%0 Journal Article
%T Molecular Identification and Ecology of a Newly Discovered Population of Sun Catfish Horabagrus brachysoma from Northern Western Ghats of India
%A Unmesh Katwate
%A Rupesh Raut
%A Mayura Khot
%A Mandar Paingankar
%A Neelesh Dahanukar
%J ISRN Zoology
%D 2012
%R 10.5402/2012/419320
%X Horabagrus brachysoma, thought to be endemic to the southern parts of the Western Ghats of India, is recorded for the northern parts of the Western Ghats, extending the species distribution range by 180£¿km. We have confirmed the identity of the species and the fact that the species is indigenous to this area and not an artifact of recent introductions using molecular methods. Apart from the range extension we have also provided detailed analysis regarding the nature of morphometric variations between the sexes, length-weight relationship, and a brief discussion about the potential habitat requirements and threats to this species. By documenting the possible threats to this threatened and endemic species, we have commented on the possible measures to conserve the species in the wild. 1. Introduction Classified among the 34 global biodiversity hotspots [1], the Western Ghats of India is rich in freshwater fish diversity with more than 40% of the species being endemic to this region [2]. On one hand while new species of freshwater fish are still being described from the Western Ghats [3¨C6], on the other hand recent IUCN assessments have suggested that more than 58% of the endemic freshwater fish fauna of this region is threatened due to various anthropogenic stressors [7] and needs immediate conservation attention [8]. One of the major hindrance in designing and implementing potent conservation action plans for the freshwater fish in this region is the fact that they are still least understood with respect to their distribution, life history traits, population dynamics, and ecology, while many species complexes are still awaiting for proper taxonomic evaluation [7]. Limited knowledge of distribution of several fish species and continuous description of new species suggests that the freshwater fish fauna of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot is subject to both the Wallacean (geographical distribution of most species is poorly understood) and Linnean (most species are still not formally described) shortfalls [9]. Horabagrus Jayaram, 1955 is an endemic catfish found only in west flowing rivers of Western Ghats of India. In the order Siluriformes the exact familial affinities of Horabagrus is still debated and traditionally it has been placed under family Bagridae [10] or Schilbidae [11¨C13], while the recent molecular phylogeny suggests that it should belong to a new proposed family Horabagridae [14]. The genus currently comprises of two species H. brachysoma (G¨¹nther, 1864) and H. nigricollaris Pethiyagoda & Kottelat, 1994, both of which are threatened
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn.zoology/2012/419320/