Glyptothorax bhurainu, Vijayakrishnan & Shinde, 2025

Glyptothorax bhurainu , new species urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:45C46539-3C8C-4A80-A32F-F920211D1223

( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 & 2 View FIGURE 2 )

Material examined. Holotype: ZSI/NRC F-10669 , 63.7 mm SL; India: Uttarakhand: Ganges River at Haridwar .

Paratypes: 61.5–69.9 mm SL; ZSI/NRC F-10670 (6); India: Uttarakhand: Ganges River at Haridwar .

Diagnosis. Glyptothorax bhurainu can be distinguished from all Gangetic congeners except G. pectinopterus , G. conirostris , G. brevipinnis , G. dakpathari and G. himalaicus in the presence (vs. absence) of plicate ventral surface on pectoral-fin spine and first pelvic-fin ray ( Fig. 3a & b View FIGURE 3 ). It differs from both G. brevipinnis and G. pectinopterus in possessing serrated (vs. smooth) posterior margin of dorsal-fin spine, longer thoracic adhesive apparatus reaching (vs. not reaching) posterior limit of pectoral-fin base, and shorter adipose-fin base (10.3–12.5% SL vs. 13.9–18.0). It differs from G. dakpathari in having an elliptical- (vs. ovoid-) shaped thoracic adhesive apparatus with spindle- (vs. ovoid-) shaped central depression ( Fig. 4a View FIGURE 4 ), longer anterior nuchal plate element with rounded anterior margin and pale spots spread throughout (vs. shorter anterior nuchal plate element with pointed anterior margin and pale spots only at lateral tips) ( Fig. 5a View FIGURE 5 ), and a shorter dorsal-fin spine (12.9–14.8% SL vs. 15.6–15.8); from G. conirostris in having an elliptical- (vs. ovoid-) shaped thoracic adhesive apparatus, absence (vs. presence) of medial pit and in the absence (vs. presence) of anteromedial striae of the thoracic adhesive apparatus; and from G. himalaicus in the absence (vs. presence) of irregular blotches on dorso-lateral surface of body, absence (vs. presence) of medial pit, and a shorter maxillary barbel (82.4–116.9% HL vs. 124.0).

Glyptothorax bhurainu further differs from G. telchitta and G. botius in having a deeper body (depth at anus 13.6–14.6% SL vs. 9.9–13.3) and deeper caudal peduncle (8.4–9.4% SL vs. 3.1–5.9); from G. cavia in having elliptical- (vs. rhomboid-) shaped thoracic adhesive apparatus, absence (vs. presence) of anteromedial striae of the thoracic adhesive apparatus, and shorter head (23.6–24.1% SL vs. 29.5); from G. indicus in having unculiferous ridges of thoracic adhesive apparatus not extending (vs. extending) anteriorly onto gular region, and shorter adipose-fin base (10.3–12.5% SL vs. 13.6–15.3); from G. garhwali in the absence (vs. presence) of anteromedial striae in thoracic adhesive apparatus, and serrated (vs. smooth) posterior margin of dorsal-fin spine; and from G. gracilis in having a narrow head (head depth 9.3–10.9% SL vs. 11.9–13.9), and a larger eye (11.3–13.3% HL vs. 9.4–10.8).

Description. Morphometric data in Table 1 View TABLE 1 . Head depressed; body subcylindrical. Dorsal profile rising evenly from tip of snout to origin of dorsal fin, then sloping gently ventral from origin of dorsal fin to end of caudal peduncle. Ventral profile straight till anal-fin base, sloping gently from anal-fin base to end of caudal peduncle. Anus and urogenital openings located almost vertical through middle of adpressed pelvic fin. Skin tuberculate. Lateral line midlateral, complete.

