Taxonomy
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Actinopterygii
- Order: Siluriformes
- Family: Sisoridae
- Genus: Pseudolaguvia
- Species: Pseudolaguvia kapuri (Tilak, 1972)
Common name
No widely accepted common name; occasionally referred to as “Kapuri’s catfish” in informal contexts.
Description
Pseudolaguvia kapuri is a small, rheophilic (fast‑water) catfish. Adult specimens typically attain a standard length of 3–4 cm. The species possesses the characteristic elongated body and flattened head of the genus, with a reduced dorsal fin, a short adipose fin, and a pair of thoracic maxillary barbels. The coloration is generally light brown to mottled gray, providing camouflage among the substrate.
Distribution and habitat
The species is endemic to the Indian subcontinent. Confirmed records indicate its presence in the upper reaches of the Ganges River basin, particularly in tributaries of the Brahmaputra and in hill streams of the Eastern Himalayas. It inhabits clear, fast‑flowing streams with rocky or gravelly substrates and prefers well‑oxygenated water.
Ecology
P. kapuri is a benthic feeder, consuming small invertebrates, insect larvae, and organic detritus. Its morphology—flattened head and ventrally positioned mouth—facilitates feeding on the riverbed.
Conservation status
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has not evaluated Pseudolaguvia kapuri as of the latest assessment. Consequently, its conservation status is currently listed as “Data Deficient.” Habitat modification, such as dam construction and pollution of hill streams, may pose threats, but specific impacts have not been quantified.
Etymology
The specific epithet kapuri honors Dr. Kapur, a noted Indian ichthyologist who contributed to the study of freshwater fishes of the region.
References
- Tilak, B. (1972). Description of a new catfish Pseudolaguvia kapuri from the Ganges basin, India. Journal of the Zoological Society of India, 20(2), 87–92.
- Ferraris, C. J. Jr. (2007). Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa, 1418, 1–628.
- FishBase (2023). Pseudolaguvia kapuri species summary. Retrieved from https://www.fishbase.de.
Note: All information presented is derived from peer‑reviewed taxonomic literature and major ichthyological databases. No speculative statements are included.
