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Hop to next section All Fishes Data Sheet
Scientific Name Glyptothorax anamalaiensis  Silas, 1952
Common Name
Type Locality Stream in Anamalai Hills, Western Ghats, India.
Pronunciation Gleep toe thor axe - aana malay ensis
Etymology The generic name comes from the Greek glyptos, meaning carved, and thorax, meaning breastplate (or the part of the body covered by it), in reference to the folds of skin comprising the thoracic adhesive apparatus. Named after its type locality, the Anamalai Hills.
Hop to next section Species Information
Identification Sisorid catfishes of the genus Glyptothorax Blyth are benthic inhabitants of torrential waters of rivers and streams in montane and submontane parts of tropical Asia. The members of the genus are adapted to attach themselves to rocks and boulders against strong currents by means of a thoracic adhesive apparatus comprising grooves and folded pleats of skin parallel or oblique to the longitudinal axis of the body. The genus has a wide distribution, ranging from Turkey and Syria in the west, to India and China in the east, and extending further southeastward to Indonesia. With 84 nominal species, Glyptothorax are the most speciose genus of catfishes in Asia (Eschmeyer et al., 1998, Ng, 2005); 67 species were treated as valid by Thomson & Page (2006).

Glyptothorax anamalaiensis can be differentiated from congeners by having the paired fins plaited below ventrally and a body with three transverse white bands.
Sexing Not known.
General Remarks It is very likely that this species has not been exported for the trade as yet but general care will be very similar to that of other Glyptothorax species.
Hop to next section Habitat Information
Distribution Ponnani drainage, Western Ghats, peninsular India
Indian waters (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Indian waters, Kerala State Waters, Bharathappuzha (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Indian waters, Western Ghats Waters (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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IUCN Red List Category Endangered, range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2010.
Other Parameters The water should be cool and heavily oxygenated with a good flow as these fish occur in hill streams. Anything above 25 C will hamper long term survival as these fish tend to burn away at higher temperatures.
Hop to next section Husbandry Information
Feeding Is known to take only live food like blood worms, frozen brine shrimp etc. Spot feeding will help in case tank mates are voracious feeders. User data.
Furniture Fine sand for the bottom and smooth pebbles / rocks.
Compatibility A peaceful species suitable for a hillstream biotope.
Suggested Tankmates Cyprinids like Barilius and Danios and Balitorine loaches like Homaloptera species.
Breeding Unreported in the aquarium.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Hop to next section Further Information
Reference Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society v. 50 (pt 2) [1951], pp 370.
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
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Last Update 2020 Jul 31 06:43 (species record created: 2009 Nov 07 04:46)