Dawkinsia arulius (Jerdon, 1849)
Arulius barb
Silas barb,  Aruli barb,  Kempu-puthri,  Longfin barb,  Pewal kandai,  Tamiraparani barb,  பேவல் கென்‍டை,  അരുളി പരല്,  സൈലസ് പരല്
Dawkinsia arulius
photo by JJPhoto

Family:  Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps), subfamily: Smiliogastrinae
Max. size:  12 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater; pH range: 6 - 6.5; dH range: 10
Distribution:  Asia: Cauvery basin in India (Ref. 55036). Formerly classified as critically endangered in the 2000 IUCN red list of threatened species (Ref. 36508).
Diagnosis:  Adults differ from Puntius filamentosus, P. singhala and P. assimilis by possessing prominent black markings on body anterior to anal-fin origin. Distinguished from P. exclamatio by lacking an elongate, tear-shaped black blotch above anal fin. Differs from P. srilankensis by having mouth subterminal and lower lip entire (vs. mouth inferior and lower lip medially absent). Distinguished from P. tambraparniei by lacking branched dorsal-fin rays elongated into filaments in adult males (vs. present) and by having a pair of maxillary barbels <0.5% SL (vs. 2.4-4.7%) (Ref. 55036).
Biology:  Inhabits large streams, rivers and lakes (Ref. 41236). Omnivorous, peaceful and schooling (Ref. 57467).
IUCN Red List Status: Endangered (EN); Date assessed: 25 June 2010 (B2ab(iii)) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:  Endemic to Western Ghats (Ref. 50614). Known from the upper reaches of the Cauvery basin; recent collections have been at Coorg (present-day Kodagur), upstream of the type locality (Srirangapatam in Karnataka), just above which the river has been dammed (Ref. 55036). Despite extensive search made in March 1996, no specimens of this species were found in the Cauvery at Srirangapatam (Ref. 55036). Also Ref. 43640, 41236, 40976. Status of threat: Endangered (Ref. 50614), critically endangered (Ref. 43611). Status of threat: Critically endangered (Ref. 43611).


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