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Aplocheilus panchax (Hamilton, 1822) [N]—Blue panchax Taxonomy. Original description: Esox panchax Hamilton, 1822: 211, 380, pl. 3, fig. 69 (ditches and ponds of Bengal; no types known).— Afghanistan synonyms: None.—Revisions: Seegers (1997: 16).—Illustration: Hamilton (1822: pl. 3, fig. 69) as Esox panchax; Britz (2019: pl. 119). Status in Afghanistan. First record from Afghanistan by Hora (1935); confirmed by Coad (1981: 8).—Afghanistan materials: None. Distribution and habitat. Distribution in Afghanistan: Chahiltran Stream, tributary of Kabul River, West Kabul City, Afghanistan.—General distribution: South Asia: Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar; introduced in Sulawesi (Indonesia).—Habitat: This species is found in clear, shallow, and brackish waters at low altitudes, as well as in estuaries, ditches, ponds, and canals, reservoirs, and mangrove creeks. This species is a larvivorous fish, and its utility for mosquito control has been well established. This species is a perennial breeder with a spawning maximum in the monsoon months. It breeds at 8 cm and attains a length of 9 cm. Maturity is attained in four to five months. The eggs, when laid, are attached to submersibles. Freshwater, brackish. Economic importance. Valuable for the aquarium trade. Reasons of introduction. Ornamental fish industry. Conservation. Conservation status in Afghanistan: Unknown.—IUCN: LC (Chaudhry & Chakrabarty 2018).— Threats: COM, EUT.—High sensitivity to human activities.—Keystone species.—Decline status: Unknown.— Moderate priority for conservation action., Published as part of Çiçek, Erdoğan, Fricke, Ronald, Eagderi, Soheil, Sungur, Sevil, Coad, Brian W & Hamdard, Mohammad Hamid, 2023, Fishes of Afghanistan; a revised and updated annotated checklist, pp. 1-69 in Zootaxa 5305 (1) on pages 46-47, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5305.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/8048564, {"references":["Hamilton, F. (1822) An account of the fishes found in the river Ganges and its branches. Printed for A. Constable and company, Edinburgh and London, vii + 405 pp., pls. 1 - 39. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 59540","Seegers, L. (1997) Killifishes of the World. Old World Killis II. Aqualog, Verlag A. C. S., M ˆ rfelden-Walldorf, 109 pp.","Britz, R. (2019) Francis Hamilton's Gangetic Fishes in colour. A new edition of the 1822 monograph, with reproductions of unpublished coloured illustrations. Ray Society, London, 48 + vii + 405 + vii pp., 228 pls.","Hora, S. L. (1935) On a collection of fishes from Afghanistan. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 37 (4), 784 - 802. https: // doi. org / 10.26515 / rzsi / v 37 / i 3 / 1935 / 162976","Coad, B. W. (1981) Fishes of Afghanistan, an annoted checklist. National Museum of Canada Publications in Zoology, 14, i - v + 1 - 26.","Chaudhry, S. & Chakrabarty, P. (2018) Aplocheilus panchax. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2018, e. T 166477 A 1134077. https: // doi. org / 10.2305 / IUCN. UK. 2018 - 2. RLTS. T 166477 A 1134077. en"]}

Aplocheilus blockii (Arnold, 1911) [I] — Green panchax Taxonomy. Original description: Haplochilus panchax blockii Arnold, 1911: 672, fig. 3 [Cochin, India; no types known].— Afghanistan synonyms: Aplocheilus blochi (Arnold,, 1911); Aplocheilus blochii (Arnold, 1911).— Revisions: Seegers (1997: 16).—Illustration: Arnold (1911: fig. 3). Status in Afghanistan. First record from Afghanistan by Hora (1935); confirmed by Coad (1981: 8).—Afghanistan materials: None. Distribution and habitat. Distribution in Afghanistan: Chahiltran Stream, tributary of Kabul River, West Kabul City, Afghanistan.—General distribution: Afghanistan and Pakistan.—Habitat: This species lives under the surface in still waters, mainly coastal and often brackish, especially where there is surface vegetation or cover, such as mangrove swamps and rice fields. Freshwater. Economic importance. Valuable for the aquarium trade. Reasons of introduction. Ornamental fish industry. Conservation. Not relevant (intoduced species)., Published as part of Çiçek, Erdoğan, Fricke, Ronald, Eagderi, Soheil, Sungur, Sevil, Coad, Brian W & Hamdard, Mohammad Hamid, 2023, Fishes of Afghanistan; a revised and updated annotated checklist, pp. 1-69 in Zootaxa 5305 (1) on page 46, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5305.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/8048564, {"references":["Arnold, J. P. (1911) Der Formen- und Farbenkreis der Haplochilus panchax - Gruppe. Wochenschrift fur Aquarien- und Terrarienkunde, 8 (46), 669 - 672.","Seegers, L. (1997) Killifishes of the World. Old World Killis II. Aqualog, Verlag A. C. S., M ˆ rfelden-Walldorf, 109 pp.","Hora, S. L. (1935) On a collection of fishes from Afghanistan. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 37 (4), 784 - 802. https: // doi. org / 10.26515 / rzsi / v 37 / i 3 / 1935 / 162976","Coad, B. W. (1981) Fishes of Afghanistan, an annoted checklist. National Museum of Canada Publications in Zoology, 14, i - v + 1 - 26."]}

