| Family: |
Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps), subfamily: Smiliogastrinae |
| Max. size: |
3.31 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
benthopelagic; freshwater; pH range: 6.1 |
| Distribution: |
Asia: Tunga River basin in Kudremukh National Park, Karnataka State, India. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal soft rays: 8-8. Pethia striata can be diagnosed from other species of the genus Pethia by the combination of the following characters: lateral line complete, with 20-21 pored scales up to tail fin base; upper half of body dark brown; outer edges of body scales dark, forming oblique bars, giving a distinct striped pattern along the side in both sexes; dorsal fin dark with a pale outer margin; dorsal, pectoral, pelvic, and anal fins tinged with black; caudal fin hyaline; black humeral spot one scale below the 4th lateral-line scales, a larger black blotch 3-4 scales high covering the 17th to 19th lateral-line scales, and only 2 scales between this blotch and the hypural notch. Other characters useful to distinguish from other congeners include the following: fewer transverse scales, 3 scales between lateral-line scale row and ventral fin; ½ 4+1+3 transverse scales; eight predorsal scales; a smaller humeral spot, restricted to a single scale; lacking a gray patch below the dorsal fin; two spots, a humeral spot and a caudal-peduncle blotch; 2+3-4 gill rakers on the first gill arch; a single blotch on the caudal peduncle; dark longitudinal band absent; and dorsal fin of
male is black (Ref. 104010). |
| Biology: |
Formed small groups of three or four individuals in shallow pools beneath dense riparian canopy. Usually found together with other cyprinid species such as Puntius sahyadriensis and Dawkinsia arulius. A few juveniles were also observed with Pethia setnai in shallow pools (Ref. 104010).
The type locality was a pool-riffle sequence in a small gently flowing clear water stream with a pH of 6.1 and water temperature of 25.5°C. The stream at the type locality has a width of 7 m and a depth of 0.6 m. The run-riffle sequence just below the type locality has a flow velocity of 0.2 m/s. This species was collected in an altitude range between 660-910 m ASL. Ochlandra sp., Ficus sp., and Elaeocarpus tuberculatus dominated the land vegetation, providing 80% shade. The substrate was composed of leaf litter mostly with Lagenandra sp., bamboo leaves, and clay. Other fishes commonly found at the type locality included the following: Devario malabaricus, Salmophasia boopis, Garra mullya, Barilius canarensis, Barbodes wynaadensis, Tor khudree, Dawkinsia arulius, Puntius sahyadriensis, Osteochilus nashii (Cyprinidae), Batasio sharavatiensis (Bagridae), and Nemacheilus denisoni (Nemacheilidae) (Ref. 104010). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Endangered (EN); Date assessed: 28 March 2021 (B1ab(iii)) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
| Country info: |
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