Schistura syngkai, a new fish species (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae) from Meghalaya, northeast India

Abstract

Schistura syngkai, a new stone loach, is described from the Twahdidoh Stream of Wahblei River (Surma-Meghna drainage) in Meghalaya, northeast India. It is unique among its Indian congeners in having a prominent dark-brown to blackish mid-lateral stripe about an eye diameter or more in width, overlain on 12–18 vertically-elongate black blotches on a golden-brown to amber body. Additionally, the species possesses an incomplete lateral line and a slightly emarginate caudal fin, and exhibits no apparent sexual dimorphism.