Aplocheilus lineatus (Valenciennes) (Fig. 42, [LU]) Distribution. Deep Water Bay Stream (current survey). Native range. India and Sri Lanka, South Asia. Remarks. Found to have a sizable breeding population in a man-made pond in Deep Water Bay Stream in 2020 to 2021. However, it was not recorded during subsequent surveys in 2022., Published as part of Chan, Jeffery C. F., Tsang, Alphonse H. F., Yau, Sze-man, Hui, Tommy C. H., Lau, Anthony, Tan, Heok Hui, Low, Bi Wei, Dudgeon, David & Liew, Jia Huan, 2023, The non-native freshwater fishes of Hong Kong: diversity, distributions, and origins, pp. 128-168 in Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 71 on pages 148-149, DOI: 10.26107/RBZ-2023-0012, http://zenodo.org/record/7815765

Biological control of mosquitoes using larvivorous fishes is a sustainable practice when compared to the traditionally used chemical methods. The present study made an attempt to evaluate the comparative larvivorous potential of three indigenous fish namely Danio rerio, Danio malabaricus and Aplocheilus panchax with two exotic species Gambusia affinis and Poecilia reticulata against Culex larvae. Predatory potential of fishes was assessed at different prey densities for a period of 24 hour. The study revealed that all the fishes showed larvivorous potential with differences in their feeding efficiencies. The sequence of predation efficacy noted in the present study was Danio rerio>Aplocheilus panchax>Gambusia affinis>Danio malabaricus>Poecilia reticulata. The study also shown that the foraging behavior of all the fishes showed a significant increase (P

Comparative evaluation of mahua (Bassia latifolia) oil cake (MOC) and castor bean (Ricinus communis) seed (CBS) was tested as piscicides for tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) and panchax (Aplocheilus panchax), and residual toxicity test was done on Labeo bata. Delayed response of CBS compared with MOC was evident as first and total mortality of tilapia was encountered at 4th and 10th hour of application, against 26 hr and 42 hr in panchax respectively. Susceptibility of the test fish to the piscicides was highly variable as tilapia was more susceptible than panchax under both the piscicides tested especially in CBS. Residual toxicity decreased polynomialy over time (R² ≥ 0.99) and reduced to below 10% on day 13–14 in both MOC and CBS treatments. Both MOC and CBS contributed positively to the nutrient pool of water in which CBS provided more nitrogen compared with MOC. N: P ratio of water in CBS treatment increased exponentially to more than 18 indicating phosphorus limitation.

Batetangnga River is one of the rivers in West Sulawesi and is well known as an ecotourism area. This preliminary study was performed to reveal fish fauna in the Batetangnga River, West Sulawesi. Ichthyofauna research was conducted in April and May 2021 at two stations in Batetangnga River, namely Rawa Bangun and Butute’neng. During the study period, a total of 14 species belonging to 9 families were identified. No endemic species were found in the study area. Native fish species such as Stiphodon semoni, Butis butis, Glossogobius sp., Glossogobius aereus, Stiphodon sp., Giuris sp, Atule sp. Ambassis miops, Ambassis interrupta, Microphis sp. were recorded. Four alien fishes species were documented i.e. Aplocheilus panchax, Poecilia reticulata, Anabas testudineus, and Oreochromis niloticus. Freshwater fish exploration and efforts to control alien fishes species in west Sulawesi are essential things to be done shortly.

The COVID-19 induced lockdowns have many positive effects on the environment. However, a preplanned experiment explaining the impacts of such lockdowns on environmental markers and appearance of fish species is lacking. We hypothesize that spotting the fish Aplocheilus panchax along the industrial belt of Mahanadi River near Cuttack in a never seen manner could be due to the regenerated environment. Heavy metals, water quality and air qualities along with spotting A. panchax in up, mid and down stations in Mahanadi River at Jagatpur industrial basins were analysed at pre-lockdown (end of March 2020) and after 60 days of lockdown (last week of May 2020). Here we show that an overall reduction of 45, 61, 79, 100, 97 and 90% of Fe, Cu, Ni, Cd, Pb and Zn, respectively, was recorded in the studied area after lockdowns. Similarly, dissolved oxygen and pH was elevated by 26 and 7%, respectively. Water temperature, conductivity and total dissolved solute levels were reduced by 7, 46 and 15%, respectively. Air NO2, SO2, NH3, PM2.5, PM10 and CO levels were alleviated by 58.75, 80.33, 72.22, 76.28, 77.33 and 80.15%, respectively. Finally, for the first time we documented about 12 numbers of the A. panchax per 100 m shore line in the area. The observed lockdown induced environmental healing at the studied area could contribute to this and therefore a stringent environmental audit is suggested during post-COVID-19 periods to make the regenerated environmental status long lasting at several places of the planet.

