Identity of Labeo nigrescens Day, 1870 with descriptions of two new Labeo species from the Southern Western Ghats
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Keywords:
Labeo, Western Ghats, Biodiversity, Conservation, New SpeciesAbstract
The identity of Labeo nigrescens Day, 1870 is established based on examination of syntypes and a topotype from South Canara. L. nigrescens can be distinguished from congeners by its distinct colour pattern and a unique lateral line feature. A population from the Chalakkudy River basin in Kerala, formerly considered conspecific with L. nigrescens, is described here as Labeo chekida, a new species. In addition, a species from the Chandragiri River basin in Northern Kerala and South Canara, characterised by dramatically elongated finnage, is recognised as a new species distinct from L. nigrescens and L. filiferus and is described here as Labeo uru sp. nov.
Keywords: Biodiversity, Conservation, Labeo, New species, Western Ghats
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References
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