyprinidae from any of the river systems of peninsular India. Further, there are almost no biometric data of individual species from particular localities in India based on adequate samples so that comparison of samples from different localities for determination of geographic variation or for possible existence of infraspeeific categories like subspecies is well-nigh impossible. An attempt is, therefore, made in this paper to present full descriptions and biometric data from adequate samples of the cyprinid species of lake Kolleru, to provide a part of the necessary basic information for detailed future taxonomic studies of the family Cyprinidae as a whole.

Lake Kolleru, with an area of about 250 sq. km is one of the largest freshwater lakes in India and supports fisheries of considerable importance (Dutt and Murty17). Except for a few preliminary reports of fish fauna of the lake (Chacko et al. 18 and David19,2o), no attention has been paid to a study of the taxonomy of the fish fauna of the lake until very recently. Dutt and Murty~, 2~ gave taxonomic notes on the fishes of the genus Cirrhinus Cuvier and other genera of the lake. A total of 52 species of fishes belonging to different families were recorded by Dutt and Murty 17 from the lake of which 40 are primarily freshwater species. t Dr. S. L. Hora and his coworkers published several papers on Cyprinida¢ of India. Only those publications that are relevant to the present paper are cited. CYPRINID FISHES OF LAKE KOLLERU i09

The present paper reports 18 species belonging to 11 cyprinid genera from the lake and gives descriptions of 16 species belonging to 10 genera (descriptions of two species of Cirrhinus have been published by Dutt and Murty ~1) collected from the lake from July 1970 to June 1972 and discusses taxonomic problems wherever necessary.

Although Chacko et aL 1~ recorded 12 cyprinids from the lake, only 10 of them are represented in the present collections. Thynnichthys sandhkol (Sykes) and Barbus dobsoni Day ( =- B. jerdoni Day) recorded by the above authors were not encountered in the present collections. Of the 18 species, 8 are reported for the first time from the lake; Danio devario now reported for the first time from the lake happens to be the first report from the Krishna- Godavary river systems.

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS

A series of random samples of each species were collected from commercial catches (for details of landing centres, fishing methods, etc., see Dutt and Murty 17) of the lake at regular intervals. While every effort was made to collect large samples, some species are not quite common in the catches and their descriptions are perforce based on relatively small samples. The colour and pigmentation of each species were recorded in specimens just landed. In species which are not common in the catches and in which fresh colour could not be noted, the colour descriptions were based on specimens preserved in 5~o formalin. This is pointed out at appropriate places. In the field 10~o formalin was injected into the body cavity and the specimens presexvcd in 5~o formalin and brought to the laboratory.

In taking morphometric and meristic data, the methodology of Hubbs and Lagler ~a was followed. Scales and fin rays were counted under a 'Bosch and Lomb' binocular stereozoom microscope. For uniformity, the counts of rays of paired fins and lateral line scales were made on the left side. The lateral line (L1) count refers to the pored scales;when the lateral line is incomplete, the unporzd scales in the horizontal row from the end of lateral line to caudal base were counted.

The measurements were made along the median longitudinal axis. The body proportions are expressed as percentage of standard length; the mean values are given in parantheses following the range for each proportion.

The frequency distribution and mean (~') of fin rays (for dorsal and anal rays are given for total of unbranched and branched rays) and scales are given in parantheses following the range for each of them as for 110 V. SRIRAMACHANDRA MURTY example: P. 12-15 (12 in 5, 13 in 15, 14 in 1 and 15 iv. 1 ; )7: 12.91) meaning 12 rays in 5 specimens and so on.

Under each species only the original description and that of Day 8 are. cited. In cases where there are revisions they also are cited.

3. DESCRIPTION OF SPECIES

3.1 Genus Chela Hamilton-Buchanan, 1822. (Type species: Cyprinus cachius Hamilton-Buchanan, 1822, Fish. Ganges, 258, 384).

Silas x3 revised Chela Ham. Buch. of the Oriental region and recognised three subgenera: Chela s. str., Allochela and Neochela (the latter two newly erected) under it. This classification is followed in the present work. Only Chela (Chela) laubuca (Ham. Buch.) occurs in the lake.

Chela (Chela) laubuca (Hamilton-Buchanan, 1822)(Plate 1, figure 2). Cyprinus laubuca Ham. Buch., 1822, Fish. Ganges, 260, 384; Ponds of northern parts of Bengal.

Perilampus laubuca : Day, 1878 ; 598-599. Chela (Chela) laubuca: Silas, 1958, 70-85 (Revision).

Matcrial examined: 18 specimens (10 females, 8 males) ranging from 52 to 65 mm TL.

Meristic data: D. ii, 7-9 (9 in 1, 10 in 15, 11 in 2; ,~: 10.06); P. 11-13 (11 in 1, 12 in 10, 13 in 7; X: 12.33); V. 7; A. iii. 16-19 (19 in 4, 20 in 11, 21 in 2, 22 iv. 1 ; X: 20.00); C. 19; LI. 31-35 (31 in 5, 32 in 3, 33 in 1, 34in 4, 35 iv. 2; X': 32.66); scales above lateral line 7; below lateral line 3-5; between lateral line and pelvic fin base 3; predorsal scales 16-19 (16 in 2; 17 in 9; 18 in 3; 19 in 4; ,~': 17.50); scales around caudal peduncle 14.

Body proportions as percentage of standard length: Body depth 30.95- 32.00 (31-44), head length 22.00-23.80 (22.86), eye diameter 7"44-8.88 (8.19), snout length 5.95-6.66 (6"24), interorbital distance 7.44-9.37 (8-40), head depth 17.77-19.14 (18"30), predorsal distance 65"95-69.04 (68.12), prepelvic distance 42.55--45.23 (43.88), preanal distance 65.95-68.88 (67.64), distance between origin of pectoral and origin of pelvic 19.14- 26.19 (24.06), distance between origin of pelvic and origin of anal 23.00- 27.65 (25.41), dorsal height 16.00-20.83 (17.65), dorsal base 10"71-14.89 (12.48), anal height 16.66-21-27 (19-35), anal base 21 "42-25.53 (23.23), CYPRINID FISHES OF LAKE KOLLERU 111 pectoral length 34.00-40.47 (36.32), pelvic length 16.00-16.66 (16.44), depth of caudal peduncle 9.52-12.50 (10.53).

Abdomen trenchant from between pectorals to anal origin. Mouth directed obliquely upwards, lower jaw without a knob or hook at symphysis. Pharyngeal teeth triserial, pointed, 5, 4, 3/3, 4, 5. Barbels a.bsent. Dorsal origin distinctly behind origin of pelvics and almost above anal origin. Pectorals long, more than twice the length of pelvics. Outer unbranched ray of pelvics sliglldy produced. Lateral line complete with a downward curve, running nearer ventral border e.nd terminating at base of lower caudal lobe. Predorse.1 scales do not extend into interorbital space, but only on nape to posterior border of eyes.

Colour: Body yellowish-white with descrete black pigment spots on dorsal side and on upper half of flanks. A dark blotch at shoulder and a faint blotch near caudal base; a dark longitudinal band connects the two blotches. Dorsal fin with upper half dark, lower half pale. Pectorals and pelvics pe.le. Anal and caudal dark. Taxonomic note: The specimens from lake Kolleru conform to the original description. Silas la examined samples of Chela (Chela) laubuca collected from Malay peninsula, Thailand, Burma, Porbandar in western India, Peninsular India (river Kaveri), Ceylon and from north-easteln India (Ge.ngetic watershed-type locality) and concluded that this species is polytypic. The meristic date. of specimens from Porbandar and from river Kaveri given by Silas la and of specimens from lake Kolleru have been compared with those of topotypes (from Gangetie watershed) data of which were also presented by Silas 13 (table 1) applying the Kolmogo:ov-Smirnov non- parametric test (Rao etal. ~4) to determine whether these samples differ significantly at 5~ level from topotypes (table 2). It may be seen that specimens from Porbandar differ in two characters: anal fin rays and lateral line scales; those from lake Kolleru differ in e.ll chare.cters except lateral line scales and the sample flom river Kaveri differs in three characters: dorsal fin rays, anal fin rays and predorsal scales. It may e.lso be seen that anal fin rays show significant differences in all the se.mplcs indic~.ti~zg that this ckaracter is highly ve.riable with reference to differer.t geographical aree.s.

From the foregoing, it e.ppears that this species is indeed polytypic as suggested by Silas. la The fact the.t the sample from l~.ke Kolleru differs most from that of the type locality indic2.tes that tile stock from lake Kolleru merits a subspecific status. However, since the samples compared are inadequate, a definite conclusion cannot be drawn now in this regard. t 12 V. SRIRAMACHANDRA MURTY

Table 1. Chela (Chela) li~ubuea: Frequency distribution of meristic characters in specimens from different localities ii m m i i • Dorsal fin rays Pectoral fin rays

9 I0 11 12 N 9 10 11 12 13 N

*Oangetic watershed .. 1 20 1 22 .... 8 14 .. 22

*Porbandar .. 1 34 1 36 1 6 19 10 .. 36

Kolleru 1 15 2 .. 18 .... 1 10 7 18

*Kaveri .. 18 1 .. 19 .... 6 12 .. 18

Anal fin rays Predorsal scales

19 20 21 22 23 24 N 15 16 17 18 19 N

*Gangetic watershed 1 2 4 7 6 3 23 .. 8 9 2 .. 19

*Porbandar 3 15 15 1 .... 34 3 15 15 1 .. 34

Kolleru 4 I 1 2 1 .... 18 .. 2 9 3 4 18

*Kaveri .... 5 6 8 .. 19 .. 2 7 5 2 16

Lateral line scales

31 32 33 34 35 36 37 N

*Gaagetic watershed 1 2 6 7 4 .... 20

*Porbandar .. 2 10 14 4 2 1 33

Kolleru 5 3 1 4 2 .... 15

*Kaveri .. 3 5 2 5 .... 15

* Data presented by Silas is.

Table 2. Chela (Chela) laubuea: Comparison of meristic data of sl:ecimens from different localities with those from the type locality using non-parametric test i Sl. Character Porbandar Kolleru Kaveri No.

1. Dorsal fin rays -- -b q-

2. Pectoral fin rays -- q- --

3. Anal fin rays -I- d- q-

4. Lateral line scales q- -- --

5. Predorsal scales -- + +

+ Significantly different at 5~ level. 3.2. Genus Oxygaster Van Hasselt, 1823 (Type species: Oxygaster anomalura Van Hasselt, 1823). The species of Oxygaster Van Hasselt have been placed under Chela Ham. Bueh. by several workers (Giinther, ~ Day, s Weber and De Beaufort~) ' CYPRINID FISHES OF LAKE KOLLERU 113 but Smith ~ distinguished Oxygaster from Chela by the extension of predorsal scales to between eyes and by the presence of a well-developed hook at the mandibular symphysis in the former. Silas 13 and Srivastava le also distinguished the two genera on the basis of the above characters. Misra 15 also distinguished them but from the relative position of the pelvic fins and on the basis of whether the outer pelvic rays are produced or not. Although S'.'las ~3 revised and defined Chela from the Oriental region and distinguished it from Oxygaster, Inger and Chin 27 treated them as congeneric, because in Oxygaster anomalura (the type of Oxygaster) the prcdorsal scales do not extend to between eyes (this is also a character in Chela), although it has a knob or hook at mandibular symphysis which is absent in species of Chela. Alfred .8 followed Inger and Chin ~7 and treated the two genera as synonyms. Van Hasselt (1823 in: Alfred .9) did not mention the extension of predorsal scales into interorbital space as a generic character of Oxygaster, nor did he record it in O. anomalura. Day s recorded 10 species of Chela (in fact Oxygaster); in at least two of them the predorsal seales extend into the interorbital region. Weber and De Beaufort ~z distinguished Chela (in fact Oxygaster) from Laubuea (=Chela) by the nuehal scales beginning above eyes in the former and nuetlal scales beginning far behind eyes in the latter. The referenee of Weber and De Beaufort ~z and perhaps following them of Smith 2e to the presence ofpredorsal scales in the interorbital region as a character of their genera Chela (in fact Oxygaster) and Oxygaster respectively should be taken as feature of the species they described, and not as a character common to all species of Oxygaster because Day s had already shown earlier that the predorsal scales extend into the interorbital region in only some species but not in all. It is not clear why so much of importance was given to the presence or absence of scales in the interorbital region in distinguishing the two genera or for treating them as synonyms, while there are other characters that provide a decided gap of generic significance to distinguish them satisfactorily. These characters determined on the basis of examination of specimens from Kolleru and a study of the relevant literature are presented in table 3.

