AnInternationalScientificResearchJournal
OriginalResearch
JournalofResearchinBiology
Authors:
SewaliPathak1,Mrigendra
MohanGoswami2and
NripendraNathSarma3.
Institution:
1.DepartmentofZoology, BijniCollege,Bijni,Chirang -783390,Assam,India.
2.DepartmentofZoology, GauhatiUniversity, Guwahati-781014,Assam, India.
3.DepartmentofZoology, BajaliCollege,Barpeta, Assam-781346,India.
Correspondingauthor:
SewaliPathak.
EmailId:
WebAddress:
http://jresearchbiology.com/ documents/RA0450.pdf.
ABSTRACT:
Pillaia indica Yazdani 1972, a threatened earthworm eel under Synbranchiformes,isrecordedfromLangkhar(26°46′Nand90°32′E)andTeklai(26°47′ N and 90°35′E) streams near Assam-Bhutan border of Chirang District, Assam, India. PillaiaindicaisdisWnguishedfromitscongenersinhavingdorsalso5rays34̶ 36,anal so5 rays 34̶ 36, vertebrae 66 and unpaired fins conWnuous. The head length 15.115.2% SL, dorsal fin base length 43.6̶ 44.8% SL, anal fin base length 44.8̶ 46.3% SL, anustoanalfindistance2.9̶ 3.1%SL,eyediameter5.2̶ 5.7%HLandheaddepth36.8̶ 37.9%HL.
Keywords: Chaudhuriid, earthworm eel, new distribuWonal record, Assam-Bhutan streams
Abbrevia!on:
IUCN-InternaWonal Union for ConservaWon of Nature, MSUMNH-ManonmaniamSundaranarUniversityMuseumofNaturalHistory,USNM-USNaWonal MuseumofNaturalHistory
Ar!cleCita!on: SewaliPathak,MrigendraMohanGoswamiandNripendraNathSarma.
RecordofPillaiaindicaYazdani1972,anendangeredearthwormeel(Teleostei: Chaudhuriidae)fromthestreamsofBrahmaputradrainageinNortheastIndia. JournalofResearchinBiology(2014)4(5):1365-1370
Dates: Received:10May2014 Accepted:30May2014 Published:30Jun2014
ThisarticleisgovernedbytheCreativeCommonsAttributionLicense(http://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by/2.0), which gives permission for unrestricted use, non-commercial, distribution and reproductioninallmedium,providedtheoriginalworkisproperlycited.
1365-1370|JRB|2014|Vol4|No5
JournalofResearchinBiology AnInternational ScientificResearchJournal www.jresearchbiology.com
INTRODUCTION
The family Chaudhuridae known as South Asian Mastacembeloid fish includes six genera and ten species viz. Chaudhuria caudata Annandale 1918, C. fusipinnis Kottelat and Britz 2000 (Kottelat, 2000), Pillaia indica Yazdani 1972, P. kachinica Kullander, Britz, and Fang 2000, Garo khajuriai (Talwar, Yazdani, and Kundu 1977), Nagaichthys filipes Kottelat and Lim 1991 in Kottelat 1991, Chendol keelini Kottelat and Lim 1994,
C. lubricus Kottelat and Lim 1994, Bihunichthys monopteroides Kottelat and Lim 1994 and Chaudhuria ritvae Britz 2010 (calacademy.org/research/ichthyology). The genus Pillaia Yazdani and the type species P. indica were described from Khasi hills of Meghalaya (Yazdani, 1972). Recently, Arunachalam et al., (2014) reported the range extension of P. indica from Khasi hills of Meghalaya to Darjeeling District, West Bengal. Bakalial et al., (2014) reported the species from Lakhimpur District of Assam. During an ichthyological reconnaissance of Langkhar (26°46′ N and 90°32′E) and Teklai (26°47′N and 90°35′E) streams near Amteka of Chirang District of Assam, India, we report Pillaia indica Yazdani 1972 as a new distributional record of Brahmaputra drainages. The IUCN Red List of Threatened species enlisted it as an endangered species following the IUCN criteria (Britz and Chaudhry, 2010). The specimens were collected from near the foot-hill streams of Assam-Bhutan border of Chirang District. Mostly, they were found clinging to submerged vegetation based along the edges of the streams or lying at the bottom of streams. They feed on aquatic plant debris, algae, insects, crustaceans and other decaying materials. The juveniles were observed during the period of April-May. The adults are dark reddish brown than the young ones and they occur with other dominant species of the genera like Amblyceps, Badis, Barilius, Danio, Devario, Lepidocephalichthys, Mastacembelus, Microphis, Nemacheilus, Olyra, Puntius, Pterocryptis, Psilorhynchus, Schistura etc.