Head depressed and narrow, triangular when viewed laterally. Snout prominent. Anterior and posterior nares large and separated only by base of nasal barbel. Gill opening broad, extending from immediately ventral to post-temporal to isthmus. Bony elements of dorsal surface of head covered with thick, tuberculate skin. Eyes small and round, located on dorsal surface of head. Barbels in four pairs. Maxillary barbel long and slender, extending beyond pectoral-fin base. Nasal barbel slender, extending beyond anterior orbital margin. Inner mandibular barbel extending to pectoral-fin base and outer mandibular barbel extending to middle of pectoral-fin base. Mouth inferior, lips papillate, premaxillary tooth band slightly exposed when mouth closed. Oral teeth small and villiform, in irregular rows on all tooth-bearing surfaces. Premaxillary teeth in single broad semi-lunate band. Dentary teeth in single crescent shaped band, consisting of two separate halves tightly bound at midline.

Thoracic adhesive apparatus consisting of striae in elliptical field ( Figure 4a View FIGURE 4 ) extending from isthmus to posterior limit of pectoral-fin base; anterolateral edges of adhesive apparatus gently convex. Striae uninterrupted, anteromedial striae absent. No medial pit devoid of striae. Dorsal fin located above anterior third of body, with I,6* (7) rays; fin margin gently concave; spine short and gently curved, anterior margin smooth, posterior with 4–5 serrations. Adipose fin with anterior and posterior margin slightly concave. Caudal fin strongly forked, with equal upper and lower lobes and i,7,8,i* (7) principal rays. Procurrent rays symmetrical and extending slightly anterior to fin base. Anal-fin base ventral to adipose-fin origin. Anal fin with straight anterior margin and straight or slightly concave posterior margin; with ii,9 (2) or ii,10* (5) rays. Pelvic-fin origin immediately posterior to vertical through posterior end of dorsal-fin base. Pelvic fin with slightly convex margin and i,5* (7) rays; tip of adpressed fin almost reaching anal-fin origin. Pectoral fin with I,9 (2) or I,10* (5) rays; pectoral spine broad and covered with thick skin. Anterior spine margin smooth, posterior margin with 8–9 serrations. Ventral surface of pectoral-fin spine and first pelvic-fin ray with plicae ( Figure 3a & b View FIGURE 3 ).

Colouration. In 70% alcohol ( Fig 1 View FIGURE 1 .): dorsal and lateral surfaces of head bluish grey, fading to yellowish cream on ventral surface. Posterior half of supraoccipital process, and both central portion and lateral tips of nuchal plate elements yellowish-cream. A thin, pale mid-dorsal stripe extending from base of last dorsal-fin ray to caudal peduncle, stripe interrupted in some individuals. Dorsal, pectoral, pelvic and anal fins black at base and anterior margins, yellow on rays, and hyaline distally. Pectoral and pelvic fins with prominent yellow on ventral base. Adipose fin yellow with black at base, black subdistal patch on centre of fin, and hyaline distal margin. Caudal fin with dark black vertical band at its base, outer rays yellow to brown, and inner rays cream or hyaline, tip of lobes hyaline. Maxillary and nasal barbels with grey at base, yellow distally and ventrally. Mandibular barbels yellow. Colouration in life: dorsal and lateral surfaces of body and head brown to dark brown, with darker fins ( Fig 2 View FIGURE 2 .).

Etymology. The specific name comes from the Garhwali word ‘bhurainu’ meaning the one who is brown, in allusion to the live colouration of this species. Garhwali is the primary language in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand State, India, where the type locality is located.

Habitat. Glyptothorax bhurainu was collected from a shallow, fast-flowing stream with a predominantly sandy bottom with cobblestone and pebbles as major substrates ( Fig. 6 View FIGURE 6 ). Co-occurring fishes include Glyptothorax himalaicus, Garra sp., Botia almorhae , Labeo sp. , and Tariqilabeo latius .

Distribution. Glyptothorax bhurainu is currently known only from the upper reaches of the Ganges River basin in Haridwar District, Uttarakhand, northern India ( Fig. 7 View FIGURE 7 ). The Ganges at the type locality is formed by the confluence of the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi Rivers, approximately 100 kms upstream.