Table 3. Distinguishing characters of Chela and Oxygaster i SI. Character Chela Oxygaster No, 1. Symphyseal knob or Absent Present hook in lower jaw 2. Pelvic origin Nearer to pccto:al base than to Nearer to areal origin than to anal origin pectoral base 3. Outer tmdivided pelvic Slightly produced and filamentous Not produced, not filamentous ray 4. Scales Relatively larger Relatively smaller 5. BodY Short and relatively less Elongate and relatively more compressed compressed 114 V. SRIRAMACHANDRAMURTY The two genera can be treated as distinct on available evidence although complete information on all species of Oxygaster is not a.vailable a.nd only a revision of the genus from the entire range of its distribution will clarify the position. One species O. clupeoides (Bloch, 1795) occurs in lake Kolleru. Oxygaster clupeoides (Bloch 1795) (Plate 1, figure 1) Cyprinus clupeoides Bloeh, Nat. aus. Fische, 1795, 9, 49; Tranquebar. Chela clupeoides: Day, 1878 ; 602-603.

Material examined: 22 specimens (10 females, 12 males) ranging from 102 to 150 mm TL.

Meristic data: D iii, 7-8 (10 in 19, 11 in 3;X: 10.14);P. 12-15, (12 in 5, 13 irt 15, 14 in 1, 15 in 1 ;,~: 12.91); V. 9; A. iii, 11-13 (14in 2, 15 in 9, 16 in 11, X:15.41); C. 18-19 ; L1. 81-91(81in 1, 82 in 2, 83 in 2, 84 in 2, 85 in 1, 86 in 3, 87 in 2, 88 in 2, 89 in 3, 90 irt 1, 91 in 2; ~': 86.05); scales above lateral line 13-15; below lateral line 5; between lateral line and pelvic fin base 3-4; around Gaudal preduncle 32-34; predorsal scales 48-60.

Body proportions as percentage of standard length : Body depth 19.10- 23.27 (20.71), head length 19.40-22-41 (21.I1), head depth 11.23-14-11 (13.46), interorbital distance 4.44--5.71 (5.10), eye diameter 5.71-7.59 (6.48), snout length 4-70-5.55 (5.12), prcdorsal distance 67.77-69.52 (68.51), prepelvic distance 51.22-54.25 (52.72), preanal distance 71.11- 75.86 (72.52), dorsal height 12.06-14.44 (13.17), dorsal base 6.74-8.23 (7"72), anal height 11.70-13.92 (13.00), anal base 12.06-14.89 (13.37), pectoral length 25.55-28"73 (27-28), pelvic length 12.94-14.28 (13.63), distance between base of pectoral and pelvic origin 26-59-32.97 (30.19), distance between origin of pelvic and anal origin 17.64-25.00 (19.39), depth of caudal peduncle 7"86-9.04 (8"56). Body compressed, abdomen trenchant from below pectoral base to anal origin. Mouth directed obliquely upwards, lower jaw with a knob above symphysis, pharyngeal teeth triserial, pointed, 5, 4, 2/2, 4, 5. Dorsal origin well behind pelvic origin and slightly before anal origin. Origin of pelvic nearer to anal origin than to pectoral base. Lateral line complete with a slight downward curve after its origin, running nearer to ventral profile and terminating at base of lower caudal lobe. Predorsal scales extend just to above posterior margin of eyes. Colour: Bluish above and on upper quarter of sides, the lower 3/4 of sides and belly silvery. All OnS pale exoept caudal which is dark, CYPRINID FISHES OF LAKE KOLLERU 115

3.3. Genus Danio Hamilton-Buchanan, 1822 (Type species: Cyprinus dangila Ham. Buch., Fish. Ganges, 1822, 321-323, 390)

Danio devario (I-Iamilton-Buchanan, 1822) (Plate 1, figure 3)

Cyprinus devarh) Ham. Buch. Fish. Gan~es, 1822, 341-342, 393, pl. 6, figure 94; Rivers and Ponds of Bengal. Danio devario: Day, 1878; 595. Material examined: 16 specimens (9 females, 7 males) ranging from 61 to 84 mm TL. Meristic data: D. iii, 13-15 (16 in 5, 17 in 10, 18 in 1 ; X: 16-75); P. 13-14 (13 in 15, 14 in 1 ; X: 13.06); V. 8; A. iii, 14-16 (17 in 4, 18 in 8, 19 in 4; 2: 18-00); C. 19; LI. 41-48 (41 in 4, 42 in 3, 43 in 2, 44 in 2, 45 in 1, 46 in 1, 47 in 1, 48 in 2; X: 43.62); scales above lateral line 8-10; below lateral line 3 ; between lateral line and pelvic fin base 2 ; around caudal peduncle 16-18; predorsal scales 12-16 (12 in 2, 13 in 2, 14 in 4, 15 in 7, 16 in 1; X: 14"19). Body proportions as percentage of standard length: Body depth 32-69- 42.37 (37.12), head length 19.67-26.22 (22.71), head depth 18.33-22.03 (20.00), eye diameter 7.69-9.83 (8.90), snout length 4.68-6.66 (5.59), interorbital distance 9.37-14.47 (10.28), predorsal distance 53.12-57.51 (55.14), prepelvic distance 45.00-49.12 (46"97), preanal distance 66-15- 70.49 (68-55), dorsal base 23"21-27.86 (24.91), dorsal height 18"46-22.22 (20.15), anal base19.23-24.13 (22.29), anal height 13.84-18.51 (16.58), pectoral length 18.46-24.59 (22.90), pelvic length 13.28-17.02 (15.55), depth of caudal peduncle 10.93-13- 11 (I 1.98). Mouth directed obliquely upwards, lips thin; lower jaw with a prominence above symphysis; pharyngeal teeth pointed, arranged in three rows: 4, 4, 3/3, 4, 4. No barbels. Dorsal origin between origins of pelvic and anal fins. Lateral line complete, descends and runs along the lower half of flanks. Colour (in preserved specimens): Body yellowish with black pigment spots all over. A dark lateral band along middle of flanks, prominent from above anal origin, becomes broader posteriorly and extends to tips of middle caudal rays. Dorsal fin with scattered black pigment dots on distal half, other fins pale.

Remarks: According to David, TM 82 species of Cyprinidae are known to Occur in the Krishna-Godavary river systems of which Kolleru is a part. 116 V. SRIRAMACHANDRAMtrgTY

It is clear from the list of known fishes from this area given by David (op. cir.), that D. devario has hitherto not been reported from this area. The present report of this species from lake Kolleru is the first record for the entire area. Taxonomic Note: The present specimens agree with the original description by Hamilton-Buchanan. 1 According to him, there is in the lower jaw "a slight roughness which may perhaps be considered as teeth but it is scarcely distinguishable except to the touch. " Later descriptions of this species (except by Misra 15) do not refer to this character. The present specimens show a small prominence on symphysis of lower jaw. According to Day a who recorded ten species in Danio, the two species which lack barbels : D. devario (Ham. Bueh.) and D. chrysops (Valenciennes), can be distinguished by the number of dorsal rays: 16-18 in D. devario and 13 in D. chrysops and by the absence of lateral band in chrysops. D. devario can be distinguished from the other eight species also, by the number of lateral line scales (41--48 in D. devario, 26-37 or 55-65 in other species). 3.4. Genus Esomus Swainson, 1839 (Type species: Esomus vittatus Swainson = Cyprinus danrica Hamilton- Buchanan) Esomus danricus (Hamilton-Buchanan, 1822) (Plate 1, figure 4).

Cyprinus danrica Ham. Bueh., Fish. Ganges, 1822, 325-327, 390, pl. 16,- figure 88, Ponds and Ditches of Bengal. Nuria danrica : Day, 1878 ; 583. Esomus danricus: Hora and Mukerji, 1928, 49-53 (Revision). ? Esomus danricus: Srivastava, 1968; 38, figure 22. Material examined: 22 specimens (9 females, 13 males) ranging from 46 to 55 mm TL. Meristic data: D. ii, 6; P. 13-15 (13 in 8, 14 in 13, 15 in 1 ; X: 13-68); V. 8;A. iii, 5;C. 19 ; L1. 3-7 (3 in 7, 4 in 7, 5in 5,6in2, 7in 1;X:4.22); lateral scales (perforated + unperforated) 26-31 (26 in 1, 27 in 10, 28 in 5, 29 in 4, 30 in 1, 31 in 1 ; ~': 27.86); predorsal scales 16-18 (16 in 1, 17 in 14, 18 in 7; .~: 17.27) scales around caudal peduncle 14. Body proportions as percentage of standard length: Body depth 21.05- 25-58 (23-59); head length 23.25-26.31 (24.44), depth of head 13.15- 15.78 (14.29), eye diameter 5.81-7.89 (6.66), snout length 4.65-5-81 ~5" 17), interorbital distance 7.89-9.75 (8.85), length of rostral barbel 9"21- CYPRtNID FI~HES OF LAKE KOLLERU 117

11" 84 (10" 82), length of maxillary barbel 34.88-44.73 (38" 53), predorsal distane~ 56-09-69-76 (66.02), prepelvic distance 53.48-55.26 (54.37), preanal distance 73.68-80.48 (76.79), pectoral length 30.23-32.55 (31.51), pelvic length 18.60-22.36 (20.73), depth of caudal peduncle 9.30-10.52 (9.87). Two pairs of barbels, the rostral barbels extending to beyond eye, sometimes to preopercular margin, the maxillary barbels extending to middle of pectorals and in some spec:mens to tip of pectorals. Pharyngeal teeth 5, pointed and arranged in a single row. Origin of dorsal well behind pelvic origin and a little before anal origin. The outermost ray in the paired fins is conspicuously longer than the other rays. Lateral line incomplete.

Colour: Dorsal side and upper half of flanks dark brown ; ventral half of flanks and belly silvery. A broad dark lateral band from behind eyes to middle of caudal base.

Taxonomic note: Hamilton-Buchanan ~ in his description (p. 325) states that there is a "dark dotted stripe below lateral line ", but his figure no. 88)shows the stripe above the incomplete lateral line. Hamil- ton-Buchanan's description is in error. Incidentally, in species of Esomus with complete lateral line, the lateral line descends and runs close to the ventral profile so that the band cannot be below it.