This study was conducted to evaluate the potential of six locally abundant fish species to control Aedes mosquito larvae and thereby manage dengue epidemics in a sustainable, cost-effective and environmentally friendly manner. The biocontrol efficacy of six larvivorous fish species, namely, Poecilia reticulata, Rasbora daniconius, Aplocheilus dayi, Oriochromis mossambicus, O. niloticus and Puntius bimaculatus, was evaluated under laboratory and field conditions. Five size-matched fish (of the same species) were introduced into separate tanks (replicates) containing 2 L of dechlorinated water and 200 third instar larvae of Aedes aegypti (L.). The number of larvae consumed by each fish species was recorded at three-hour intervals for 24 h. Acclimatized fish were introduced into a total of eighteen artificial breeding habitats located in the Gampola Medical Officer of Health (MOH) area at the species level with three replications. In addition, three breeding sites without fish were monitored as controls. Aedes larvae were monitored by dipping and siphoning methods in each breeding habitat at weekly intervals for three months and the number of fish surviving in each habitat was tallied. Over 24 h under laboratory conditions, O. mossambicus showed the highest predation rate, consuming 320.2 ± 14.5 larvae per day, with a predatory efficiency of 87.5 ± 3.5%. In comparison, O. niloticus consumed 264.6 ± 12.2 larvae per day with consumption efficiciency of 78.1 ± 3.7%, whereas R. daniconius had the lowest larval consumption (33.2 ± 2.7 larvae per day) and predatory efficiency (33.2 ± 3.2%). Over 12 weeks of observation under field conditions, breeding sites with Ap. dayi had the lowest Aedes larval counts, followed by Po. reticulata. Considering predation efficiency and survival under field conditions, Ap. dayi and Po. reticulata were considered to be the best potential candidates for biological control of Ae. aegypti. Further studies under field settings are warranted to evaluate the survival and predatory potential of the selected candidates under more varied environmental conditions.

“Fish-out-of-water” offer ecologists and evolutionary biologists ideal opportunities to study the evolution of stress resistance in vertebrate species. Annual killifishes (Cyprinodontiformes: Aplocheiloidei) constitute one of the most intriguing systems to study fish-out-of-water. “Annual” fishes possess a suite of complex and key features that include diapause stages and desiccation resistance, allowing them to complete their life cycle in seasonal bodies of water. Embryos of some non-annual killifishes have been shown to exhibit pre-hatching delays or symptoms of dormancy (similar to diapause), therefore, these species may represent an intermediate phenotype in the evolution of an annual lifestyle. The non-annual killifish Aplocheilus lineatus undergoes such hatching delay during aerial incubation. We use this species to study gene expression differences among water-incubated and aerially-incubated embryos. Differentially expressed genes are characterized and compared with expression patterns during diapause in annual species and with other developmental stages in non-annual killifishes. The annotation of 560 differentially expressed transcripts provides insight into how delayed-hatching embryos of Aplocheilus lineatus react to aerial incubation and suggest that delayed hatching is a phenomenon distinct from the diapause stages of related annual species. Similar patterns of gene expression are shared among Aplocheilus and other egg stranding and amphibious fishes.

Length–weight relationships (LWRs) and length–length relationships (LLRs) of three ecologically important fishes (Aplocheilus panchax, Danio rerio and Esomus danrica) were reported from a wetland, northeastern Bangladesh (23 58 N, 89 38 E). Samples were collected monthly using traditional fishing gear including fine meshed (2.0 mm) push net and fine meshed (3.0–4.0 mm) surrounding net during January to December 2014. For each individual, total length (TL), fork length (FL) and standard length (SL) was measured to 0.1 cm, while body weight (BW) was measured to 0.01 g accuracy. Allometric coefficient (b) values were 3.10 for A. panchax, 3.38 for D. rerio and 3.52 for E. danrica. In addition, the LLRs were also highly significant with r² ≥ 0.954.