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Method of counts and measurements were done following Kottelat and Lim (1994). The collection and preservation of fishes were made following the protocols prescribed by Brooks (2011). Parts of the body are expressed as percentages of standard length (SL) and
Journal of Research in Biology (2014) 4(5): 1365-1370
Table: 1 Morphometric data of Pillia indica Yazdani, 1972 from Teklai
Standard length (SL) Range (76.2-81.9) Mean±SD
% SL
Snout to dorsal fin origin 57.0 -57.3 57.1 ± 0.15 Snout to anal fin origin 55.8 -56.1 55.9 ± 0.15 Pre-anus length 53.7 -54.8 54.1 ± 0.61 Anus to anal fin origin 2.9 -3.1 3.0 ± 0.09 Dorsal fin base length 43.6 -44.8 44.1 ± 0.61 Anal fin base length 44.8 -46.3 45.4 ± 0.78 Caudal fin length 6.2 -6.5 6.3 ± 0.12 Pectoral fin length 2.4 -2.6 2.5 ± 0.06 Pre-pectoral length 15.4 -5.6 15.5 ± 0.11 Body depth at anus 7.2 -7.3 7.2 ± 0.05 Maximum body width 5.5-6.7 6.1 ± 0.61 Head length 15.1 -15.2 15.1 ± 0.03
% HL
Head depth at eye 25.7 -26.4 26.0 ± 0.37 Maximum head depth 36.8 -37.9 37.4 ± 0.55 Maximum head width 36.5 -37.3 37.0 ± 0.42 Snout length 25.3 -29.0 27.4 ± 1.95 Pre-nasal length 17.8 -18.6 18.2 ± 0.40 Eye diameter 5.2 -5.7 5.4 ± 0.24 Inter orbital distance 12.1 -12.5 12.4 ± 0.23 Inter nasal distance 13.9 -15.4 14.8 ± 0.86 Post-orbital head length 69.5 -70.1 69.8 ± 0.33
Upper jaw length 26.8 -30.7 28.3 ± 2.09
subunits of head as percentages of head length (HL). The Fin rays were counted under stereo-zoom light microscope (Leica ATC, 2000). The specimens are deposited in the Gauhati University Zoological Museum (GUZM 1175 and 2175, unregistered).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Pillaia indica Yazdani 1972 (Figure-1) Material examined
GUZM 1175, 1, 81.9 mm SL, Langkhar (26°46′ N and 90°32′E) near Amteka, 28 November 2013; GUZM 2175 (4), 76.2 -80.0 mm SL, Teklai (26°47′N and 90°35′E) near Amteka, 25 December 2013, Chirang District of Assam
Diagnosis
Pillaia indica Yazdani 1972 differs from its congeners in having dorsal soft rays 34 -36, anal soft rays 34 -36, vertebrae 66 and unpaired fins continuous. Snout short with fleshy rostral appendage bearing anterior tubular nostrils, eyes prominent, no fin spines, scales absent. Description
Biometric data of Pillaia indica Yazdani 1972 is given in Table-1; body straight, elongated, eel like, slender and laterally compressed. Head anteriorly depressed, snout short, sub-conical, lip folds well developed, median snout narrow, mouth wide, gill opening wide, gill membranes free from isthmus, branchiostegal rays 5 -6 (5), Dorsal fin continuous with
Figure 2: Map of Chirang District showing the habitat locality of P. indica Yazdani 1972 (Source: Sewali Pathak et al., 2013)
caudal fin bearing 34 -36 (5) soft rays, anal fin confluent with caudal fin bearing 34 -36 (5) soft rays, pectoral fin originates at the end of gill opening with 7 -9(5) soft rays, pelvic fin absent, caudal fin tapering with 8 -10(5) soft rays. Body colour of fresh specimen is dark brown and ventral dull white where as it turns light and fade brown in the preserved specimen.