Shaw and Shebbeare's 3° figure (24 on p. 30) of E. danricus shows an almost complete lateral line and a black spot above pectoral base; SrivastavaZ9 pointed out that the figure is referable to E. altus. In the twenty speci. mens identified as E. danricus by Srivastava, xe lateral line is absent; the only species in which the lateral line is reported to be absent is E. malabaricus Day, which was considered "with some hesitation " as a synonym of E. danrieus by Horn and Mukerji. 1° Since Day's specimens of E. malabaricus are not in a good state of preservation (Horn and MukerjiZ0), it cannot at present be decided whether tiffs species is valid or should be considered as a synonym of E. danricus. If it is valid, then Srivastava's x6 E. danricus should be in fact E. malabaricus. If E. malabaricus without lateral line is a synonym of E. danricus, then the latter should be considered as showing variation in this character. According to Horn and Mukerji, ~° who examined extensive material of E. danricus in the Indian Museum, the lateral line is present but incomplete and extends over 4-6 anterior scales ttora and Mukerji x° believe that E. danricus "exhibits a great range of individual variability " (p. 50) in length of maxillary barbels and paired fins, and in the lateral band on body which in some specimens is silver),, 118 V. SRIRAMACHANDRAMURTY Since this latter observation was in preserved specimens, it could be art artifact. Although the size of sample from the lake is small, the maxillary barbels in most .specimens extend to middle of pectoral ; there is no variation in regard to the length of paired fins and nature of lateral band. 3.5. Genus Rasbora Bleeker, 1859 (Type species: Cyprinus rasbora Hamilton-Buchanan, 1822) Rasbora Daniconius (Hamilton-Buchanan, 1822) (Plate 2, figures 1, 2). Cyprinus daniconiusHam. Buch. Fish. Ganges, 1822, 327-328, 391 ; pl. 15, figure 89; Rivers of Southern Bengal. Rasbora daniconius: Day, 1878, 584. Rasbora daniconius: Brittan, 1954, 135-142 (l~evision). Material examined: 45 specimens (24 females, 21 males) ranging from 62 to 98 mm TL. Meristic data: D. iii. 7; P. 12-15 (12 in 1, 13 in 8, 14 in 29, 15 in 7; ~': 13.93) V. 9; A. iii, 5; C. 19; L1. 28-32 (28 in 1,29in 7, 30 in 19, 31 in 13, 32 in 2; X : 30.19) ; scales ~.bove lateral line 4; below lateial line 2 ; between lateral line and pelvic fin base 2; predorsal scales 12-14 (12 in 4, 13 in 30, 14 in 11 ; J(: 13.15); scales around caudal peduncle 14. Body proportions as percentage of standard length : Body depth 21.41- 26" 76 (23.85), .head length 22- 85-28.00 (25.20), head depth 13.69-17.30 (15.40), eye diameter 6.49-8.82 (7.54), snout length 5.47-8.47 (7.11), interorbital distance 8.00-10.57 (9-48), predorsal diStance 53-03-58.00 (55.33), prepelvic distance 47.14-52.94 (50.00), preanal distance 71.40- 78.57 (75.63), keight of dorsal 16.43-26.00 (20.74), base of dorsal 8.90-12- 85 (11- 03), height of anal 12.00-20-00 (15.92), base of anal 6.73-8.92 (7.66), pectoral length 16.00-20.75 (18.89), pelvic length 14.28-18.00 (15.96), depth of caudal peduncle 11.68-14.48 (12.80).

Mouth slightly oblique; barbels absent ; lower jaw with a central and two lateral prominences, pharyngeal teeth pointed and triserial: 5, 4, 2/2, 4, 5. Lateral line complete with a slight downward curve and passing nearer ventral profile.

Colour: Dark grey above and up to middle of sides and silvery ventrally and on 'lower flanks. A black longitudinal band extending from tip of snout across eye and opercles to middle of caudal fin : it is narrow anteriorly and broadens out posteriorly. Dorsal, pectoral and caudal fins dark; pelvic 0,nd anal fins pale, I/. Sriramachandra Murty Proc. Indian Aead. Sci., Plate 1 Vol. 85 B, No. 3, 1977, pp. 107-146

• v l ~

Figures 1-4. (1). Oxygaster ch~peoides (Bloch) 149 mm. A, Dorsal view of head, B, Lateral view. (2). Chela (Chela) laubuca (Hamilton-Bucharan) 63 ram. (3). Danio devario (Hamilton- Buchanan) 70 mm. (4). Esomus danricus (I-Iamil~on-Buc!~aran) 45 ram. (facing page 1187 V. Sriramachandra Murty Proc. Indian Acad. Sci., Plate 2 Vol. 85 B, No. 3, 1977, pp. 107-146

L .

• i

i" i • I

4 Figures 1--4. (1). Rasbora daniconius (Hamilton-Buchanan)88 ~m. (2)• Enlarged view of head of R. daniconius to show tubercles. (3). Amblypharyngodon mola (Hamitton- Buchanan) 80 ram. (4). Carla catla (Hamilton-Buchanan) 172 ram. (facing page 119) CYPRINID FISHES OF LAKE KOLLERU 119

Remarks: Minute, pointed tubercles are present around eye, on dorsal side of head, on opercles, scales and on all fins in mature males collected during August (Plate 21 figure 2), whereas they are absent in mature females collected at the same time. They are absent in specimens of both sexe collected in March. The tubercles are minute and are visible under a binocular microscope. They are closely placed on head and opercles and in two to three concentric circles around eye. On pectoral fin they are arranged in rows on the inner side of the outer 4-5 rays. On other fins they are scattered in small numbers. On scales the tubercles are arranged in a single row on the posterior margin. They appear to be nuptial tubercles developed only during spawning season; since they are restricted to males they indicate sexual dimorphism during spawning season. There does not appear to be any earlier report of the occurrence of these tubercles in this species.

Taxonomic note: The present specimens conform to the original description by Hamilton-Buchanan 1 except that according to him the black stripe is below lateral line, whereas it is above lateral llne in the present specimens. Also according to him, the lateral line is straight and above the middle but actually it is slightly culved downward and runs a little below middle of sides. Brittan 1~ who revised Rasbora did not comment on the above error in the original description. He states that the fin rays in the genus exibit little variation in number and gives the dorsal ray count as ii, 7. In the present material, however, the dorsal fin count is iii, 7. The first unbranched ray is very small and can be seen clearly in Alizarin stained specimens (also see Dutt and Murty~-~).

3.6. Genus Amblypharyngodon Bleeker, 1853 (Type species: Cyprinus mola Hamilton-Buchanan, 1822) Amblypharyngodon mola (H~miltoa-Buchanan, 1822) (Plate 3, figul e 3). Cyprinus mola Ham. Buch., Fish. Ganges, 1822, 334-336, 392; pl. 38, fig. 92 ; Ponds and freshwater rivers in every part of the Gangetic province.

Amblypharyngodon mola : Day, 1878 ; 555.

Materal examined: 9 specimens (3 females, 6 males) ranging from 58 to 85 mm TL.

Meristic data: D. iii, 7; P. 14-t6 (14in 3, 15 in 4, 16 in 2; )(: 14.89); V. 9; A. iii, 5; C. 19; LI.9-13 (9 in 2, 10 in 3, 11 in 2, 12 i~l 1, 13 in l ; )(: 10"56); lateral scales (perlbrated + unperforated) 60-67; scales between lateral line and pelvic fin base 9; predorsal scales 30-33 (30 in 2, 31 in 2, 32 in 3, 33 in 2; )(: 31 "50, scales alound caudal peduncle 26-28. 1~0 V. SRIRAMACHANDRA MtrRrY Body proportions as percentage of standard length: Body depth 24" 52- 30.76 (27"94), head length 27.17-29.82 (27.83), eye diameter 7.69-9.43 (8.62), snout length 4.34-7.29 (5.39), interorbital distance 8.33-11.11 (9.50), head depth 18.96-22.22 (20.60), predorsal distance 50"00-56.15 (53.26), prepelvic distance 44.82-51.11 (47.66), preanal distance 63"04- 69.23 (67"54), dorsal height 24.13-27.08 (25.07), base of dorsal 10.34- 12.06 (10.92), anal height 14.84-17.77 (16. 77), base of anal 11.11-13.20 (12.13), pectoral length 19.29-22.22 (20"59), pelvic length 15.51-18.46 (17.19), depth of caudal peduncle 11.11-12.50 (12"00). Mouth directed obliquely upwards, snout shorter th.an eye. Pharyngeal teeth triserial 5, 3, 2/2, 3, 5; broader on upper side with well-formed grinding surfaces. Dorsal origin between origins of pelvic and anal. Scales small, deciduous; lateral line incomplete, ceasing after 9-13 scales. Colour: Body yellowish-white with scattered small pigment (black) dots on upper 1/3 of sides. A broad, dark lateral band from dorsal edge of operculum to base of caudal fin. Anterior sides of first three dorsal rays black. Pectorals, pelvics and anal pale. Caudal dark.

Taxonomic note : According to Day, ~ A. mola can be distinguished from the related A. microlepis Bleeker, because they have 9-10 and 4-5 scales respectively between the row which carries the lateral line and base of pelvic fin. Srivastava 16 recorded both species in ponds around Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh but at the same time states that since "It is probable that A. microlepis was separated from /1. mola on the basis of distribution of these forms ", "...it will be worthwhile to merge both the species toge- ther and A. microlepis should be treated as a synonymy [ sic] of A. mola (Hamilton)" (p. 23). He overlooked the fact that these two species were described from the same general area by two authors independently: Hamil- ton-Buchanan1 recorded A. mola from "ponds and freshwater rivers in every part of the Gaalgetic provinces " (p. 335) which includes Bengal, and Bleekers recorded A. microlepis also from Bengal. It is clear that these two species, which show a distinct difference in the number of scales between lateral line and pelvic fin base, are not synonyms.

3.7. Genus Barbus Cuvier, 1817

(Type species: Cyprinus barbus Linnaeus, 1758) Subgenus Puntius Hamilton-Buchanan, 1822 (Type species: Cyprinus sophore Hamilton-Buchanan, 1822)

Four species of Barbus are recorded from the lake. Hamilton-Buchanan1 originally described these four species under Cyprinus which later he CYPRINID ~rSHE~ OF LAKE KOLLERU 121 divided into nine divisions, designated as subgenera in his 'Index Metho- dicus '. Of the four species in the lake, sarana is in divison Cyprinus and. sophore, chola and ticto are in division Puntius. Recent Indian workers (Misra, x5 Menon, 3x Srivastava t6 and others) use genus name Puntius for some species (including above 4 species) earlier placed in Barbus by Day.s Inger and Chin ~7 and Alfred m also use Puntius for related species from North Borneo and Singapore respectively. Probably the above authors follow Weber and De Beaufort ~z who ~ecognised Puntius as a valid genus. Smith m felt it convenient to adopt Puntius for a group of barbs from Thailand, although they fall under "a large group whose exact relations and nomenclature await elucidation " (p. 165).

Hora,**, az Hora et al., 34 Hora and Law 35 and Hora and Nair 3s treated Puntius as a subgenus of garbus.

Myers 37 suggests the retention of Barbus Cuvier in its broad sense for generic segregates of this genus in areas in which a thorough revision of this genus is not available. De Witt 3s followed Myers 37 and retained species variously assigned to Puntius, Tor, etc., by recent workers, under Barbus.

The present study indicates that Hamilton-Buchanan 1 had some justi- fication for placing sophore, chola and ticto in division (subgenus) Puntius and for placing sarana in a separate division: Cyprinus, because the former three species arc relatively smaller in size (below 130 mm) and have characteristic black blotches on body, whereas sarana attains a larger size (at least 320 mm) and has no comparable blotches.

The badly needed revision of the Barbus group of fishes from the Oriental region may possibly indicate that these two groups of species may fall in different genera or at least in different subgenera.

For the present the suggestion of Myers 37 is accepted; although as pointed above, sarana shows some differences from the other three species which may be of significance at least at subgeneric level, to avoid further confusion and pending levision of the Oriental barbs, the four species from Kolleru are provisionally assigned to Puntius as a subgenus of Barbus.