Aplocheilus armatus (van Hasselt 1823) Aplocheilus armatus: Authors’ data (Bukit Merah reservoir; Malim Nawar; Pondok Tanjung; Sg. Beriah, Sg. Kampar; Sg. Kerian)., Published as part of Ng, Casey Keat Chuan, Lim, Teow Yeong, Ahmad, Amirrudin & Khaironizam, Md Zain, 2019, Provisional checklist of freshwater fish diversity and distribution in Perak, Malaysia, and some latest taxonomic concerns, pp. 515-545 in Zootaxa 4567 (3) on page 537, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4567.3.5, http://zenodo.org/record/2599047

Plastic pollution has a detrimental effect on marine environments, and there is limited information regarding its ingestion by biota, which is the primary consumer. Therefore, this research aims to assess microplastic ingestion by blue panchax fish (Aplocheilus sp.). To achieve this, microplastics were extracted and identified from Ciliwung estuary, coastal waters in North Jakarta, and the Aplocheilus sp. Its various forms and sizes were found in river flow (9.37 ± 1.37 particles/m3), coastal waters (8.48 ± 9.43 particles/m3), and in 75% samples of Aplocheilus sp. (1.97 particles/individual). The microplastic size which was of highest concentration in Aplocheilus sp. was relatively small, ranging from 300 to 500 μm. This small size indicates that the fish has difficulty in distinguishing between their food and the microplastics. Further, there was a possibility of the absorption of other pollutants by the plastics. Therefore, an in-depth study on the effects of plastic ingestion on aquatic life, biomagnification, exposure, chemical toxicity, and socio-economy is recommended.

Background & objectives: Mosquitoes are responsible for transmitting several diseases, including malaria, dengue, chikungunya, filariasis, and yellow fever, etc. Release of larvivorous fishes is one of the cheapest method of vector management approach, with long suppression of mosquito population. The present study identifies the native larvivorous fishes and evaluates their potential larvivoracity for biological control of mosquito larvae in an endemic malarious region. Methods: During the year 2012–13, an ecological descriptive study was carried out in diverse aquatic habitats of fish species found in different areas of Ranchi district, in Jharkhand state of India. Fishes were captured using fishing nets, and identified and classified according to the available keys. Their larvivorous potential was graded according to their feeding potential. Data on current conservation status as well as their abundance were also recorded and analysed. Results: In total, 30 larvivorous fish species belonging to seven orders, 10 families and 21 genera were identified. Order Cypriniformes and the family Cyprinidae were the most ascendant group constituting 66.7 and 60%, respectively. The grading assessment of larvivorous potential for different fish species revealed that, Colisa fasciatus possess maximum larvivoracity (+ + + + +). According to the conservation, assessment and management plan (CAMP, 1998), 60% species were at lower risk near threat (LRnt), while 86.7% species were at least concerned (LC) as per the IUCN, 2017 categorisation. All fish species preferred to inhabit in freshwater. Maximum species occurrence was found in the river (63.3%). Only 30% species were bottom feeders (BF). Interpretation & conclusion: The larvivoracity and habitat distribution analysis indicated that C. fasciatus, Oreochromis mossambica, Esomus danricus, Oryzias melastigma, Puntius sophore, P. ticto, Rasbora daniconius, R. elegans, Aplocheilus panchax, and Danio (B) rerio possess high-level larvivorous potentiality in nature and are recommended for malaria control in the study area. There is an increasing pressure on the fish fauna, of facing several threats, such as fishing, human interference, loss of habitat, overexploitation, pollution, siltation, trade, and diseases. Therefore, periodic survey and monitoring of fish biodiversity, demarcation of breeding sites, field level research study on the efficacy of these fishes, and public awareness on establishment of larvivorous fish ponds should be adopted as a part of the vector management approach in the endemic malarious region of Ranchi district in Jharkhand, India.

In his work on the fishes of the Andaman Islands, Francis Day (1870) collected large-sized specimens of Aplocheilus from the south Andamans. Despite differences in the size and dorsal-fin ray counts, Day refrained from recognising the Andaman Aplocheilus as a distinct species and considered it as Aplocheilus panchax, a species distributed in the Ganges delta and across the eastern coast of mainland India. However, Day mentioned the differences in fin-ray counts between these two populations. Subsequently Köhler (1906) described the Andaman population as Haplochilus andamanicus (now in Aplocheilus), referring to the diagnostic characters initially discovered by Day. This species failed to receive recognition from taxonomists, because of the uncertainty regarding the validity of the species and its questionable synonymy with A. panchax. In this study, based on morphological and molecular evidence, we demonstrate that A. andamanicus is indeed a distinct and valid species, which can easily be diagnosed from the widespread A. panchax. While resolving the identity of A. andamanicus, we also demonstrate that the congeners from southeast Asia form a genetically distinct group for which the name Odontopsis armata is available.

