265
English Name
River Cat.
Local Names
Katharua,
Pathr-chat,
Pathar-chatti,
Patthar-chatti.
Localities Surveyed
Asan River above Kunja Grant, at Selakui and
Herbertpur; Asan reservoir.
Diagnostic Characters
D. 1/6, P. 1/8, V. 1/5, A. 4/7, C. 17.
Head greatly depressed; occipital process
opposed to basal bone of the dorsal fi n; mouth
inferior; lips papillated; barbels four pairs; adhesive thoracic apparatus well developed, as long as
broad and without central pit; dorsal fi n origin
nearer adipose fi n than snout tip and its spine
weak and smooth; paired fi ns plaited below; caudal fi n forked; skin granulated. Body dark brown,
dorsal and caudal fi ns greyish with tips
yellowish.
Sexual Dimorphism: In male, the urinogenital papilla is elongated, wide and bulbous at
base and much narrow at its tip while it is
smaller, narrow at base and bulbous at the tip in
female.
Maximum Size
17.8 cm (standard length).
Distribution
Uttarakhand
Garhwal
Division:
Chamoli,
Dehradun,
Haridwar, Pauri, Tehri and Uttarkashi districts;
Kumaon Division: Almora, Nainital and
Pithoragarh districts. Rajaji National Park.
India
Himachal Pradesh (Kangra Valley; Shimla hills)
and Punjab.
Elsewhere
Nepal (Pokhara lake; Baghmati, Madi and Seti
rivers) and Pakistan.
Reports from Myanmar not considered valid.
Habitat and Ecology
Small benthic species, inhabiting pools and run
areas of streams/mountain rapids.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List, least concern.
Remarks
Used as ornamental fi sh by Buddhists. Of no fi shery interest, consumed locally.
Order: Synbranchiformes
Family: Mastacembelidae
Genus: Macrognathus Lacepede, 1800
43. Macrognathus pancalus (Hamilton, 1822)
Macrognathus pancalus Hamilton, 1822. Fish.
Ganges : 30, 364, pl. 17, fi g. 7 (type locality:
tanks, place not mentioned).
Macrognathus pancalus Husain, 2003 . Faun.
Asan Wetland, Wetland Ecosystem Series 5 :
23–26 (Asan reservoir, seepage nala and Asan
River below its barrage).
English Names
Barred Spiny Eel, Spiny Eel, Striped Spiny Eel.
Local Name
Baam.
Localities Surveyed
Asan River at Jhajra, Sahaspur, Herbertpur,
below barrage, Dhalipur and near Kulhal; seepage nala below barrage; Asan reservoir.
Diagnostic Characters
D. 23–26/30–42, P. 0/17–19, A. 3/31–46, C.
10–12.
Body eel-like; snout produced into a fl eshy
appendage; preopercle with 2–5 spines; preorbital spine strong, piercing the skin; dorsal fi n
long, inserted above the middle of the pectoral
fi n, with free stumpy spines; ventral fi ns absent;
anal fi n also long, with three spines; caudal fi n
slightly convex with rounded corners; body and
preoperculum with minute scales, vertex naked;
lateral line complete, arched anteriorly. Body
olive green above, yellowish below, with several
pale spots.
14 Fish Fauna of Asan River
English Name
River Cat.
Local Names
Katharua,
Pathr-chat,
Pathar-chatti,
Patthar-chatti.
Localities Surveyed
Asan River above Kunja Grant, at Selakui and
Herbertpur; Asan reservoir.
Diagnostic Characters
D. 1/6, P. 1/8, V. 1/5, A. 4/7, C. 17.
Head greatly depressed; occipital process
opposed to basal bone of the dorsal fi n; mouth
inferior; lips papillated; barbels four pairs; adhesive thoracic apparatus well developed, as long as
broad and without central pit; dorsal fi n origin
nearer adipose fi n than snout tip and its spine
weak and smooth; paired fi ns plaited below; caudal fi n forked; skin granulated. Body dark brown,
dorsal and caudal fi ns greyish with tips
yellowish.
Sexual Dimorphism: In male, the urinogenital papilla is elongated, wide and bulbous at
base and much narrow at its tip while it is
smaller, narrow at base and bulbous at the tip in
female.
Maximum Size
17.8 cm (standard length).
Distribution
Uttarakhand
Garhwal
Division:
Chamoli,
Dehradun,
Haridwar, Pauri, Tehri and Uttarkashi districts;
Kumaon Division: Almora, Nainital and
Pithoragarh districts. Rajaji National Park.
India
Himachal Pradesh (Kangra Valley; Shimla hills)
and Punjab.
Elsewhere
Nepal (Pokhara lake; Baghmati, Madi and Seti
rivers) and Pakistan.
Reports from Myanmar not considered valid.
Habitat and Ecology
Small benthic species, inhabiting pools and run
areas of streams/mountain rapids.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List, least concern.
Remarks
Used as ornamental fi sh by Buddhists. Of no fi shery interest, consumed locally.
Order: Synbranchiformes
Family: Mastacembelidae
Genus: Macrognathus Lacepede, 1800
43. Macrognathus pancalus (Hamilton, 1822)
Macrognathus pancalus Hamilton, 1822. Fish.
Ganges : 30, 364, pl. 17, fi g. 7 (type locality:
tanks, place not mentioned).
Macrognathus pancalus Husain, 2003 . Faun.
Asan Wetland, Wetland Ecosystem Series 5 :
23–26 (Asan reservoir, seepage nala and Asan
River below its barrage).
English Names
Barred Spiny Eel, Spiny Eel, Striped Spiny Eel.
Local Name
Baam.
Localities Surveyed
Asan River at Jhajra, Sahaspur, Herbertpur,
below barrage, Dhalipur and near Kulhal; seepage nala below barrage; Asan reservoir.
Diagnostic Characters
D. 23–26/30–42, P. 0/17–19, A. 3/31–46, C.
10–12.
Body eel-like; snout produced into a fl eshy
appendage; preopercle with 2–5 spines; preorbital spine strong, piercing the skin; dorsal fi n
long, inserted above the middle of the pectoral
fi n, with free stumpy spines; ventral fi ns absent;
anal fi n also long, with three spines; caudal fi n
slightly convex with rounded corners; body and
preoperculum with minute scales, vertex naked;
lateral line complete, arched anteriorly. Body
olive green above, yellowish below, with several
pale spots.
14 Fish Fauna of Asan River