The four species from lake Kolleru can be identified by the following key: 1. Last undivided dorsally serrated bokind (a) lateral line complete, 4 barbels, a large Mack blotch on shoulder at the gill opening Barbus (Puntius) sarana 122 V. SRIRAMACHANDRAMURTY (b) lateral line incomplete, no barbels, a round black blotch on 3rd- 5th lateral line scales, another on 17th-20th lateral scales Barbus (Puntius) ticto

. Last undivided dorsal ray not serrated behind (a) a pair of maxillary barbels, a black blotch between 1st and 4th branched dorsal rays near base, a round black spot on posterior lateral line scales Barbus (Puntius) ehola (b) no barbles, a black blotch between 3rd and 6th branched dorsal rays; a round black spot on posterior lateral line scales Barbus (Puntius) sophore

Barbus (Puntius) sarana (Hamilton-Buchanan, 1822) (Plate 3, figure 1)

Cyprinus sarana Ham. Buch., Fish. Ganges, 1822, 307-310, Ponds and rivers of India. Barbus sarana" Day, 1878 ; 560-561. Material examined: 102 specimens (59 females, 43 males) ranging from 91 to 264 ram. Meristic data" D. iii-iv, 8; P. 14-18 (14 in 7, 15 in 24, 16 in 55, 17 in 13,18in2;X:15.79);V. 9;Aiii, 5;C. 19;LI. 29-35 (29 in3,30 in 9, 31 in 25, 32 in 31, 33 in 23, 34 in 5, 35 in 5; .~: 31.96); scales above lateral line 5-6; below .lateral line 4-5; scales between lateral line and pelvic fin base 4; scales around caudal peduncle 18; predorsal scales 9-12 (9 in 2, 10 in 14, 11 in 51, 12 in 29; X" 11.11). Body proportions as percentage of standard length: Body depth 30-25- 37' 26 (33" 10), head length 24- 74-28-16 (25.73), eye diameter 5.18-7.59 (6.69), snout length 5-66-7; 59 (6-86), interorbital distance 8.87-10.68 (9-90), head depth 18-95-22.52 (19.23); predorsal distance 44.55-54.92 (49.25), prepelvic distance 42.42-53.94 (46.71), preanal distance 67.32- 77-46 (71-19), dorsal height 20-70-26.58 (23.57), dorsal base 13.51- 16.45 (15.00), anal height 13.63-16.50 (15.04), anal base 7"52-10.25 (8"92), pectoral length 17.82-21.62 (19.80), pelvic length 15"84-18.81 (17.15). depth of caudal peduncle 11.65-14.47 (13.22). Mouth terminal, pharyngeal teeth pointed, triserial 4-5, 3, 2/2, 3, 4-5; barbels two pairs. Last undivided dorsal ray strong and serrated behind with a posterior median groove. Dorsal origin slightly behind pelvic origin, Pectorals slightly longer than pelvics. Lateral line complete, along middle of sides. Colour: Body silvery white, with scattered blaek pigment spots. A large black blotch on shoulder at gill opening. A round dark patch at base CYPRINID FISHES OF LAKE KOLLERU 123 of caudal fin in smaller individuals, becoming faint or disappearing in larger adults. 3 or 4 narrow horizontal bands on scale rows below lateral line that become clear in formalin preserved specimens. Dorsal with scattered black pigment spots; pectoral dark, pelvics and anal pale with their tips orange red; caudal dark with tips orange red.

Taxonomic note: Earlier workers apparently experienced difficulty in identifying tiffs species because there are seven other very similar nominal species with inadequate descriptions based on one or a few specimens each. Pillay 39 attempted to define the taxonomic status of these seven species vis-a-vis B. sarana on the basis of specimens in the ZSI which according to laim were "authentically identified by ichthyologists like Day, Annandale and Hera ". Types of species described by Prashad and Mukerji4° were also utilized by him. The details of the specimens examined by Iffm are given in table 4.

Pillay's 39 results are unreliable because he treated tlae 53 specimens of B. sarana from 9 different localities in three countries (Pakistan, Burma and India) as a homogeneous sample for comparison with other seven species in terms of races and subspecies; the material of some of the other species compared also is not from single localities (for details vide Pillay39).

Table 4. Specimens of Barbus spp. in Zoological Survey of India, compared by Pillay

SI. Species Author and year No. of Localities No. specimens

1. B. sarana Ha milton-Buchanan. 53 Burma, Assam, Bengal, Orissa, 1822 Bihar, Punjab, Sina, Bombay, Madras

2. B. chrysopoma Valenciennes, 1842 9 Coorg, Lake Beale, Cutch, Jabalpur

3. B. caudirnarginatus Blyth, 1860 39 Burma,Manipur

4. B. pinnauratus Day, 1865 19 Bihar, Malaya

5. B. oatesii Boulenger, 1893 4 Manipor

6. B. sewelli Prashad and Mukerji, 2 N. Burma 1929

7. B. myitkynae do 21 Indawagyi Lake, Kangon Thaua (Namya river)

8. B. binduchitra Hera, 1937 11 Sandcway (Burma)

B 2--March 77 i24 V. S~CHA_~RA MURTV Menoa3 z examined the samples of sarana in the Zoological Survey of India and on the basis of significant differences observed in the numbers of lateral line scales, recognised the following four subspecies.

1. B. sarana sarana (Hamilton-Buchanan) from India except peninsular India south of river Krislma, east and west Pakistan, Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan.

2. B. sarana subnausutus (Valenciennes) from peninsular India, south of river Krishna

3. B. sarana spilurus (Giinther) from Ceylon and

4. B. sarana orphoides (Valenciennes) from Manipur, Burma, Thailand, Malaya, Java and Borneo.

Menon 3z also, like Pillay,z9 pooled the lateral line scale data of specimens of each of the four recognised subspecies collected from several localities for comparison and determination of subspecific status of each of them. The present author is of the opinion that since subspecies are allopatric and since the forma typica is B. sarana (from Gangetic watershed), data of sarana, subnausutus, spilurus and orphoides from different localities have to be compared with data of specimens from type locality separately, to determine if any of them constitutes a subspecies. Only when such an analysis is made can anything be said regarding the validity of the above subspecies recognised. None of the above authors followed this method; there is thus no evidence to show that the subspecies recognised under B. sarana are indeed valid.

Barbus (puntius) sophore (Hamilton-Buchanan, 1822) (Plate 3, figure 2)

Cyprinus sophore Ham. Buch., Fish. Ganges, 1822, 310-311,388;pl. 19; figure 86; Ponds of Bengal.

Barbus stigma : Day, 1878; 579

Material examined: 70 specimens (38 females, 32 males) ranging from 36 to 104 ram.

Meristic data : D. iii-iv, 8 (11 in 5, 12 in 65); P. 14-17 (14 in 2, 15 in 33, 16 in 27, 17 in 8; X: 15.59); V. 9;A. iii, 5; C. 19; L1. 22-26 (22 in 1, 23 in 17, 24 in 31, 25 in I4, 26 in 3; .~ : 24.01); scales above lateral line 4-5 ; below lateral line 4-5; between lateral line and pelvic fin base 3 ; predorsal scales 8-10 (8 in 11, 9 in 56, 10 in 3 ; ~'8 "88) ; scales around caudal peduncle 14. CYPRINID FISHES OF LAKE KOLLERO 125

Body proportions as percentage of standard length : Body depth 28- 57- 39.28 (32.68), head length 24-52-29.33 (26.96), eye diameter 7.40-10-00 (8.45), snout length 4.75-7.83 (6.44), interorbital distance 8.33-11.62 (9.73), head depth 18.96-22.50 (20.85), predorsal distance 45.00-53.57 (49.34), prepelvic distance 42"50-53.57 (47-04), preanal distance 67.50- 76.78 (71.69), dorsal height 21.42-26.78 (24.26), dorsal base 14.92-17"85 (15.96), anal height 14.28-18.66 (15.95), anal base 7-14-11-32 (9.62), pectoral length 17.39-23.21 (20.76), pelvic length 17.18-22.22 (19.16), depth of caudal peduncle 11.62-15.00 (13.63). Mouth terminal; pharyngeal teeth triserial and pointed: 5, 3, 2/2, 3, 5. Barbels absent. Dorsal fin without any serrated ray; its origin slightly behind pelvic origin. Lateral line complete, along middle of sides. Colour: Dark brown dorsally and on upper flanks; ventral half of flanks and belly silvery ; opercle golden red. A round black patch enclosing 20th-23rd scales of lateral line on the caudal peduncle. A black blotch at base of dorsal fin between 3rd and 6th branched rays, margin dark. Pelvics and anal orange yellow, the latter with dark margin; caudal dark. A longitudinal red band from gill opening to base of caudal fin in maturing and mature adults of both sexes during March-June. This band is absent in adults of the same size range in other months. Taxonomic note: According to Hamilton-Buchanan 1 this species is very common in ponds of Bengal. He described this species as having 4 very minute barbels which however are not depicted in his figure. Me Clelland ~ a~0.d Giinther 7 considered that B. sophore does not have barbels. Day,41, s identified a 'bleached specimen' (locality unknown) with four barbels and 12 specimens fiom Khasia (Assam) as Barbus sophore of Hamilton- Buchanan. According to him, the figure of Hamilton-Buchanan is referable to Barbus stigma Valenciennes. Chandhuri4~ considered Hamilton- Buchanan's reference to the presence of 4 barbels as a mistake or over- sight. He concluded that Day's action in considering the specimens from Khasia as true sophore and the forms from Bengal as stigma was incorrect and confirmed that B. stigma was a synonym of B. sophore. Raj 43 recorded B. sophore from Madras city from a few specimens some of which had a pair of maxillary barbels and others had none. According to him all these specimens resemble each other but for the presence of barbels in some. He st2.tes that "If my observations are correct, the presence or absence of barbels is evidently variable and so cannot serve as a safe criterion for classifying species of Barbus ". Later authors (Horn,44 Misra, 15 Srivas- tava TM) followed Chaudhuri42 and considered B. sophore as not having barbels. 126 V. SRIRAMACHANDRAMtrRTV

The specimens from lake Kolleru conform to Harnilton-Buchanan's description (except for barbels) and agree with his figure; they also agree with the descriptions and figvres of this species by later authors (except DayS), and with those of Leuciscus stigma Valenciennes and of B. stigma of Day.

Barbus (Puntius) sophore and Barbus (Puntius) chola (Ham. Buch.) show considerable ovorlap in meristic characters and body proportions (table 5) and have in common: a te~tdish golden patch on opercle, a round black patch on the posterior most lateral line scales and in adults having a red lateral ba~.d during spawning ~eason. However, chola has a pair of barbles which are absent in sophore. Moreover, in chola the black blotch on the dorsal is at the base of 1st to 4th branched rays while in sophore it is at the base of 3rd to 6th branched rays. In the former species there is also a faint band of pigment spots running along the middle of this fin. There is also a difference in the number of scales round the caudal peduncle (14 in sophore, 16-18 in chola).

The specimens with a pair of maxillary barbels identified as garbus sophore by Raj 43 may actually be B. chola, but his description is inadequate and his specimens are not traceable: they are not in the collections of the Madras Government Museum. Day8 recorded B. chola from Madras city, but Raj 43 did not report it.

The identification by Day 41,s,4s of specimens from Khasia hills and the ' bleached ' specimen now in the Zoological Survey of India, as B. sophore

Table 5. Comparison of meristic characters in B. sophore and B. chola from lake Kolleru

Dorsal fin rays Pectoral fin rays

11 12 N 14 15 16 17 N

B. sophore 5 65 70 2 33 27 8 70

B. chola 1 42 43 4 18 17 4 43

Lateral line scales Predorsalscales

22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 N 8 9 10 11 N

B. sophore 1 17 31 14 3 ...... 66 11 56 3 .. 70 B. chola .... 2 13 15 11 1 1 43 .. 14 21 7 42 CYPRINID FISHES OF LAKE KOLLERU 127 (even if it is accepted for the moment that some specimens of this species have four minute barnes) is not correct because:

1. according to Day the barbles are long and thin and the maxillary pair are ½ longer than eye in these specimens, whereas according to Hamil- ton-Buchanan, the barbels aie minute, and 2. Hamilton-Buchanan's description as well as figure show a black blotch on the dorsal, whereas there is no reference to it in Day's description, nor does his figure show it.

