| Status | EN |
|---|---|
| Status system | IUCN3.1 |
| Grandparent authority | Britz, Kakkassery & Raghavan, 2014[1] |
| Genus | Kryptoglanis |
| Parent authority | Vincent & J. Thomas, 2011[2] |
| Species | shajii |
| Authority | Vincent & J. Thomas, 2011[2] |
Kryptoglanis shajii is a species of subterranean catfish found in subsurface waters in the Western Ghats in Kerala, India. This cavefish grows to a length of 5.9 centimetres (2.3 in) SL.[2][3] It is currently the only known member of its genus and family.[1] Although first discovered from underground waters, it has also been seen in dense vegetation in paddy fields and was found to be common in this habitat in the Chalakudy.[4] The species strongly avoids light and feeds on small invertebrates.[4]
This genus and Horaglanis, both from the Western Ghats, are the only known underground-living catfish in India.[1][5]
Morphological characteristics
The morphology of K. shajii differs from all other known species of catfish and includes such features as the absence of dorsal fin; the presence of four pairs of barbels; an upwardly directed mouth, with a distinctly projecting lower jaw with 4 set of teeth; subcutaneous eyes; anal fin completely confluent with the caudal fin; anal and caudal fins together carry 70–74 fin rays; and no spines in any of the fins. These differences have led to its being assigned to its own family.[1]
References
- ^ Britz, Ralf; Kakkassery, Francy; & Raghavan, Rajeev (6 April 2014). "Osteology of Kryptoglanis shajii, a stygobitic catfish (Teleostei: Siluriformes) from Peninsular India with a diagnosis of the new family Kryptoglanidae". Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters. 24 (3): 193–207.
- ^ Vincent, Moncey & Thomas, John (April 2011). "Kryptoglanis shajii, an enigmatic subterranean-spring catfish (Siluriformes, Incertae sedis) from Kerala, India". Ichthyological Research. 58 (2): 161–165. Bibcode:2011IchtR..58..161V. doi:10.1007/s10228-011-0206-6. S2CID 39313203
- ^
- ^ Binoy, V. V.; Roshan, K. S.; & Rakesh, V. B. (2012). "Occurrence of Kryptoglanis shajii, an enigmatic subterranean-spring catfish (Siluriformes, Incertae sedis) in the channels of paddy fields". Current Science. 102 (2): 161. – via ResearchGate.
- ^ Babu, K.K.S. (2012). "Horaglanis abdulkalami, a new hypogean blind catfish (Siluriformes: Clariidae) from Kerala, India". Samagra CRIKSC Journal. 8: 51–56.