Aplocheilus andamanicus (Köhler, 1906) (Fig. 1A–C, 2A–B, 3A–B) Haplochilus panchax (non Hamilton, 1822): Day (1878: 523) Haplochilus andamanicus Köhler, 1906: 388 Panchax panchax (non Hamilton, 1822): Annandale & Hora (1925) Aplocheilus panchax (non Hamilton, 1822): Herre (1939, 1941); Rao et al. (2000); Lazara (2001); Palavai & Davidar (2009) Material examined. Aplocheilus andamanicus: Day material (syntypes) from the Andamans: BMNH 1870.5.18.34-36, 3 ex., 61.7–74.8 mm SL, Port Blair, coll. F. Day; BMNH 1889.2.1.2107-2110, 4 ex., 50.2–56.3 mm SL, Andamans, coll. F. Day. Additional topotypic material: BNHS FWF 562 to 568, 7 ex., 27.8–65.2 mm SL, Sholbay 14, South Andaman, Andaman and Nicobar Union Territory, India (11°51'44.48"N, 92°44'29.06"E, 47m asl.), coll. U. Katwate & P. Kumkar, 18 November 2015; ZRC 44030, 5 ex., 46.4–60.7 mm SL, South Andaman Island, Madhuban, India, coll. P. Biswas, 1 Oct 1997; ZRC 46955, 2 ex., 44.8–53.1 mm SL, Rutland Island off South Andaman Island, India, coll. P. Biswas, Mar 2001. Aplocheilus panchax: BNHS FWF 569, 1 ex., 28.3 mm SL, Beri Baor, Ramnagar, Kolkata, West Bengal, India (22° 54' 32"N, 88° 51' 14" E, 5 m asl.), coll. U. Katwate, R. Raghavan and N. Dahanukar, 6 June 2014; BMNH 1934.10.17.92-96, 5 ex., 29.7–43.7 mm SL, Bengal, India, coll. B Das; Day’s material from Bengal: BMNH 1889.2.1.2095-2100, 6 ex., 35.9–45.2 mm SL, Calcutta, India, coll. F. Day. Aplocheilus armatus: BMNH 1974.10.10.901-907, 7 ex., 28.1–40.8 mm SL, Ranu Lamongan, near Klakah, Java, Indonesia, coll. Green & Cobet & Watts; Unregistered, 2 ex., Singapore, Sungai Poyan, coll. Heok Hui Tan, 9 May 2007 (only photographs examined) Diagnosis. Aplocheilus andamanicus differs from all its congeners by the combination of the following characters: large-sized body (up to 74.8 SL and 92.8 mm TL); cephalic lateral line system incomplete, extending up to vertical through posterior margin of dorsal-fin base; 39–40 scales in longitudinal series; 11 scales in transverse row; 20–21 circumpeduncular scales; dorsal fin with 9–10 rays including 2–3 unbranched and 7 branched fin rays, posterior margin of dorsal fin rounded, short, not reaching vertical through caudal-fin base/posterior margin of hypural plate; pelvic fin short in mature males, with no prolonged fin rays, not extending beyond the vertical through anterior margin of anal-fin base; anal fin with nearly even height throughout its length; caudal-fin margin rounded; gill rakers 11–12 on first ceratobranchial; 6 branchiostegal rays; 33–34 total vertebrae including the posterior-most compound centrum, 13–14 pre-anal, 15 abdominal, 18–19 caudal and 21–22 pre-dorsal vertebrae; mature males with unique colour pattern comprising 6–7 longitudinal rows of large red dots on flank, becoming more irregular and forming denser pattern of red dots on caudal-fin base; dorsal fin yellow to saffron-coloured with large black spot at base; anal fin yellowish, with three longitudinal rows of more or less vertical red dots on its distal half; pectoral fin hyaline; pelvic fin yellow; caudal fin yellow, more reddish towards ventral periphery, with narrow black rim along its posterior margin. Description. Large sized, elongated, stout and relatively deep-bodied “ Aplocheilus ” attaining a maximum size of at least 74.8 mm SL. For general shape and appearance see Fig. 1A–C & 2A–B. Morphometric and meristic data for topotypic specimens and meristic information for syntypes are provided in Table 1. Body elongated, sub-cylindrical anteriorly, laterally compressed posteriorly, stout, moderately deeper than wide; body depth 1.3–1.6 times its width near base of pelvic-fin origin, standard length 4.1–4.7 times its depth. Predorsal contour almost straight in mature males, slightly convex in females, rising gradually to nape, then running steadily straight up to dorsal-fin origin; ventral profile convex up to posterior end of anal-fin base. Caudal peduncle broad, short, its length 1.1–1.9 times its depth, dorsal and ventral profile almost straight up to posterior end of hypural plate. Head large, stout, narrow, dorsoventrally flattened towards snout in lateral view, its length 1.7–2.0 times its depth. Mouth terminal, snout pointed, jaws large, lower jaw significantly larger than upper jaw, its length equal to or slightly larger than eye diameter. Eyes large, mid-laterally positioned, somewhat closer to snout tip than to posterior margin of operculum, eye diameter 0.5–0.7 times interorbital width. Dorsal fin short, with rounded distal margin, originating on vertical between bases of 10th and 11th (2) branched anal-fin rays in males, 13th and 14th (5) in females and immature individuals; posterior margin separated distinctly from caudal-fin base and hypural plate, dorsal-fin length 