Thus, the specimens identified as Barbus sophore by Day, it appears, are now wihout a valid name.

Barbus (Puntius) chola (Hamilton-Buchanan, 1822) (Plate 3, figure 3)

Cyprinus chola Ham. Buch., Fish. Ganges, 1822, 312-313, 388; ponds of north-eastern parts of Bengal. Barbus chola : Day, 1878 ; 571. ? Barbus sophore: Raj 1916; 256-258 (Madras) ? Barbus sophoroides: Giinther, 1868, 7 144 (Bengal). ? Barbus sophoroides: Smith, 1945, 174 (Thailand). Material examined: 43 specimens (29 females, 14 males) ranging from 69 to 129 mm TL.

Meristic data : D. iii-iv, 8 (I1 in 1, 12 in 42); P. 14-17 (14 in 4, 15 in 18, 16 in 17, 17 in 4; X: 15.44); V. 9; A. iii, 5;C. 19;L1. 24-29 (24 in 2, 25 in 13, 26 in 15, 27 in 11, 28 in 1, 29 in 1 ; 2: 25.98); scales above lateral line 5-6; below lateral line 4; between lateral line and pelvic fin base 3-4; around caudal peduncle 16-18; predorsal scales 9-11 (9 in 14, 10 in 21, 11 in 7; 2: 9.83). Body proportions as percentage of standard length: Body depth 31.48- 38.54 (35-49), head length 24.21-29.62 (27.24), eye diameter 6.74-11.32 (8"29), snout length 5.61-8.43 (7.19), interorbital distance 8.98-12.19 (10.11), head depth 19.16-23.19 (21.31), predorsal distance 44.73-53.83 (47.78), prepelvic distance 43.33-49.05 (46.19), preanal distance 68.29- 73.78 (71.25), dorsal height 19.48-27.69 (23.72), dorsal base 16.25-19"75 (18.02) anal height, 14.14-19.23 (16.18), anal base 8-33-11.32 (9.64), pectoral length 17.34-22.66 (20.04), pelvic length 17.38-22.22 (19.45), depth of caudal peduncle 11.42-15"00 (13.57). 128 V. SPaa.~t~c~A.ND~ MURTY

Mouth terminal, pharyngeal teeth pointed and triserial 5, 3, 2/2, 3, 5. A pair of maxillary barbels, when extended backwards they reach to below middle of eye. Dorsal fin with the last undivided ray longest, osseus, not serrated behind. Dorsal origin slightly behind pelv,.'c origin. Lateral line complete, runs along middle of sides.

Colour: Dark brown above and on upper half of ttanks and silvery on ventral half and belly. A black blotch between first and fourth blanched dorsal rays near base of fin and a faint band of disciete melanophores along middle of fin. Opercle with reddish-gold sheen. Pectorals pale, pelvics orange yellow, anal orange red with dark margin. A black round blotch on 23rd- 25th scales of lateral line on caudal peduncle. A red longitudinal band from opeacle to base of caudal fin in mature individuals during Marcia to June. This band is not seen during other months.

Taxonomw note : B. chola from the lake conforms to the original description of Hamilton-Buck.nan a and the description of Day) Day4x synonymised B. sophoroides Giinther from Bengal and Assam with B. chola. Menon ~ followed Day, but these authors did not give reasons for doing so. Smith ~ treated sophoroides as a valid species.

Comparison of data of the five specimens (2 types and 3 specimens from Thailand) ofB. sophoroides in the British Museum which were reexamined by Dr. Trewavas for Smith (for details vide Smith~), with the data of specimens of B. chola from the lake (table 6) does not show any difference betwe~a them. Hence, it appears that Day~1 was justified in treating B. sophoroides Giinther as a junior synonym of B. chola (Hamilton-Buc2tanan).

Barbus (Puntms) ttcto ~,Hamilton-Buchanan, 1822) (Plate 3, figme 4)

Cyprmus ticto Ham. Buch., Fish Ganges, 1822, 314-315, 388; pl. 8, fig. 87, southern parts of Bengal. Barbus ticto : Day, 1878; 576-577. Material examined: 55 specimens (30 females, 25 males) ranging from 47 to 62 nun TL. Meristic data: D. iii-iv, 8 (11 in 4, 12 in 51); P. 13-15 (13 in 22, 14 in28, 15in 5;.~': 13.69); V. 9;A. iii, 5; C. 19; L1.6--12 (6in 4, 7in 12, 8 in 19, 9 in 7, 10 in 9, 11 in 2, 12 in 1;X: 8.27); lateral scales (perforated+ unperforated)21-25 (21 in2, 22 in 1, 23 in 20, 24 in 26, 25 in 5, $': 23.57); scales above lateral line 4--5; between lateral line and pelvic fin base 4; pledorsal scales 9-11 (9 in 32, 10 in 20, 11 in 1 ; X :9.43); scales around caudal peduncle 12-14, II. Sriramachandra Murty Proc. Indian Acad. Sci., Plate 3 1Iol. 85 B, No. 3, 1977, pp. 107-146

Figures 1-4. (1). Barbus tPuntius) sctrana (Hamiltov~-Bucharan)195mm. (2). Barbus (Puntius) sophore (Hamilton-Buchalai~) 96 mm. (3). Barbus (Puntius) chola (Hamilton- Buchanan) 128 mm. (4). Barbus (Ptmthts) ticto (Hamilton-Buchanan) 60 ram. (facing page 128) V. Sriramachandra Murty Proc. Indian Acad. Sci., Plate 4 Vol. 85B, No. 3, 1977. pp. 107-146

Figures 1-5. (1). Labeo bata (Hamiltor-Buchanal~) 245 ram. (2). Lab~.o calkasu (Hamiltcn- Buchanar0 199 ram. (3). Labeo fimbriata (Bloch) 178 ram. (4). Labeo rohita (Hamilton- Buchanan) 192 ram. (5). Rohtee (Osteobrama) eotio (Hamilton-Buchanan) 75 ram. (facing page 129 CYPRINID FISHES OF LAKE KOLLERU 129

o I ~_ 2~ G~ • • •

~ ,.-,

I',I g ,

¢¢

O0 ~ ('4

t"4

o O

° q~ 0

,.• ~ ° ~ •

O L~ o "5 e. o e~

o 130 V. SRIRAMACHAN.DRAMtmTv

Body proportions as percentage of standard length : Body depth 34.21- 41.46 (37.31), head length 23.25-27-77 (25.96), eye diameter 7.50-10.00 (8.76), snout length 4.65-7.32 (6-12), interorbital distance 8-75-11-11 (9.49), head depth 18-42-24.39 (21.33), predorsal distance 47.50-54.80 (50.71), prepelvic distance 44.44-51.2I (47.78), preanal distance 67-50- 73.33 (72.28), dorsal height 21.42-26.82 (23"95), dorsal base 15.78-20.00 (17.37), anal height 14.28-19.51 (16.67), anal base 8.75-12.22 (10.27), pectoral length 19.04-25.00 (21.29), pelvic fin length 17.50-22.22 (20.09), depth of caudal peduncle 13.15-16.66.

Mouth terminal, pharyngeal teeth pointed and arranged in three rows 5, 3, 2/2, 3, 5 ; barbels absent. Last undivided dorsal ray osseous and serrated behind, its tip being pointed and sharp; it is slightly shorter than first two branched rays. Dorsal origin slightly behind pelvic origin. Lateral line incomplete. Colour : Silvery with dark pigment dots above and on upper half of flanks. A black blotch on 3rd and 4th or on 4th and 5th lateral line scales, another black blotch on 2 or 3 scales, between 17th and 20th scales i.e.. on row of scales which are in line with the incomplete lateral line. Dorsal edge dark, with one or two oblique rows of small dark spots on membrane of fin. Pectoral pale or with minute scattered dark pigment spots. Pelvics pale, anal and caudal dark.

Taxonomic note : Hera et al) 4 examined a series of several specimens of Barbus (Puntius) ticto from different localities in Ceylon, India and Burma, and taking into consideration "the variations undergone by some of the saAient diagnostic features of the species " (p. 267), they concluded that Barbus punctatus Day and B. stoliczkai Day are synonyms of Barbus (Puntius) ticto. In the process they placed Cyprinus tictis Ham. Buch. also in the synonymy.

Silas~ distinguished ticto, punctatus and stoliczkai as subspecies of ticto based on the data of Hera et aL (op. cit.) on the basis of

1. lateral line being complete or incomplete and

2. differences in the numbers of: pectoral fin rays, lateral line scales, predorsal scales and scales between lateral line and pelvic fin base.

According to him, only subspecies ticto has incomplete lateral line.

According to Hera, 3z the lateral line may be complete or incomplete in specimens of sto!iczkai from Sandoway (lower Burma). In Thailand the CYPRINID FISHES OF LAKE KOLLERU 131 "d °~ t~

WOO

~s ¢q

¢'-I t.q ¢'q ~+

t.,.q

e~ o

°~

¢..q ~ ° • tr~ ¢¢~ ¢¢'1 tt~ • ¢x I ~ ,.~ tr.~ • g~

.< P~ I g2

• • _ ° • • ~ ¢'q

,s2 < ,.Q

°~

O ~z r/) g 132 V. SRIRAMACHANDRA MURTY specimens identified as B. stoliczkai exhibit " ... such differences as represent individual variation in squammation ..." (Smith," p. 170). The data of Hora et al. ~ (table 2, p. 274) for Barbus (Puntius) ticto from Burma show that lateral line is complete in specimens from Beeling (east of Pegu), from river Sittang (below Pegu) and from Tanja in N.E. Burma, but incomplete in specimens from Pagoda Twante and from Dalu in upper Chindwin ; but of the four specimens from Sandoway, 3 had complete lateral lines while in the fourth it was incomplete (table 7). With regard to Ceylon and India, the available records show that in Ceylon the lateral line is incomplete whereas in India it is incomplete in all areas except in the specimens from Kerala State. Hora and Law 35 recorded a specimen from Central Travancore in which the lateral line is" more or less complete "(p. 248). I have examined five specimens labelled Barbus punctatus from Travancore collected by Dr. C. C. John and deposited in the Government Museum at Madras; all these specimens conform to the original description ofB. tieto (Ham. Buch.) and agree with the specimens from lake Kolleru in all respects except for the lateral line which is complete in the former. Thus, B. ticto with or without complete lateral line is not restricted to definite regions in the four countries. There is not enough evidence to show that they constitute geographic isolates or that there is any clear pattern in their distribution. Both types occur in India and Burma and, by inference from the statement of Smith ~s (p. 170), in Thailand. In Burma both types occur in one locality (Sandoway). All the available evidence leads to the conclusion that the number of scales involved in the lateral line is a variable character. Hora etal. ~ state "Judging from the variations noted above in the extent of lateral line it seems that this character is undergoing retro o gression and that it cannot be employed for the separation of varieties or races" 3.8. Genus Catla Valenciennes, 1844 (Type species: Cyprinus catla Hamilton-Buchanan, 1822) Catla Catla (Hamilton-Buchanan, 1822) (Plate 2, figure 4) Cyprinus catla Ham. Buch., Fish. Ganges, 1822, 287-289, 387, pl. 13, fig. 81, Rivers and tanks of Bengal.

