Lot 4: Identification tips for Barilius telio and Raiamas bola from Doon Valley.

Interestingly, in the streams of Eastern Doon (Uttarakhand), specially River Song at Teen Paani (at Golatappar swamp forest, in Barakot forest range, close to Raiwala, about 50 km from Dehradun city), flowing through forest thickets on the clayey, rocky and pebbly bed, harbours two ‘TROUT LIKE’ species which, though different in their body profile and total length range, similarly exhibit the presence of 2 or more rows of bluish spots/ blotches along sides. They can be easily characterized into species belonging to 2 different Genera viz., Barilius tileo (10.0 – 18.0 cm) and Raiamas bola (10.0 – 29.5 cm), on the basis of the following:

• Barbels 2 pairs:

Trout like, compressed laterally, ventral profile more arched than the dorsal. Cleft of mouth deep and directed upwards. Barbel 2 pairs, one small rostral and one small maxillary pair; rostral originating slightly anterior to the anterior border of the nostril and about the middle of the snout length at a point where a suture separates pre-orbital and nasal bone; maxillary pair originating a bit prior to the end of maxilla and to below about 1/4^th of the diameter of eye. Bluish-brown along the dorsum, becoming silvery on the flanks and belly; with 2 – 4 irregular rows of vertically oval bluish black blotches of varying sizes on the sides, 14 – 16 being in the first row. Dorsal fin greyish. Pectoral, pelvic and anal fins lemon yellow. Caudal fin greyish, more so on the lower lobe. There is a well-marked sexual dimorphism, males with tubercles at the lower mandibular surface, snout and scales; Ist unbranched ray and I and II branched rays of pectorals being osseous and thickened.

……. Barilius telio