Erethistoides sicula Ng, 2005
Erethistoides sicula
photo by Ng, H.H.

Family:  Sisoridae (Sisorid catfishes), subfamily: Sisorinae
Max. size:  3.9 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater
Distribution:  Asia: known from the Mansai River drainage, itself a tributary of the Brahmaputra River in northern West Bengal state in India (Ref. 54978).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 5-5; Anal soft rays: 10-11; Vertebrae: 29-31. Erethistoides sicula differs from both E. montana and E. pipri in having a longer caudal peduncle (19.6–22.3% SL vs. 14.4–18.4) and shorter pectoral spine (14.6–28.0% SL vs. 30.7–32.1). It further differs from E. montana in having a dorsally projecting bony splint on the opercle immediately posterior to its articular facet with the hyomandibula (vs. splint absent; Fig. 2) and from E. pipri in having a more slender head (13.4–15.1% SL vs. 16.4).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 21 December 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.