Kryptoglanis shajii | |
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Scientific classification
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Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Siluriformes |
Family: |
Kryptoglanidae Britz, Kakkassery & Raghavan, 2014 [3] |
Genus: |
Kryptoglanis Vincent & J. Thomas, 2011 [2] |
Species: | K. shajii
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Binomial name | |
Kryptoglanis shajii |
Kryptoglanis shajii is a species of subterranean catfish found in subsurface waters in the Western Ghats in Kerala, India. This cavefish grows to a length of 5.9 centimetres (2.3 in) SL. [2] [4] It is currently the only known member of its genus and family. [3] Although first discovered from underground waters, it has also been seen in dense vegetation in paddy fields and was found to be common in this habitat in the Chalakudy. [5] The species strongly avoids light and feeds on small invertebrates. [5]
This genus and Horaglanis, both from the Western Ghats, are the only known underground-living catfish in India. [3] [6]
The morphology of K. shajii differs from all other known species of catfish and includes such features as the absence of dorsal fin; the presence of four pairs of barbels; an upwardly directed mouth, with a distinctly projecting lower jaw with 4 set of teeth; subcutaneous eyes; anal fin completely confluent with the caudal fin; anal and caudal fins together carry 70–74 fin rays; and no spines in any of the fins. These differences have led to its being assigned to its own family. [3]