| Biology: |
The type locality, the river bed of Keezhvaipur of Manimala River, is generally occupied by sand and gravel, with bed rocks and black clays occasionally present. This stretch of the river has a width of 40-120 m, depth of the water column in summer season ranges from 0.5 to 7 m and bank height varies from 4 to 7 m with respect to general water level. It is covered by more or less dense riparian vegetation; the flora includes Dendrocalamus strictus, Ochreinauclea missionis, Acacia caesia, Bambusa bambos, B. vulgaris, Hydnocarpus pentandra and others and with Colocasia esculenta, Cynodon dactylon and Nymphaea forming the majority of the stream vegetation. Some fishes co-occurring with this species in this region are: Anguilla bengalensis, A. bicolor, Salmostoma boopis, Barilius bakeri, Rasbora dandia, Osteobrama bakeri, Puntius mahecola, Pethia punctatus, Dawkinsia filamentosa, Gonoproktopterus kurali, Catla catla, Labeo ariza, L. dussumieri, Garra mullya, Horabagrus brachysoma, Mystus oculatus, M. gulio, Wallago attu, Xenentodon cancila, Ambassis commersoni, A. gymnocephalus, Pseudambassis ranga, Pristolepis malabarica, Etroplus maculatus, E. suratensis, and Glossogobius giuris (Ref. 104747). |