1.6–1.9 times head length. Dorsal fin with 9–10 serially associated rays including 2 (5) or 3 (4) unbranched and 7 branched fin rays. Pectoral fin with 1 (2) or 2 (5) simple and 13 (1) or 14 (6) branched rays, its margin rounded, posterior margin extending beyond vertical through anterior third of pelvic fin. Pelvic fin with one simple and five branched rays, short, rounded, with no prolonged fin rays, nearly reaching vent when adpressed, but well-separated from anterior base of anal fin. Anal fin large, elongated, square, of nearly even height throughout its length, 1 (1) or 2 (6) supernumerary rays, two simple and 14 (5) or 15 (4) branched serially-associated rays; distal margin of anal fin straight, with rounded anterior and posterior extremities. Caudal fin rounded, with principal caudal-fin rays dorsally 7 (6) or 8 (3), ventrally 7 (3) or 8 (6) and 8 (6) or 9 (3) dorsal and 10 ventral procurrent rays. Cephalic lateral-line system incomplete, extending up to vertical through posterior margin of dorsal-fin base. Scales small, cycloid covering entire body and head except ventral surface of head. Body squamation extending over anterior 25–30% of caudal fin. No scales on dorsal- and anal-fin bases. Frontal squamation arranged in triangular pattern, scale “E” medially overlapped, median scale “A” smaller than scale “B”. Longitudinal series of scales in mid-lateral scale row 39 (3) or 40 (4). Scales in transverse row between bases of dorsal and anal fin 11, circumpeduncular scales 20 (3) or 21 (4). Cephalic neuromasts: supraorbital 4, parietal 2, anterior rostral 1, posterior rostral 1, anterior infraorbital 2, preorbital 1, median infraorbital 5, posterior infraorbital 2, otic 1, post-otic 2, supratemporal 1, preopercular 3+4, mandibular 2, lateral mandibular 4. Total number of vertebrae 33(5)–34(4), with 15 abdominal and 18(5)–19(4) caudal vertebrae; 13(7)–14(2) preanal, and 21(7)–22(2) pre-dorsal vertebrae. Gill rakers on first branchial arch 1 +11 (1) –12 (1). Coloration in life. Male. Body light brown with yellowish and pale-blue iridescence throughout head and flank. Dorsum dark brown with large iridescent silver spot on frontal squamation. Upper jaw dark brown, lower jaw deep reddish orange, extending up to anteroventral margin of eye. Iris dark brown on inner periphery, with light brown or iridescent yellow in dorsal half and deep blue patch in ventral (Fig. 1C) or posterior ventral half (Fig. 1A–B). Opercular region deep yellow with irregular red streaks or patches, preopercle and sub-opercular region iridescent pale blue. 6–7 longitudinal rows of distinct red dots between postorbital region and caudal-fin base; rows becoming more irregular with denser patterning of red spots on caudal-fin base and anterior one-fourth of caudal fin. Dorsal fin with large black spot at base, margin deep yellow or saffron. Anal fin with deep yellowish margin and three longitudinal rows of more or less vertically-elongate red dots on its distal half. Pectoral fin hyaline. Pelvic fin yellow. Anterior fourth of caudal fin scaled with mosaic of red dots, middle region hyaline, ventral periphery of caudal-fin base yellow or reddish, posterior margin with narrow black rim. Female. Body light brown with moderate pale-blue iridescence on flank. Dorsum brown with large iridescent silvery spot on frontal squamation. Lower jaw and belly pale brown. Iris same colour as described for male. Opercular region with wide yellow spot, preopercle and sub-opercular region hyaline with indistinct blue shimmering. No longitudinal rows of red dots on flank. Dorsal fin with large black spot at base, margin yellow. Pectoral fin hyaline. Anal and pelvic fins with hyaline distal half and yellowish margin. Caudal fin mostly hyaline with indistinct saffron coloration at its periphery, margin with narrow black rim. Coloration in preservative. Snout, head and dorsum dark brown. Lower lip, cheek, gill cover, area of superficially positioned cleithrum, lower head and abdominal region uniformly pale yellowish white in colour (Fig. 2A, B). Lateral body cream white with 6–7 rows of brown dots, becoming more irregular towards base of caudal peduncle and on anterior fourth of caudal fin. Iris and pupil black. Dorsal fin with broad black spot at base, distal part hyaline. Pectoral, pelvic, anal and caudal fins hyaline. Caudal fin margin with narrow black rim. Genetic analysis. In both Bayesian and maximum-likelihood analysis of DNA-sequence data, A. andamanicus formed a distinct clade separate from A. panchax from India and from Southeast Asian specimens also assigned to A. panchax by Beck et al. (2017). We assign the sequences from specimens of Aplocheilus from southeast Asia to the species A. armatus (see notes on Odontopsis armata, below). Aplocheilus