Catla buehanani Day, 1878; 553. Material examined: 21 specimens (12 females, 9 males) ranging from 146 to 316 mm TL. Meristic data: D. iv, 14-15 (18 in 8, 19 in 13); P. 19-21 (19 in 13, 20 in 6, 21 in2; ~': 19.48); V. 9; A. iii, 5; C. 19; L1. 40-42(40 in 7, 41 in 9, 42 in 5; ~': 40.91); scales above lateral line 7-8, below lateral line 6-7; between CYPRINID FISHES OF LAKE KOLLERU 133 lateral line and pelvic flit base 6; around caudal peduncle 22-24; predorsal scales 11-13 (11 in 2, 12 in 12, 13 in 7; 2: 12.23). Body proportions as percentage of standard length : Body depth 29" 82- 36.69 (33"92), head length 33.20-38.03 (36.20), depth of head 23.60- 27.34 (25.91), eye diamater 7.60-8.52 (7.98), snout length 8.40-10.07 (9.16), interorbital distance 14.72-16.00 (15.21), predorsal distance 46.51- 50.78 (47.75), prepelvic distance 48.80-53.12 (50.48), preanal distance 72.40-79.68 (76.53), dorsal base 23-74-26.35 (25.02), dorsal height 23.68-26.11 (25.31), anal base 6.25-8.52 (7.52), anal height 18.42-20.86 (19.60), pelvic length 20-00-21.64 (20-84), depth of caudal peduncle 11.23-14.38 02-68). Pharyngeal teeth triserial 5, 3, 2/2, 3, 5 with slight grinding surfaces directed obliquely inwards. Origin of dorsal slightly before pelvic origin. Scales large, lateral line complete, runs along middle of sides. Colour: Body browrt dorsally and on sides, white on belly. All fins dark. Some specimens are dark all over body and fins. Remarks: Two colour varieties: one brown bodied and the other dark bodied occur in the lake catches. The former is called 'bochi' and the latter as 'kaki bochi" locally. Except in eolour these two do not show differences in other characters. 3.9. Genus Cirrhinus Cuvier*, 1817

(Type species: Cyprmus cirrhosus Bloch, 1797).

Two species: Clrrhmus mrigala (Hamilton-Buchanan, 1822) and C. reba (Hamilton-Buchanan, 1822) occur in the lake. Descriptions have been published by Dutt and Murty al who show that C. chaudhryi Srivastava 16 is a junior synonym of C. mtigala. Abnormal specimens of C. mrigala with two (or one) maxillaly barbels (apart from the normal rostral pair) also occur so that the number of baxbels is not a valid distinguishing character in this species. The two species from lake Kolleru can be distinguished by the following key : 1. D. 16-17; LI. 42-45; snout blunt; dark grey dorsally and to about upper 3/4 of flanks, with an yellowish tinge, belly silvery white ... C. mrigala

* Dutt and Mttrtyel pointed out that the author of Cirrhinus should be cited as Cuvier who erected it as Cirrhina and no# as Okea (1817) as is done by several workers. Oken only amende~! ~© spetUnl~. 134 V. SRIRAMACHANDRAMURTY . D, 11-13 ; L1. 34-38 ; snout pointed ; dark grey dorsally and dorso- laterally, shining silvery ventrally and ventrolaterally ; longitudinal dark band from upper posterior border of eye to upper edge of operculum ... C. reba

3.10. Genus Labeo Cuvier, 1817 (Type species: Cyprinus niloticus ForskM, 1775)

1. The four species of Labeo in the lake cart be identified by the following key : 1. A pair of short maxillary barbels (a) blanched dorsal rays 9-10 a small tubercle above mandibular symphysis; body golden yellow above and silvery below, a black blotch on anterior (4th-6th) lateral line scales ... Labeo bata (b) branched dorsal rays 12-14, no tubercle above mandibular symphysis; body dark brown above and on sides, silvery ventrally, scales on sides red with dark margins ... Labeo rohita

. A pair of rostral and a pair of maxillary barbels (a) branched dorsal rays 15-18; lateral line scales 43-47; snout blunt, body dark brown; scales on sides with small round red spots ... Labeo fimbriata, (b) branched dorsal rays 12-15; lateral line scales 40-43; snout pointed ; body dark grey, no red spots on scales ... Labeo calbasu

Labeo bata (Hamilton-Buchanan, 1822) (Plate 4, figure 1)

Cyprinus bata Ham, Bach., Fish. Ganges, 1822, 283-284, 386, rivers and ponds of Bengal.

Labeo bata: Day, 1878; 542.

Material examined: 53 specimens (32 females, 21 males) ranging from 136 to 207 mm TL.

Meristic data: D. iv. 9-10 (13 in 51, 14in 2); P. 15-18 (15 in 7, 16in 19, 17 in 25, 18 in 2; X: 16.41); V. 9; A. iii, 5; C. 19; L1.38--40 (38 in 10, 39 in 32, 40 in 11 ; X: 39.01); scales above lateral line 6-7; below lateral line 5-6; between lateral line and pelvic fin base 5; around caudal peduncle ~4--26; predorsal scales 10-13 (10 in 5, 11 in !4, 12 in 22, 13 in 12; X: 11.77), CYPRINID FISHES OF LAKE KOLLERU i35

Body proportions as percentage of standard length: Body depth 21-95- 27.11 (24-62), head length 22-72-26"31 (24.27), eye diameter 5.92-7.89 (7-04), snout length 6.40-8.27 (7.23), interorbital distance 6.83-9-34 (8.28), head depth 17.32-19.29 (17-76), predorsal distance 40.80-44"91 (42.81), prepelvic distance 45.11-52-13 (48.14), preanal distance 72.17- 75.86 (74.16), height of dorsal 21.48-25.00 (22.94), dorsal base 13.76- 18.69 (15-97), anal height 14.59-17.82 (16.50), base of anal 6.40-8.54 (7.63), pectoral length 16.78-20.49 (18-85), pelvic length 16.66-19.53 (17-92), depth of caudal peduncle 9.92-12.26 (11.29).

Mouth inferior, lips thin and continuous, lower lip slightly fringed and folded back. A small tubercle above mandibular symphysis. Snout with small pores. A pair of minute maxillary barbels not easily perceptible ; no rostral barbels. Pharyngeal teeth compressed, narrow at bases, broader at tips with gt'inding surfaces, arranged in three rows 5, 4, 2/2, 4, 5. Dorsal fin without any osseous ray, its origin before pelvic origin. Lateral line complete with a slight curve immediately after its origin, rmming along middle of sides.

Colour: Golden yellow above and on dorsal half of flanks, silvery on lower half of flanks and belly. Two scales on lateral line (between 4th and 6th scales) covered with densely packed pigment dots, except along their posterior margins. One or two scales both above and below may also be similarly pigmented, so that this area appears as an irregular blotch. This black blotch appears faint in flesh condition because of the golden sheen, but is very distinct on preservation. A faint blotch on caudal peduncle close to caudal base, which disappears in older adults. Pelvic and anal fins dark with orange red tips ; other fins with scattered black pigment dots.

Taxonomic note : The present specimens conform to the original description except for the minute barbels (maxillary), which were missed by Hamilton-Buchanan 1 who also did not mention the tubercle above mandibular symphysis. This lapse in the original description has not been noted by later workers. The lake specimens conform to the description of Day s also except according to him, "when [these specimens are] about four inches long there are three or four black spots on the fifth or sixth scales of the lateral line, which gradually and almost entirely fade as age advances " whereas in the present specimens which are all above four inches, the pigmentation on lateral line scales is present in all specimens. The pharyngeal teeth formula according to Day s is, 5, 3, 2/2, 3, 5 whereas in the specimens from the lake it is 5, 4, 2/2, 4, 5. Of the 25 species of Labeo recorded by Day, s 15 including L. bata were reported as having a pair of maxillary barbe!s. L. bata can be distinguished from the other 14 species with mardllary barbels i36 V. SmXAMACHA~r.A Mtmre and from the four species erected by Chaudhuri,4s by the presence of the tubercle above mandibular symphysi.s and by its characteristic black blotch on the anterior lateral line scales.

Labeo calbasu (Hamilton-Buchanan, 1822) (Plate 4, figure 2)

Cyprinus calbasu Ham. Buch., Fish. Ganges, 1822, 297-298, 387; pl. 2, figure 83.* Rivers and ponds of Bengal and in the western provinces.

Labeo calbasu : Day, 1878, 536-537. Material examined: 23 specimens (13 females, 10 males) ranging from 166 lo 332 mm TL.

Meristic data : D. ill-iv, 13-15 (16 in 1, 17 in 8, 18 in 10, 19 in 4; ~" : 17.73); P. 17-19 (17in 13, 18in 8, 19 in 2;..~ : 17.52); V. 9; A. iii, 5; C. 19; L1. 40-43 (40 in 2, 41 in 8, 42 in 12, 43 in 1 ; ~" : 41 "52) ; scales above lateral line 7-8; below lateral line 6-7; between lateral line and pelvic fin base 5-6; predorsal scales 15-18 (15 in 5, 16 in 9, 17 in 5, 18 in 1;~': 16.10); scales around caudal peduncle 20-22.

Body proportions as percentage of standard length : Body depth 30.49- 37.77 (32.60), head length 23-92-26.66 (24" 85), eye diameter 4.79-6.66 (5.95), snout length 8-46-10-56 (9.34), irtterofbital distance 10.94-14.07 (12.62), predorsal distance 43.06-47.88 (46.14), prepelvic distance 47.44- 52.48 (49.53), preanal distance 70.28-75-48 (74.05), dorsal height 26.27- 37.20 (35.55), dorsal base 25-36-31.85 (27.69), anal base 8.41-12.59 (9.64), pectoral length 19.85-25.18 (21.54), pelvic length 20.56-26.95 (22.75), depth of caudal peduncle 12.75-16.29 (13.92). Barbels two pails: rostral barbels longer than maxillary barbels, more or less equal to eye diameter. Mouth inferior, lips continuous at corners, thick and conspicuously fringed. Pharyngeal teeth triserial 5, 4, 2[2, 4, 5 with oblique grinding surfaces directed towards inner sides, the inner two rows with more well formed grinding surfaces than the outer row. Dorsal origin well in front of pelvic origin. Lateral line complete. Colour: Body uniformly dark grey. Barbels black. Dorsal and pectorals dark; ventrals black; anal black on distal half, pale on proximal half; caudal dark.

