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  • Glyptothorax distichusHolotype
  • Glyptothorax distichusHolotype, dorsal view
  • Glyptothorax distichusHolotype, ventral view
  • Glyptothorax distichusThoracic adhesive apparatus
  • Glyptothorax distichusVentral view of pectoral spine
  • Glyptothorax distichusType locality
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Scientific Name Glyptothorax distichus    Kosygin, Singh & Gurumayum, 2020
Common Name
Type Locality Tlawng River near Sairang, Barak-Meghna-Surma drainage, Aizawl district, Mizoram, India, 23°48'26"N, 92°38'45"E.
Pronunciation Gleep toe thor axe
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. Latin distichus, meaning having two longitudinal rows of grain or lines, in allusion to the two broad longitudinal stripeson the body. An adjective.
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 distichus is diagnosed from congeners in the Indian subcontinent in having a combination of the following characters: a chevron-shaped thoracic adhesive apparatus, with poorly developed median depression that is widely opened posteriorly by skin ridges; short dorsal fin spine (10.4, 12.4% SL); deep body (depth at anus 12.7, 13.2% SL); short caudal peduncle (17.6, 16.3% SL vs. 21.4–23.9); slender caudal peduncle (7.8, 7.9% SL); short predorsal length (32.7, 34.2% SL) unculiferous ridges 26 of adhesive apparatus not extending anteriorly onto gular region; absence of plicate on ventral surfaces first pectoral and pelvic fins rays, smooth skin on head and body; presence of two broad pale cream longitudinal stripes on body; and 20 + 17 Vertebrae.
Hop to next section Habitat Information
Distribution
Indian waters, North Eastern India Waters, Padma, Ganges, Meghna, Surma, Barak, Tlawng (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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IUCN Red List Category
Not Evaluated
Hop to next section Husbandry Information
Breeding Unreported in the aquarium.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Hop to next section Further Information
Reference Records of the Zoological Survey of India v. 120 (no. 1), pp 26, Figs. 1-3.
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
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Last Update 2025 Jan 01 12:25 (species record created: 2020 May 23 09:32)