andamanicus was recovered as the sister group to a clade comprising A. panchax and A. armatus within the analysis of our limited Aplocheilus samples. Genetically A. andamanicus differs from A. panchax by a distance of 9.6–10.8% and from A. armatus by 12.3–13.6% (Table 2). Distribution. Topotypes of A. andamanicus were collected from the streams of Sholbay 14, south Andaman Island. Day’s specimens have “Port Blair” (which is on the southern Island) and “Andamans” as localities. Herre (1939) suggested that the distribution of Aplocheilus covered the north, middle and southern Andaman Islands. In our expedition to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, we found this species only on the south Andaman Island, where it is abundant in streams and paddy fields. We did not encounter this species in the Nicobar Islands. Remarks. Day (1870: 700), in his account “On the Fishes of the Andaman Islands” referred the specimens of Aplocheilus from the Andamans to Haplochilus panchax (Hamilton, 1822) (now A. panchax). He was nevertheless impressed by their “magnificent size at the Andamans, compared with what it attains in India ” already pointing out one of the key differences between island and Indian mainland populations. Subsequently, Day (1878: 523) mentioned that specimens of A. panchax from the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal, differ from those available in Calcutta (within Bengal, the type locality) in the number of dorsal-fin rays (7–8 vs. up to 11). Herre (1939) agreed with Day’s (1870) characterisation, but his diagnosis of the Andaman specimens was based only on a comparison with specimens occurring in the Malay Peninsula from Singapore to Pinang (Penang), where he describes the Andaman species as “The largest Andaman examples are gigantic compared to those seen from Malaya and Ceylon ”. Köhler (1906) disagreed with Day’s (1878) treatment of the Andaman Aplocheilus as panchax and considered them as a distinct species when he noted that “Ein Haplochilus mit 10 oder 11 Dorsalstrahlen ist entschieden kein Haplochilus panchax mehr.” (“A Haplochilus with 10 or 11 dorsal-fin rays is very clearly not a Haplochilus panchax anymore.”). As a consequence of his statement he proposed a new name, Haplochilus andamanicus, for Day’s (1878) panchax from the Andamans when he stated that “Die andamanische Form mit 11 Rückenflossenstrahlen, die Day nicht näher beschreibt, schalten wir dementsprechend als Haplochilus andamanicus (zunächst hypothetisch) aus.” (“The Andamanian form with 11 dorsal-fin rays, which Day does not describe in more detail, we exclude therefore as Haplochilus andamanicus (initially hypothetically).” Köhler (1906) also mentioned that he could verify the fin rays counts when he could get specimens from the Andamans (“Vielleicht ist es mir möglich, auch von dorther Spiritusexemplare zu erhalten, um die Frage endgültig entscheiden zu können”.). There has been disagreement regarding the availability of Köhler’s (1906) name, Haplochilus andamanicus. Eschmeyer et al., (2017) considered this name unavailable, whereas Kottelat (2013) treated it as an available name but considered the identity of A. andamanicus as doubtful. Eschmeyer et al. ’s (2017) argument for treating A. andamanicus as an unavailable name was given as “…clearly not proposed as a species by Köhler 1906, but for the time being 'hypothetically excluded until specimens are available'.” This is actually an incorrect translation of Köhler’s (1906) statement, which is quoted in full above. Köhler clearly proposed andamanicus as a new species name, indicating Day’s (1878) information, which is further supported by Köhler’s (1906) statement that A. andamanicus is clearly not a panchax anymore. His reference to a hypothetical consideration refers to the fact that he, Köhler, would want to verify Day’s reported high dorsal-fin ray counts. We thus agree with Kottelat (2013), who considered ‘ A. andamanicus’ an available name and treat Day’s material of this fish from the Andamans as syntypes. Of these we have selected the largest specimen of BMNH 1870.5.18.34-36, as lectotype, which also fixes the type locality to Port Blair on the southern Andaman island. Comparison of freshly-collected topotypic specimens of A. panchax from Bengal and A. andamanicus from the Andamans, and Day’s material in the collections of the Natural History Museum, London, revealed significant morphological and genetic differences necessitating the revalidation of the latter. Aplocheilus andamanicus differs from topotypic A. panchax by the combination of the following characters: the most discussed (Day, 1878; Köhler 1906; Herre, 1939) being body size difference, A. andamanicus grows much larger in size (it is probably the largest Aplocheilus