* In plate 2 of Hamilton-Buchanan1 the figure is wrongly labelled as number 33 though iJ~ text (p. 297), the author cites it correctly as figure 83 ; figure 33 is in plate 13 and actually refers to Coius coboJus Ham. Buch. CYPRINII~ FISHES OF LAKE KOLLERD 137 Remarks: Tile last (4th) unbranched dorsal ray is the longest of dorsal rays. Height of dorsal is relatively greater in specimens above 200 rnm TL. Height of dorsal expressed as percentage of standard length ranges from 26.27-31 "50 in specimens below 195 mm TL, whereas the same is 35.55- 37.20 in larger specimens measuring from 202 to 332 mm TL. Similarly pelvic length and dorsal base are relatively larger in bigger specimens. Labeo fimbriata (Bloch, 1797) (Plate 4, figure 3). Cyprinusfimbriatus Bloch, lchth., 1797, 11: 50; pl. 409, Madras. Labeo fimbriatus: Day, 1878; 536 Material examined : 46 specimens (26 females, 20 males) ranging from 129 to 285 ram. Meristicdata: D. iv. 15-18 (19in 1,20in 31,2I in 12, 22in 2; JT: 20.32); P. 16-19 (16 in 4,17 in 31,18 in10,19 Jn l ; X :17"17) V. 9 A. iii, 5;C. 19; L1.43-47 (43 in 2, 44 in 6, 45 Jn 20, 46 in 13, 47 in 5; J(: 45.28) scales above lateral line 9-10; below late;al line 6-7; between lateral line and pelvic fin base 6-7 predorsal scales 13-18 (13 in 3, 14 in 12, 15 in 8, 16 in 11, 17 in 3, 18 in 1; X: 15.05); scales around caudal peduncle 24--26. Body proportions as percentage of standard length: Body depth 27.92- 34.45 (31.39), head length 20.66-23.77 (22.46), eye diameter 5.51-6"77 (6.23), snout length 7.38-8.78 (8.06), interorbital distance 10.16-11.96 (10-79), head depth 17.60-19"26 (18.37), predorsal distance 41.66-45.76 (43.52), prepelvic distance 46.28-51.81 (49-16), prearlal distance 71-42- 76-36 (73.81), dorsal height 21-64-23.95 (22.61), dorsal base27.04--31.89 (29-29), anal height 20.13-22"29 (21"09), anal base 7.20-9.72 (9-15), pectoral length 18.38-20- 72 (19" 58), pelvic length 19"25-22.41 (21.05), depth of caudal peduncle 11.50-14.00 (12.71). Snout with pores; mouth inferior, lips thick and fringed. Pharyngeal teeth compressed, distal ends broader than base with distinct grinding surfaces, tliserial 5, 4, 2/2, 4, 5. A pair each of rostral and maxillary barbels both short. Dorsal origin before pelvic origin. Lateral lir, e complet~ along middle of sides. Colour : Body dark brown all ovei except belly which is light brewn. A round red spot on each scale on about 8-10 horizontal rows on flanks, from behind tip of pectoi al to above antal; thes ~spots disappear i~ pl eserved specimens. Dorsal, pectorals and caudal dark; pelvics and anal blaok. Taxonomic note : T6e lake specimens conform to earlier descriptions except in regard to body colour, which in KoUeru specimens is dark brown. 138 V. SRIRAMACHANDRAMIJ'P.TY According to Day8 it is "silvery along back becoming lighter on the sides and beneath. Fins more especially the ventral, anal and lower caudal lobe stained with black. Sometimes a diffused dark blotch at the base of caudal and which is almost invariably present in the young " (p. 536). Misra is repeated the above. These authors do not mention the red spots on scales probably because their descriptions were based on preserved specimens. The red spots on scales are mentioned in the Wealth of India, Fish and Fisheries (Anon)9). Specimens from the lake were compared for colour with specimens from river Godavary. The latter conform to the earlier descriptions. The specimens from Kolleru are unique in that they are dark brown except on belly which is light brown. In at least one other species: Anabas testudineus it has been observed that the fishes from lake Kollelu are darker thart those from other localities (RaoS0).

This species can be distinguished from other species of Labeo (Day, 8 Chaudhuri, 4~ Tilak 51 ), by its colour and meristic characters.

Labeo rohita (Hamilton-Buchanan, 1822) (Plate 4, figure 4) Cyprinus rohita Ham. Buck., Fish. Ganges, 1822, 301-303, 388; pl. 36 9 fig. 85. Freshwater rivers of Gangetic provinces.

Labeo rohita : Day, 1878, 538

Material examined : 30 specimens (14 females, 10 males, 6 juveniles) ranging from 73 to 436 mm TL.

Meristic data : D. iv, 12-14 (16 in 20, 17 in 6, 18 in 4; X: •6-46); P. 17-19 (17 in 6, 18 in 9, 19 in 15; X': 18.30); V. 9; A. iii, 5; C. 19; L1. 40-44 (40in 1, 41 in 8, 42in 12, 43in 7, 44in 2;.~': 42.03); scales above lateral line 6-9; below lateral line 6-7; between lateral line and pelvic fin base 5-7; predorsaI scales 12-16 (12 in 7, 13 in 10 ,I4 in 6, 15 in 5, 16 in 2; )?: 13.50); scales around caudal peduncle 22-24.

Body proportions as percentage of standard length: Body depth 24" 56- 30.00 (27.25), head length 23.18-29.16 (26.76), head depth 18.75-21.08 (19.98), eye diameter 5.83-8.92 (6-84), snout length 8.44-10.71 (8.78), interorbital distance 9.82-15" 47 (13.47), predorsal distance 42.22-48.21 (45.78), prepelvic distance 48.00-55.35 (51.18), preanal distance 73.61-77.84 (75.86), dorsal base 18.44-26.08 (21.59), dorsal height 19.00-23.94 (20-41), anal base 6-41-8.77 (7.19), anal height 17.00-21.12 (18.51), pectoral length 17.30-21-33 (18.65), pelvic length 16"95-20-28 (]8"20, depth of caudal peduncle 10.89-12.28 (11-56). CYPRiNID FISHES OF LAKE KOLLEKU 139 Mouth inferior, lips thick, continuous and fringed. Pharyngeal teeth strong flattened, with well-formed grinding surfaces directed obliquely towards inner side, triserial 5, 4, 3/3, 4, 5. A pair of maxillary barbels present, no rostral ba, bels. Dorsal origin before pelvic origin. Lateral line complete, along middle of sides. Colour: Body dark brown above and on sides, becoming silvery ventrally. Scales reddish in the centre, posterior margins dark. All fins dark except pectoral which is dusky. Taxonomic note: The spec,.'mens from the lake conform to the original description except that Hamilton-Buchanan 1 recorded 10 rays in thepelvic, the first two undivided. Obviously he included the curved bone that is close to and in front of the first unbranched ray, but which is not a true pelvic ray (Dutt and MurtyZ~). There is only a pair of maxillary barbels in all specimens examined, although Day s stated that "A rostral pair are said to be sometimes present" (p. 530). According to Shaw and Shebbeare, 3° barbels are altogether absent in specimens from northern Bengal.

3.1 1. Genus Rohtee Sykes, 1839 (Type species: Rohtee ogilbyi Sykes, 1839) Sykes 3 erected the genus Rohtee with three species: ogilbyi, vigorsii and pangut but did not designate the type species. Smith2e has shown that R. vigorsii is not the orthotype of Rohtee as stated by Jordan, 5z because Bleeker53 had earlier designated R. ogilbyi as the type. Hera54 observed a procumbent predorsal spine in a number of specimens referable to R. ogilbyi and so included this species under the genus Mystacoleucus Giinther, wl~ich is characterised by such a spine. However, Hera and Misra55 treated Rohtee and Mystacoleucus as distinct, following Jordan ~2 who considered R. vigotsii as the orthotype of Rohtee. Species of Mystacoleucus, in addition to having a procumbont predorsal spine, have art anal fin with 6-10 branched rays. The fact that there is a procumbent predorsal spine in R. ogilbyi made Hera ~ to refer it to genus Mystacoleucus; he states tlat "It seems reasonable, thelefoxe: to include Rohtee ogilbii in the genus Mystacoleucus, the definition of which should be amended to complise forms having 8-14 branched rays in the anal fin" (p. 312), because there are 13-14 branched anal rays in specimens of R. ogilbyi examined by him. ff ogilbyi is assigned to Mystacoleucus, the latter becomes a synonym of Rohtee, and the species without a procumbent predorsal spine origi-

B 3--March 77 140 V. SRIRAMACltA.NDRAMURTY naUy iu¢luded under Rohtee have to be assigned to another genus. Smith ~ (p. 127) was of the opinion that: These changes in nomenclature, however would be very unfortunate and are believed to be unnecessary. While R. ogilbii has a procure- bent predorsal spine the wliter holds the opinion (1) that this feature alone does not justify separation of the species from its congeners with which it is oth,rwise in complete agreement and (2) that the general facies, the backward origin of dorsal fin with reference to ventral fins, the more numerous scales (55 in lateral line in R. ogilbii as against a maximum of 39 in any species of Mystacoleucus), the longer anal fin (with 13 or 14 branched rays as against 6-10 in Mystacoleucus) and similar features should be given greater weight collectively than the procumbent spine. Smith2e therefore treated Rohtee Sykes and Mystacoleucus Giinther as distinct genera although he was aware of th~ fact that Bleeker58 had designated R. ogilbii which has a procumbent predorsal spine (as in species of Mystacoleucus) as the type of Rohtee. Since Hor# 4 placed ogilbyi under Mystacoleucus and since Bleeker~3 had already designated ogilbyi as the type of Rohtee, Silas47 stated that "it is only proper that species now assigned to Mystacoleucus (forms with procumbent predorsal spine) be placed under Rohtee" because ogilbyi is its type and because it has priority over Mystacoleucus. He further considered that the species without procumbent spine originally included under Rohtee have to be transfered to Osteobrama Heckel, 1842 (Cyprinus cotio Ham. Buch. is its type) which he considered as valid for them. He then split Rohtee into two subgenera on taxonomic as well as geographic consi~ derations : Subgenus 1. Rohtee s. str. to include the type R. ogilbyi Sykes which is known only from peninsular India and differs from others in the number of lateral line scales and anal fin rays, and Subgenus 2. MystacoleUcus which is known only from Sumatra, lower Burma, Thailand and Malay peninsula, to include ell the other species with procumbent predorsal spine. Later workers (Misra, 15 Srivastava, 16 Menon 4~) followed Silas47 and referred species without procumbent predorsal spine to Osteobrama Heckel Examination of a specimen of Rohtee ogilbyi in the Zoological Survey of India (No. F 12473/1, from Kurnool) reveals that in addition to the presence of a procumbent predorsal spine, the abdominal edge is very distinctly trenchant tom between pelvic base to vent. This character was not given adequate importance by Hora. u Gtinther7 did not mention CYPRINII~ FISHES OF LAKE KOLLERU 141 this character in his description of Mystacoleucus, whereas Smith 2s described the abdominal edge in this genus as round. Dutt and Mult) ~ stressed thz taxonomic importance of this character in these fishes. In all the species without procumbent spine originally ineluded under Rohtee, the abdominal edge is trenchant (Hora and MisraU). The diagnostic characters of the presumed* holotype of Mystacoleucus padangensis (Bleeker) (the type of Mystaeoleucus) in the Leiden Museum, the types of M. atridorsalis Fowler and M. ehilopterus Fowler in the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia along with those of R. ogilbyi in the Zoological Survey of India and of the species originally included under Rohtee are presented in table 8. Table 8. Comparison of diagnostic characters of types of three species of Mystacoleucus, a specimen of R. ogilbyi and species originally included under Rohtee ii Details D. A. L1. Procumbent Species of material predorsal Abdominal edge spine

Mystacoleucus Holotype iv, 8 iv, 8 .. present rounded before pel- t padangensis RMNH vies, and hardly (Bleeker) trenchant (with the median scale very indistinctly V-shaped in cross section) between pelvics and vent. **M. ehilopterus Holotype iii, ~ iii, 9 about 22 present, a b d o m e n trenchant (Fowler) ANSP hidden between base of pel- beneath vics and vent. skin ** do. Paratype iii, 8 iii, 9 do. do. do. ANSI" ** do. do. do. do. do. do. do. ** M. atddor- Holotype iii, 8 iii, 9 about 30 present too wrinkled and salis ANSP shrunken to be Fowler positive about its condition, it appears not to be trenchant. R. ogilbyi ZSI iv, 8 iii, 14 54 present Very distinctly tren- Sykes chant between base of pelvies and vent. Species Hera and .. iii, 11-33 42-58 absent trenchant betwee~t base originally Misra of pelvics to vent, included (1940) except in one species under Rohtee in which ~t is entirely trenchant

* Dr. Boeseman of Lieden Museum (in litt.) writes that "I reexamined the presumed hole- type of Mystacoleucus padangensis Bleeker. The specimen was indicated as a bolotype by t3. R Alfred of Singapore National Museum, several years ago, ~ho also removed another stx from the same lot which we obtained from the auction at the death of Bleeker" t Data provided by Dr. Boeseman; ** Data provided by Dr. P~ilip C. Heewstra; RMNH = Ri.iksmuseum van Natuurlijl~e Historie, Leiden ; ANSP = Aca0emy of Natural sciences, Philadelphia; ZSI = Zoological Survey of India, Calcutta 142 V. SRIRAMACHANDRA MURTY It is clear from this table that the abdominal edge is trencl~ant from between base of pzlvics to vent in th~ types of )VLvstacoleucusspp. examinect, in R. ogilbyi and in ell species originally included under Rohtee; in tt, e holotype of M. padangensis and M. atridorsalis this is doubtful; the indis- tinctness in the latter two may be due to artifact.

An examination of 41 specimens belonging to 8 species of Rohtee in the eell~'etions of Zoological Survey of India, Cak.utta : R. feae (Vineiguelra), R. vigorsii Sykes, the type of R. bakeri Day, R. cotio ~ar cunma Day, R. cotio (Ham. Buch.), R. belengeri Cuvier and Valenci~nes syntype and other specimens of R. neilli Da) and toe types of R. dayi Hera and Misra, has shown that in all thtse specimel~s fie abdominal edge is trenchant.

R. ogilbyi resembles species of Mystacoleucus (table 8) in having a trenchant abdomen and in having a procumbent predorsal spine but differs in the branched anal rays and lateral line scales. It resembles the species that were originally included under Rohtee in all chatactecs except that there is no procumbent piedolsal spire in the latter. Thus, it appears that R. ogilbyi stands in between species of Mystacoleucus and species without proct, mbent predolsal Spine whict, were originally included undea Rohtee, Though the proeumbent predor~al spine, being sul:ject to little variation. itself may providz a "decided gap " cf generic significavte (Mayr, u p. 92), it is felt that in view of the iesemblances betwezn th~se ' thre~, group~ ' of fishes and in view of the fact that Rohtee has priority over Mystacoleucus and Osteobrama, treating them as three subgenera under Rohtee would provide a natural grouping. While the examination of fresh material of M.padangensis and;M, atridorsalis (particularly in regard to abdominal edge) and of all species of Mystacoleucuswould clarify the position, on the basis of the available information the following provisional arrangement is suggested. It may be pointed out in this connection that the available gvidenee dearly shows that the genus Rohtee is more closely related to Osteobrama than is Mystaeoleucus to Rohtee.

Subgenus I. Rohtee s. str. to include its type R. ogilbyi.

Subgenus 2, Mystacoleucus to include species with a procumbent predorsal spine that were originally included in this genus. Subgenus 3. Osteobrama to include species other than ogilbyi originally included under Rohtee.

Only one species Rohtee (Ostc.obrarna) cotio (Hamilton-Buchanan) is represented in the catches ,of the lakz. CYPRINID FISHES OF LAKE KOLLERU 143 Rohtee (Osteobrama) cotio (Hamilton-Buchanan, 1822) (Plate 4, figure 5) Cyprinus cotio Hamilton-Buchanan, Fish. Ganges, 1822, 339, 393, pl. 39, fig. 93. Ponds and ditches cf Bengal.

Material examined: 10 specimens (8 females, 2 males)ranging from 45 to 82 mm TL. Meristic data: D. iii-iv, 8 (11 in 5, 12 in 5); P. 13-15 (13 in 1, 14 in 6, 15 in 3; ~(: 14.20); V. 10; A. iii, 28-31 (31 in 2, 32 in 3,33 in 2, 34 in3; ~': 33.20); L1. 52-54 (52 in 3, 53 in 2, 54 in 5; ~':-53.20); scales above lateral line 10 ; below latelal line 12-13 ; between lateral line and pelvic fin base 9; around caudal peduncle 24; predorsal sc~lts 20-22 (20 in 4, 21 in 3, 22 in 3; X: 20"90). Body proportions as. percentage of standard length: Body depth 33.33- 40:32 (36.49), head length 24-19-25.86 (25.17), head depth 20.96-23.07 (22-16),. eye diameter 8-06-10-25 (9-16), snout length 5-13±6-89 (5.80), interorbital distance 8.33-8.89 (8.69), predorsal distance 48.38-50.00 (49.27), prepelvic distance 37-09-38.88 (38.09), preanal distance 54-83- 56.89 (55.92), dorsal base 11.10-12.82 (11.81), dorsal height 27.41-28.20 (27.74), anal base 33.33-38.46 (36-27), anal height 14.51-18.96 (16.37), pectoral length 19.35-22.22 (21.01), pelvic length 17.74--19.44 (18.84), depth of caudal peduncle 11.11-12.82 (11.82). Abdominal edge trenchant from behind pelvic base to anal origin. Pharyngeal teeth with blunt tips 4, 3, 2/2, 3, 4. Dorsal origin behind pelvic origin but before anal origin. The last undivided dorsal ray weak, senated behind. No procumbent predorsal spine. Lateral line complete. Colour: Bright silvery with scattered black pigment spots on dorsal side. A dark blotch on nape. All fins pale. The silvery body turns pale yellow on preservation in formalin. Taxonomic note: Day 8 erected Rohtee cunma on the basis of specimens from Burma. Horn and Misra xl considered it only as a variety of R. cotio. Silas4v observed some differences (from the data of Horn and :Misraxx) between specimens of R. citio var. cunma from Burma and peninsialar India, and considered the specimens from peninsulal India (type locality : Poona) as constituting a new variety peninsularis. The specimens from the lake agree with R. cotio var. peninsuiaris except for the number of scales along lateral line : they are 52-54 in specimens from Kolleru whereas they are 55-60 in peninsularis. However, since infrasub- specific names are excluded from Zoological Nomenclature (Art. I), the 144 V. S~tmAMAeHANDRAMURTY

name peninsular& is not available (Art. 10 b). It is possible that peninsularis may at le~.st prove to be a valid subspecies, when more specimens are available for examination.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I am thankful to Prof. S. Dutt, formerly Head of the Department of Zoology, Andhra University Postgraduate Centre, Guntttr, for the guidance and for providing facilities in the Department. I thank the Director, Zoo- logical Survey of India, Calcutta, for permitting me to examine the collections in the Museum and for Library facilities. For permission to examine specimens in the collection of the Tamil Nadu Government Museum at Madras, I thank the Director of the Museum. I am thankful to Dr. M. Boeseman, Curator of Fishes, Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie, Leiden, and Dr. Philip C. Heemstra of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, for sending data of some types. I am grateful to the authorities of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, for the award of a Senior Research Fellowship in Fisheries, during the tenure of which the present work was initiated and completed.

REFERENCES

1. Hamilton, F. (formerly Buchanan). An account of the fishes found in the river Ganges and its tributaries, i-viii; 405 pp. 39 pls. Edinburgh (1822). 2. Me Clellar, d, J., Asiat. Res. 19 217 pl. 37 (1839). 3. Sykes, W. H., Prec. Zool. Soc. London 157 (1839). 4. Cuvier, G. and Valenciennes, A., ttistoire naturelle de poissons, 16 Paris (1842), 5. Jerdon, T. 'C., Madras J. £itt. Sci. 15 324' (1849). 6. Bleel~er, P., Verb. Bat. Gen. 25 1 (1853). 7. Gunther, A., Catalogue of Fishes in the Britisl Museum 7 512 pages London (1868). 8. Day, F., 7~e Fishes oflndia etc.. 1 778 pp., Reprinted in 1958, William Dawson and Sons Ltd., London (1878). 9. Ahl, E., Mitteil. ZooL Muz. Berlin 2 38 (1924). 10. Hera, S. L.a~d Mukerji, D.D. Rec. Indian Mus. 30 41 (1928). I1. Hera, S. L. and Misra, K. s., Rec. lndial~ Mus. 41 263 (1940). 12. Brittan, M. R., Monogr. Inst. Sci. Tech. Manila 3 224 (1954). 13. Silas, E. G., J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 55 54 (1958). 14. Hera, S. L., Mem. Indian Mus. 9 169 pls. 13 (1929). 15. Misra, K. S., Rec. Indian Mus. 57 320 (1959) 1962. 16. Srivastava, G. J., Fishes of Eastern Uttar Pradesh. Vishwavidyalaya Pral

18. Chacko, P. I., Abraham, J. G. and Ardal, R., Ind. Com. Journals 274 (1952). 19. David, A., Prec. Nat. dead. Sci. India 33 263 (1963). 20. David, A., Prec. Nat. Aead. Sci. India 33 287 (1963). 21. Dutt, S. and Sriramachandra Murty, V., Bull. Dept. Mar. Biol. Oceanogr. Univ. Cochin 5 39 (1971). 22. Dutt, S. and Sriramachandra Mu(ty, V., Mere. Soc; Zool. Guntur 1 70 (t976). 23. Hubbs, C. L. and Lagler, K. F., Cranbrook Inst. Sci. Bull. 26 213 pages(1947), Revised edition (1958). 24. R.ao, C. R., Mitra, S. K. and Matthai, A., Formulae and Tables for Statistical Work. 234 pp. Statistical Publishing Society, Calcutta (1966). 25. Weber, M. and De Beaufort, L. F., The Fishes of the lndo-Australian Archipelago 3 455 pages E. J. Brill, Leiden (1916). 26. Smith, H. M., Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. 188 622paegs (1945). 27. Inger, R. F. and Chin, P. K., Fieldiana (Zool.) 45 268 pages (1962). 28. Alfred, E. K., Zool. Verb. Uitgegeven Door Her Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie. Leiden 78 68 pages 8 pls. (1966). 29. Alfred, E. R., Bull. Nat. Mus. Singapore 30 80 pL 3 (1961). 30. Shaw, G. E. and Shebbeare, E. O., J. R. Asiat. Soc. BengalSci. 3 135 pages 6 pls. (1937). 31. Menon, A. G. K., Spol. Zeylon. 30 65 (1963). 32. I-Iota, S. L., Ree. Indian Mus. 39 323 (1937). 33. Hera, S. L., Rec. Indian Mus. 39 331 (1937). 34. Hera, S. L., Misra, K. S. and Malik, G. M., Rec. Indian Mus. 41 263 (1939). 35. Hera, S. L. avd Law, N. C., Ree. Indian Mus. 43 233 pl. 9 (1941). 36. Hera, S. L. and Hair, K. K., Rec. Indian Mus. 43 361 (1941). 37. Myers, G. S., Stanford Ichthyol. Bull. 7 212 (1960). 38. De Witt, H. H., Stanford Iehthyol. Bull. 7 63 (1960). 39. Pillay, T. V. R., Prec. Nat. Inst. Sci. India 17 331 (1952). 40. Prashad, B. and Mukerji, D. D., Rec. Indian Mus. 31 161 (1929). 41. Day, F., Prec. Zool. Soc. London 369 (1869). 42. Chaudhuri, B. L., Mere. Indian Mus. 5 403 (1916). 43. Raj, B. S., Rec. Indian Mus. 12 249 pls. 25 (1916). 44. Hera, S. L., Rec. Indian Mus. 40 169 (1938). 45. Day, F., The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma, Fishes. London 1 i-xviii, 1-548, 164 figs. 2 i-xiv, 1-509, 177 figs. (1889). 46. Menon, A. G. K., Special Publication No. 1 Inland Fish. Soc. India. Barrackpor¢ i-vii 1-136 (1974). 47. Silas, E. G., Prec. Nat. Inst. Sci. India 18 432 (1952). 48. Chaudhuri, B. L., Rec. Indian Mus. 7 437 pls. 37-41 (1912). 49. Anon, The Wealth of lndia, Raw Materials Vol. IV Suppl. Fish and Fisheries. CSIR. New Delhi, 132 pp (1962). 50. gao, B. V. S., Prec. Indialz Acad. Sci. B 47 207 (1968). 146 V. SRIRAMAC-*HAI~RA MURTY

51. Tilak, R., Ann. ZooL 26 351 (1970). 52. Jordan, D. S. The Genera of Fishes and a Classification of Fi~hes. i-vii. 1-800. Reprinted 1967, Central Book Depot, Allababad (1917-1923). 53. Bleeker, P., Atlas ichthyologique des Indcs Orientale Neerlandatses 3 127 (1863). 54. Hora S. L., Rec. Indian Mus. 39 31I (1937). 55. Mayr, E., Principles of 5~ystematiG Zoology. TMI-I Edition, Bombay, New Delhi, 428 pp. (I969).