Oreichthys coorgensis (Jayaram, 1982)

(Fig. 4 A, B)

Puntius coorgensis, Jayaram, 1982: 47, fig. 1.

Holotype. ZSI FF 1715, 25.8 mm SL, River Cauvery at Bhagamandala, 33 km south west of Mercara, Coorg District, Karnataka, 4.05.1977, K. C. Jayaram

Paratypes. ZSI FF 1716, 22 ex., of which 6 ex., 22.3–27.3 mm SL, were measured. Same data as Holotype.

Remarks. We place Puntius coorgensis in the genus Oreichthys on the basis of the following characters; the dorsal fin is inserted in advance of the pelvic, with the last unbranched ray simple and weak, the body is covered in large scales with an incomplete lateral line, barbels are absent and there are rows of fine sensory papillae on the sub-orbital and on the head.

Diagnosis. Oreichthys coorgensis, comb. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of characters including 22–23+1–2 scales in the longitudinal series with 5–8 pored scales; ½3/1/2½ scales in the transverse row; 6–7 predorsal scales and a faint black spot on the caudal fin base, which may not be consistent. The morphometrics are provided in Table 1. For a detailed description, see Jayaram (1982, 1991).

Distribution and habitat. Oreichthys coorgensis has so far only been encountered in the headwaters of the Cauvery in Karnataka, in close association with submerged vegetation and debris in shallow waters, with little or no current, along the margins of swift running hill streams.