Journal of Threatened Taxa (Mar 2016)

Channa pardalis, a new species of snakehead (Teleostei: Channidae) from Meghalaya, northeastern India

  • J.D. Marcus Knight

DOI
https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.2168.8.3.8583-8589
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 3
pp. 8583 – 8589

Abstract

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Channa pardalis, a new species of snakehead, is described from Khasi Hills, Meghalaya, northeastern India. This species can be distinguished from its congeners by a unique colour pattern consisting of numerous large black spots on the post-orbital region of the head, opercle and body; a broad white and black margin to the dorsal, anal and caudal fins; 36–37 dorsal fin rays; 24–25 anal fin rays; 44–45 pored scales on the body and two scales on the caudal fin base; 4½ scales above lateral line and 6½ scales below lateral line; 45 vertebrae and the palatine with two rows of teeth: outer row with numerous minute teeth and inner row with short, stout inward curved teeth.

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