Fish Fauna of Asan River and Its Tributaries, Western Doon Valley, Dehradun (Uttarakhand), with Conservation Status of Species and Threats - Aquatic Ecosystem: Biodiversity, Ecology and Conservation - page 251

Body slightly compressed, head narrow,
barbels longer than the eye which is slightly in
the anterior half of the head, dorsal origin vari-
able, 2nd branched ray of paired fi ns longest (not
produced) while two outer ones thickened, 1st
branched ray of anal longest (not produced),
anterior part of dorsal and anal base sometimes
swollen, caudal deeply emarginated, lateral line
complete, major part of the predorsal area naked.
Body pale, colour highly variable with 3-13
(normally 10-12) bars on the lateral side which
on caudal peduncle may encircle it, an oblique
dark band across the middle of the dorsal fi n with
tips and base of the anterior few rays sometimes
blackish, paired fi ns blackish on the upper side,
caudal fi n marked with 'W-shaped' diffused
bands.
Sexual Dimorphism: In male, the preorbital is
produced into a movable posteriorly directed
obtuse projection, upper surface of pectoral fi n
fi nely tuberculated, urinogenital papilla promi-
nent. Female lacks these characters.

Remarks
Record of this species from the main Asan River
(Uniyal 2010 ; Uniyal and Kumar 2006 ; Uniyal
and Mehta 2007 ) is doubtful as being a fi sh of
torrents.

34. Schistura rupecula McClelland, 1838
Schistura rupecula McClelland, 1838. J. Asiat.
Soc. Beng ., 7: 948, pl. 55, fi g. 3 (type locality:
mountain streams at Simla).

English Name
Stonefi sh.

Local Name
Gadera.

Localities Surveyed
Naro nadi, Bhurgaon near Bansiwala; Tons nadi,
Bijapur; Nun nadi, Jaintanwala; Nalota nala at
Chandrauti near Robber's cave; Kiarkuli nadi and
Bhitarli nadi at village Khera near Jaspur; Birhani
nadi near Panditwari (headwaters of Asan).

Maximum Size
9.2 cm.

Diagnostic Characters
D. 2-3/7-8. P. 1/10, V. 1/7, A. 3/5, C. 18(9/9).
Body elongated, stoutly built, predorsal pro-
fi le slightly arched, ventral in front of the anal fi n
fl attened; head broad, depressed; barbels longer
than the eye; nasal fl ap may reach the eye; upper
jaw produced into a beak-like process, lower with
a slight concavity; dorsal origin variable, 2nd
branched ray longest; base of the anterior few
rays of dorsal and anal swollen; paired fi ns broad
and horizontal with outer 3-4 rays thickened and
padded, 3rd outer branched ray of pectoral and
2nd outer branched ray of pelvic longest (not pro-
duced), 2nd branched ray of anal longest, upper
and lower edges of the caudal peduncle keeled,
caudal fi n emarginated; posterior half of the body
scaled and a few scales in front of the dorsal fi n,
lateral line complete. Body pale with 10-13 dark
brown vertical bars, broader than pale inter-
spaces; dorsal fi n marked with 2-3 oblique rows
of dark dots, caudal fi n with two dusky 'V-shaped'
vertical bands.
Sexual Dimorphism: In adult males, upper
surface of pectoral fi n fi nely tuberculated, urino-

Distribution

Uttarakhand
Garhwal Division: Chamoli, Dehradun, Pauri,
Tehri and Uttarkashi districts; Kumaon Division:
Almora, Nainital and Pithoragarh districts.

India
Assam (Kaziranga), Himachal Pradesh (Kangra,
Shimla).

Elsewhere
No record.

Habitat and Ecology
Inhabits small hill streams with gravelly bottom.
Feeds on microorganisms, small insects and their
larvae and algal matter. Breeds during monsoon
months.

Conservation Status
IUCN Red List, not evaluated.