Aspidoparia

Lot 13: Field identification and segregation of species belonging to Genus Aspidoparia from Doon Valley.

Sort out small-sized silvery fishes with deciduous scales, blunt snout, eye almost in the middle of the head, dorsum (back of the body) brownish and some exuding more turmeric yellow mucous from below the rounded abdomen:

………… place them labeled as Aspidoparia sp.

SEGREGATION OF GENUS/SPECIES BASED ON THE CRITERIA DECIDED IN THE FIELD FOR THE SAMPLE INDIVIDUALS OF LOT – 13
 

The sample individuals, placed and labeled  as Aspidoparia under Lot – 13, are found having appropriate characterization to include them under Genus – Aspidoparia [Family – Cyprinidae; Subfamily – Rasborinae or Danioniae], characterized as under:

·        Body elongated, subcylindrical, compressed laterally. Dorsal and ventral 
profiles
 equally arched. Head short, with rounded to obtuse snout and broad ring of suborbital bones. Barbels absent. Mouth small, inferior, with thin lips; the lower jaw being without a lip but with a sharp crescentic horny cutting edge. Eyes large, more towards snout end. Dorsal fin originates opposite pelvic base or opposite midway of pelvic and anal fin bases. Lateral line (38 – 60 scales) sharply curved downwards up to above pelvic fin base and then running up to lower half of caudal peduncle. Scales silvery and deciduous.

 

                                                                                                ………………. Genus: Aspidoparia

 

 

SEGREGATION OF SPECIES

The individuals put under Genus: Aspidoparia are found belonging to 2 species, characterized as under:

Dorsal fin originates opposite pelvic base. Snout obtuse. Lateral line scales 38 – 42. Caudal fin lobes almost equal. Colour pinkish-silvery along flanks, dark brown along the dorsum forming a burnished streak (in about upper 1/4th of body) from nape up to the base of upper lobe of caudal fin; fins with pinkish hue; bright turmeric-yellow along the throat and whole belly region including the bases of paired and anal fins, so much so that turmeric-yellow mucous is seen left behind when handled live.

                                                                                                            ………… Aspidoparia morar

[= Cabdio morarvide indiabiodiversity.org>species> & www.fishbase.in>]

PHOTOGRAPHS OF Aspidoparia morar

 Aspidoparia morar: Lateral view showing obtuse snout; origin of dorsal fin opposite pelvic base; bright pinkish-silvery flanks, a burnished streak (in about upper 1/4th of body) from nape up to the base of upper lobe of caudal fin (yellow arrow) and fins with pinkish hue & almost equal caudal fin lobes.
Aspidoparia morar: Ventral view showing diagnostic bright turmeric-yellow colour along the throat and whole belly region including the bases of paired and anal fins (blue arrows)

 

Dorsal fin originates opposite midway of pelvic and anal fin bases (more towards pelvic base). Snout bluntly rounded. Lateral line scales 50 – 60. Lower lobe of caudal fin longer. Colour silvery, pinkish-yellow along flanks and belly, brownish-yellow along the dorsum forming a wider (as compared to A. morar) light brownish streak (in about upper 1/4th of body) from behind the nape (which is much darker) up to the base of upper lobe of caudal fin; fins with orange-yellow hue; dorsal and caudal fins edged black.

………. Aspidoparia jaya

PHOTOGRAPHS OF Aspidoparia jaya

 Aspidoparia jaya: Lateral view showing origin of dorsal fin midway of pelvic and anal fin bases; bluntly rounded snout; pinkish-yellow along flanks, brownish-yellow along the dorsum forming a wider (as compared to A. morar) light brownish streak (in about upper 1/4th of body) from behind the nape up to the base of upper lobe of caudal fin; fins with orange-yellow hue; dorsal and caudal fins edged black & longer Lower lobe of caudal fin.
 Aspidoparia jaya: Ventral view showing silvery, pinkish-yellow belly; paired and anal fins with orange-yellow hue.

HABITAT PREFERANCES BY Aspidoparia sp.

Both Aspidoparia morar and Aspidoparia jaya are common in the relatively slow moving sections of rivers of Eastern Doon (Song and Suswa), A. morar being more common. Western Doon has been found inhabited by A. morar in Asan river. Interestingly, both the species can be found frequently amongst the catches of Barilius sp. (Lot – 3), sharing similar habitat characteristics.

 

 

Song River at Gumaniwala (Eastern Doon), in Rishikesh Tehsil: Gently flowing isolated channel of the river, meeting the Ganges. Besides Aspidoparia morar, such areas are the ideal dwelling grounds for small-sized Puntius sp. (Lot – 1), Barilius sp. (Lot – 3), Rasbora & Esomus sp. (Lot – 5), Channa punctatus (Lot- 10) in the marshy areas, Catfishes like Mystus sp., Clarias sp., Heteropnesustes sp. (Lot – 11) and worm-like small-sized bottom dwellers like Acanthocobitis, Lepidocephalichthys and Schistura sp. (Lot – 14).
Song River side channel at Doiwala (Eastern Doon): An ideal schooling ground for Aspidoparia along with Barilius sp. (Lot – 3). Other fishes frequenting such channels are small-sized Puntius sp. (Lot – 1), Barilius sp. (Lot – 3), Rasbora & Esomus sp. (Lot – 5), Channa punctatus (Lot- 10) and worm-like small-sized bottom dwellers like Acanthocobitis, Lepidocephalichthys and Schistura sp. (Lot – 14).
Asan River at Herbertpur (Western Doon): Besides Aspidoparia morar, this relatively deeper and moderately flowing stretch abounds large to medium-sized fishes like Xenentodon (Lot – 2), Barilius bendelisis (Lot – 3), Tor putitora (Lot – 12), along with some small-sized sp. like Puntius conchonius (Lot – 1), Devario devario (Lot – 7) and bottom-dweller Cobitids (Lot – 14).

CLICK HERE FOR Lot – 3, TO VIEW MORE PHOTOGRAPHS FOR HABITAT PREFERENCES

NEXT POST: Lot – 14, ABOUT THE SEGREGATION OF FISHES CALLED COBITIDS (FAMILY: COBITIDAE) viz., Lepidocephalichthys, Acanthocobitis and Schistura sp.
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