Glyptothorax telchitta (Hamilton, 1822)
Glyptothorax telchitta
photo by Tamang, L.

Family:  Sisoridae (Sisorid catfishes), subfamily: Sisorinae
Max. size:  15.22 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater, potamodromous
Distribution:  Asia: Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Nepal (Ref. 4833). Ganges River drainage (Ref. 54474).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 1-1; Vertebrae: 34-36. Distinguished from its congeners, except Glyptothorax botius, in northeast India in having a combination of large, prominent tubercles on the head and body, a thoracic adhesive apparatus without a median depression, and a very slender body and caudal peduncle (sometimes described as spindle shaped). Glyptothorax botius differs from G. telchitta in having a more triangular snout when viewed laterally, the absence of dark saddles on the body, a thoracic adhesive apparatus with narrower folds of skin, a shorter adipose-fin base (9.5-11.5% SL vs. 12.0-16.4) and a deeper caudal peduncle (4.7-5.9% SL vs. 3.1-4.2) (Ref. 54474). Description: Dorsal fin with I,5,i, or I,6 rays; Anal fin with iv,8, iv,9, iv,9,i, iv,10 or iv,11,i rays; pectoral fin with I,7,i, I,8 or I,8,i rays; pelvic fin with i,5 rays (Ref. 54474).
Biology:  Lives mainly in hill streams.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 13 October 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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