264
Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia and Vietnam
(doubtful). Thailand (misidentifi cation).
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List, least concern.
Remarks
M. tengara (Hamilton, 1822) is considered synonym of this species by various workers. It is of
minor commercial value and is also kept in aquaria.
Family: Heteropneustidae
Genus: Heteropneustes Muller, 1840
41. Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch, 1794)
Silurus fossilis Bloch, 1794. Naturg. Ausland.
Fische , 8: 46, pl. 370, fi g. 2 (type locality:
Tranquebar).
Heteropneustes fossilis Husain, 2003 . Faun. Asan
Wetland, Wetland Ecosystem Series 5 : 23–26
(Asan reservoir and seepage nala).
Localities Surveyed
Asan River, Herbertpur and Bairagiwala near
Herbertpur; Asan reservoir; seepage nala.
English Name
Stinging Catfi sh.
Local Name
Singhi.
Diagnostic Characters
D. 0/7, P. 1/7, V. 1/5, A. 2/58–61, C. 15.
Body subcylindrical anteriorly, compressed
behind, head depressed, occipital process not
reaching the base of dorsal fi n; mouth small, terminal; barbels four pairs; dorsal fi n short, slightly
ahead of the pelvics; pectoral fi n with a strong
spine, serrated behind and with a few serrations
anteriorly, shorter than the head; anal fi n long,
separated by a notch from the caudal fi n. Body
purplish brown, juveniles reddish brown.
Sexual Dimorphism: Male lean and agile with
an elongated urinogenital papilla. Female little
heavy but with small papilla.
Maximum Size
30 cm.
Distribution
Uttarakhand
Garhwal Division: Dehradun district; Kumaon
Division: Nainital district. Rajaji National Park.
India
Throughout Indian plains and Andaman and
Nicobar Islands, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra,
Odisha (Chilka Lake), Tamil Nadu (Ombatta
stream, Mudumalai and Tharangambadi/
Tranquebar) and West Bengal (Adma, Buxa and
Jayanti rivers) and Western Ghats.
Elsewhere
Bangladesh, Iran, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and
Sri Lanka. Iraq and Turkey (introduced).
Cambodia, Laos and Thailand (doubtful).
Habitat and Ecology
Found mainly in ponds, ditches, swamps and
marshes but sometimes occurs in muddy rivers.
Can tolerate slightly brackish water. Omnivorous.
Breeds in confi ned waters during the monsoon
months but can breed in ponds, derelict ponds
and ditches when suffi cient rainwater accumulates. Oviparous, distinct pairing possibly like
other members of the same family.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List, least concern.
Remarks
It is in great demand due to its medicinal value. Highly
commercial in fi shery, aquaculture and aquaria.
Family: Sisoridae
Subfamily: Glyptosterninae
Genus: Glyptothorax Blyth, 1860
42. Glyptothorax pectinopterus (McClelland,
1842)
Glyptosternon pectinopterus McClelland, 1860.
Calcutta J. Nat. Hist ., 2: 587 (type locality:
Simla).
Glyptothorax pectinopterus Husain, 2003 . Faun.
Asan Wetland, Wetland Ecosystem Series 5 :
23–26 (Asan reservoir and Asan River above
Kunja Grant).
A. Husain
Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia and Vietnam
(doubtful). Thailand (misidentifi cation).
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List, least concern.
Remarks
M. tengara (Hamilton, 1822) is considered synonym of this species by various workers. It is of
minor commercial value and is also kept in aquaria.
Family: Heteropneustidae
Genus: Heteropneustes Muller, 1840
41. Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch, 1794)
Silurus fossilis Bloch, 1794. Naturg. Ausland.
Fische , 8: 46, pl. 370, fi g. 2 (type locality:
Tranquebar).
Heteropneustes fossilis Husain, 2003 . Faun. Asan
Wetland, Wetland Ecosystem Series 5 : 23–26
(Asan reservoir and seepage nala).
Localities Surveyed
Asan River, Herbertpur and Bairagiwala near
Herbertpur; Asan reservoir; seepage nala.
English Name
Stinging Catfi sh.
Local Name
Singhi.
Diagnostic Characters
D. 0/7, P. 1/7, V. 1/5, A. 2/58–61, C. 15.
Body subcylindrical anteriorly, compressed
behind, head depressed, occipital process not
reaching the base of dorsal fi n; mouth small, terminal; barbels four pairs; dorsal fi n short, slightly
ahead of the pelvics; pectoral fi n with a strong
spine, serrated behind and with a few serrations
anteriorly, shorter than the head; anal fi n long,
separated by a notch from the caudal fi n. Body
purplish brown, juveniles reddish brown.
Sexual Dimorphism: Male lean and agile with
an elongated urinogenital papilla. Female little
heavy but with small papilla.
Maximum Size
30 cm.
Distribution
Uttarakhand
Garhwal Division: Dehradun district; Kumaon
Division: Nainital district. Rajaji National Park.
India
Throughout Indian plains and Andaman and
Nicobar Islands, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra,
Odisha (Chilka Lake), Tamil Nadu (Ombatta
stream, Mudumalai and Tharangambadi/
Tranquebar) and West Bengal (Adma, Buxa and
Jayanti rivers) and Western Ghats.
Elsewhere
Bangladesh, Iran, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and
Sri Lanka. Iraq and Turkey (introduced).
Cambodia, Laos and Thailand (doubtful).
Habitat and Ecology
Found mainly in ponds, ditches, swamps and
marshes but sometimes occurs in muddy rivers.
Can tolerate slightly brackish water. Omnivorous.
Breeds in confi ned waters during the monsoon
months but can breed in ponds, derelict ponds
and ditches when suffi cient rainwater accumulates. Oviparous, distinct pairing possibly like
other members of the same family.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List, least concern.
Remarks
It is in great demand due to its medicinal value. Highly
commercial in fi shery, aquaculture and aquaria.
Family: Sisoridae
Subfamily: Glyptosterninae
Genus: Glyptothorax Blyth, 1860
42. Glyptothorax pectinopterus (McClelland,
1842)
Glyptosternon pectinopterus McClelland, 1860.
Calcutta J. Nat. Hist ., 2: 587 (type locality:
Simla).
Glyptothorax pectinopterus Husain, 2003 . Faun.
Asan Wetland, Wetland Ecosystem Series 5 :
23–26 (Asan reservoir and Asan River above
Kunja Grant).
A. Husain