in South and South-East Asia), to at least 74.8 mm SL (vs. smaller in size); 9–10 dorsal-fin rays (vs. 6–8); 15 principal and 18–19 procurrent caudal-fin rays (vs. 12–13 principal and 12 procurrent caudal-fin rays); dorsal fin with posterior margin widely separated from caudal-fin base or hypural plate (vs. extending beyond vertical through caudal base or hypural plate); pectoral fin extending beyond vertical through anterior one-third of pelvic fin (vs. pectoral fin extending to half the length of pelvic fin); pelvic fin nearly reaching vent when adpressed but well separated from anterior base of anal fin (vs. pelvic fin extends beyond vent reaching anterior base of anal fin); caudal-fin margin rounded (vs. more oval in) (Fig. 3); lateral line system incomplete extending up to the vertical from posterior margin of dorsal fin base (vs. lateral line system complete, reaching caudal-fin base); total vertebrae 33–34 (vs. 28–30); pre-anal vertebrae 13–14 (vs. 11–12); caudal vertebrae 18–19 (vs. 14–16); median scale “A” of frontal squamation pattern smaller than scale “B” (vs. median scale “A” significantly larger than scale “B”) (Fig. 3); single anterior rostral and posterior rostral neuromasts (vs. 2 anterior rostral and 3 posterior rostral neuromasts). Day (1878) reported a total of up to 11 dorsal-fin rays in his Andaman collection, a character that was subsequently used by Köhler (1906) to diagnose A. andamanicus. Radiographs of Day’s collection (syntypes, BMNH 1889.2.1.2107-2110) and cleared and stained topotypes (BNHS FWF 384 & 385) of A. andamanicus showed, however, only 9–10 dorsal-fin rays. In any case, the dorsal-fin ray count is still valid and is the most significant diagnostic character that distinguishes A. andamanicus from A. panchax (9–10 vs. 7–8). Furthermore, A. andamanicus can easily be distinguished from A. panchax based on its unique coloration pattern including, dorsal fin extremity deep yellow or saffron (vs. blue in A. panchax); distal half of anal fin hyaline in female or studded with three longitudinal rows of vertically elongated red dots (vs. distal half of anal fin deep iridescent blue); pelvic fin yellow (vs. hyaline in A. panchax); and caudal fin periphery hyaline or subtle red (vs. deep iridescent blue in A. panchax). Both species are also genetically distinct, with a cox1 distance of 9.6–10.8% (Table 2). Not only does Aplocheilus andamanicus differ in numerous characters from A. panchax, it can also be easily distinguished from other mainland Indian and Sri Lankan species, including A. blockii Arnold, 1911, A. dayi Steindachner, 1892, A. kirchmayeri Berkenkamp & Etzel, 1986, A. lineatus (Valenciennes, 1846), A. parvus (Sundara Raj, 1916) and A. werneri Meinken, 1966, by the combination of the following characteristics: mouth terminal in A. andamanicus (vs. inferior with protruding lower jaw in A. blockii and A. parvus); dorsal fin short, widely separated from vertical through caudal-fin base or hypural plate (vs. dorsal fin long elongated in A. blockii, A. kirchmayeri and A. parvus, posterior tip extending beyond vertical through caudal-fin base onto caudal fin); pelvic fin short, its rays not elongated (vs. long, its rays elongated in A. lineatus); flank without any dark vertical bars or markings (vs. body with broad or narrow dark bars in A. lineatus, A. dayi and A. werneri)., Published as part of Katwate, Unmesh, Kumkar, Pradeep, Britz, Ralf, Raghavan, Rajeev & Dahanukar, Neelesh, 2018, The identity of Aplocheilus andamanicus (Köhler, 1906) (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes), an endemic Killifish from the Andaman Islands, with notes on Odontopsis armata van Hasselt, pp. 159-174 in Zootaxa 4382 (1) on pages 161-170, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4382.1.6, http://zenodo.org/record/1181658, {"references":["Kohler, W. (1906) Diesjahrige Neuheiten in Wort und Bild. II. Neuimportierte bezw. erstmalig nachgezuchtete Zahnkarpfen (Poeciliidae) A. Eigebarende Zahnkarpfen (Poeciliidae oviparae). 1. Neue Farbvarietaten der Panchax-Gruppe. Blatter fur Aquarien- und Terrarienkunde, 17 (39), 383 - 391.","Hamilton, F. (1822) An Account of the Fishes of River Ganges and its Branches. Archibald Constable and Company, Edinburgh, vii + 405 pp, 39 pls.","Day, F. (1878) The Fishes of India; Being a Natural History of the Fishes Known to Inhabit the Seas and Freshwaters of India, Burma and Ceylon. William Dawson & Sons, London, xx + 778 pp, 196 pls.","Annandale, N. & Hora, S. L. (1925) The freshwater fish from the Andaman Islands. Records of the Indian Museum, 27 (2), 33 - 41, Pl. 2.","Herre, A. W. C. T. (1939) On a collection of littoral and freshwater fishes from the Andaman Islands. Records of the Indian Museum, 41 (4), 327 - 372.","Rao, D. V., