Amblyceps waikhomi Darshan, Kachari, Dutta, Ganguly & Das, 2016

Family:  Amblycipitidae (Torrent catfishes)
Max. size:  4.47 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater; pH range: 6.78
Distribution:  Asia: Nongkon stream draining to Noa Dehing River (Brahmaputra basin), Arunachal Pradesh, India.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 1-1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6-6; Anal soft rays: 13-13. Amblyceps waikhomi is diagnosed from all congeners in having a deeper body (depth at anus 17.0-20.3% SL vs. 7.6-16.9) and fewer total vertebrae (34-35 vs. 37-48), with exception of A. mangois and A. serratum). It can be differentiated from A. mangois by the absence (vs. presence) of strongly-developed projections on the proximal lepidotrichia of the median caudal-fin rays and by having a longer, wider, and deeper head (length: 22.-24.3% SL vs. 18.8-21.3, width: 20.0-21.9% SL vs. 17.1-18.3, depth: 13.9-18.0% SL vs. 11.6-13.2); and from A. serratum by having a posteriorly smooth (vs. with 4-5 serrations) pectoral spine, and unequal jaw length (lower jaw longer and weakly-projecting anteriorly vs. equal upper and lower jaws). It is also distinguished from A. murraystuarti, A. torrentis, A. apangi, A. laticeps, and A. cerinum by its deeply forked caudal fin (vs. emarginate or truncate) (Ref. 118109). Description: dorsal fin with a spinelet, a spine, and 6 branched rays; anal fin with iii,10 rays; pectoral fin with a smooth spine and 6 branched rays; pelvic fin with i-ii,4-5 rays (Ref. 118109).
Biology:  Found in slow moving stream (water current 0.16 m/s) with a bottom substrate dominated by sand, occasionally associated with mud. Usually occurs under submerged logs and bamboo. The dominant macrophyte in the stream is water hyacinth. The following chemical parameters of the stream were recorded: DO 6.75 mg/l, DCO2 1.53 mg/l, alkalinity 66.06 mg/l, and hardness 71.8 ± 3.05 mg/l. The physical parameters of the stream were pH 6.78, air temperature 23.8 ±0.87°C, water temperature 23.5 ±0.96°C, transparency 79.5 ±1.93 cm, and conductivity 173.33 μS. (Ref. 118109).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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