| Erethistoides | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Erethistidae |
| Genus: | Erethistoides Hora, 1950 |
| Species | |
Erethistoides is a genus of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Erethistidae. It includes seven species, E. ascita, E. cavatura, E. infuscatus, E. montana, E. pipri, E. senkhiensis, and E. sicula.
This genus is known from the sub-Himalayan region of the Indian subcontinent.[4] They are found in the Brahmaputra and Meghna drainages, northern India and Nepal.[5] E. ascita is found in the Mechi and Kosi River systems, Ganges drainage, Nepal and in rivers of lowland plains of southeastern Nepal.[1] E. cavatura originates from the Rapi River system of Narayani River basin in Nepal.[1] E. montana inhabits the Brahmaputra and Meghna drainages, northeast India.[5] E. infuscatus is from the Brahmaputra and Meghna River drainages in northeast India and Bangladesh.[2] E. pipri is only known from the Rihand River, Uttar Pradesh, India, a tributary in the Son River system.[6] E. senkhiensis is from Senkhi stream, Arunachal Pradesh, India.[3] E. sicula lives in the Mansai River drainage, Brahmaputra River basin, India. This species is found in large, shallow, fast-flowing streams with a sandy bottom. The fish usually hide in clumps of aquatic vegetation.[4]
Erethistoides is distinguished from all other erethistids by having the anterior margin of the pectoral fin spine with serrations directed toward the tip of the spine distally, and away from the tip proximally; however, the use of this as a diagnostic character has been questioned as some specimens of Erethistes filamentosa also show this trait.[4] They also lack a thoracic adhesive apparatus present in some other erethistids, and a smooth to granulate anterior margin on the dorsal fin spine, moderate gill openings that extend to the underside of the fish, a papillate upper lip, and 9–11 anal fin rays.[5] The head is depressed and triangular, and the body is elongate and compressed. The eyes are small to moderate and are placed dorsolaterally in the posterior half of the head. The pectoral fin spine is serrated anteriorly and posteriorly. The dorsal fin spine is serrated posteriorly but not anteriorly.[5]