Distribution
Presently known from the Langkhar (26°46′ N and 90°32′E) and Teklai (26°47′N and 90°35′E) hill streams near Amteka, about 36 -40 km north of Bijni town in Chirang District, Assam, India (Figure-2).
P. indica was first described from Sumer stream, about 22 km north of Shillong and Umsing stream, 13 km north of Shillong, Khasi and Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya, India. Recently, it was reported from Anthojora stream in Darjeeling District, West Bengal and also reported by Bakalial et al., 2014 from Lakhimpur District of Assam, Northeast India.
Travers (1984a, 1984b) published the first comprehensive osteological description of Chaudhuriidae and Pillaiidae and reviewed their phylogenetic relationships with Mastacembelidae. Three species of Chaudhuridae are known from northeastern India (Talwar et al., 1977) and Pillaia indica from khasi and Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya. Pillaia khajuriai was described by Talwar et al., (1977) and later the genus was replaced by Yazdani and Talwar (1981) as Garo khajuriai, from Rongrengiri, Garo hills, Meghalaya and from Baguri, Kaziranga Wild life Sanctuary, Sibasagar District in Upper Assam (Kullander et al., 2000). Recently, P. indica Yazdani 1972 was reported from Anthojora stream in Darjeeling District, West Bengal by Arunachalam et al., (2014), the occurrence of which is unexpected since the two valid species P. indica and
G. khajuriai are distributed in northeastern India. The records of new distribution of P. indica contribute the range extension from khashi hills of Meghalaya to the foothills of Assam-Bhutan in northeast India. Biometric
Journal of Research in Biology (2014) 4(5): 1365-1370
variables in the certain parameters of P. indica from Langkhar and Teklai streams in Chirang District of Assam justifies it’s close with the descriptions predicated by Arunachalam et al., (2014) from West Bengal. Morphologically, the P. indica is fairly distinguishable from the other three congeners in pectoral-fin rays
Comparative materials from published information Pillaia indica Yazdani, 1972:
USNM 372577, 1, 85.8 mm SL; USNM 372577, 1, 61.0 mm SL; Materials collected from: Sumer stream (22km north of Shillong) of Khasi and Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya, India, elev. 1069 m., (Britz and Kottelat 2003). MSUMNH C17, 8 ex. 37.6 -70.0 mm SL; CMA (Collections of M. Arunachalam) 26, 2 ex, 42.2 -47.5 mm SL; West Bengal, Anthojora stream near Gajoldoba Reservoir, Baikunthapur, Darjeeling District (26°51′1.3˝ N, 86°23′57.7˝E), 27th Nov. 2012 (Arunachalam et al., 2014). Pillaia kachinica Kullander, Britz and Fang 2000:
Native to Myanmar (mainland), known only from two streams in the area of Myitkina, Myanmar (Britz and Kottelat 2003). Garo khajuriai (Talwar, Yazdani and Kundu 1977):
Holotype, 68.0 mm SL, from a paddy field at Rongrengiri, Garo Hills District, Meghalaya; coll. H. Khajuria, 18 January 1957, Zoological Survey of India regd. No. FF 815, Proceedings of the Indian Academy of Science, 1977, 85B (2): 53 -56.
CONCLUSION
Pillaia indica is a threatened spineless earthworm eel reported by IUCN and this species is restricted to northeast region. It is known to be endemic in Khasi Hills of Meghalaya. They dwell in a clear, shallow, moderately flowing hill stream with a sandy bottom. The nature of hiding or buried at the bottom to avoid light is one of the characteristic features of this species. The geographical distribution and some biological aspects of P. indica are quite insufficient. Conservation of habitat for the species is highly recommended.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We are thankful to University Grants Commission’s for financial assistance under MRP and UGC-SAP (DRS) Programme of Zoology Department of Gauhati University for providing necessary laboratory and other facilities; and to Arunachalam et al., 2014, Britz and Kottelat 2003 for access data.
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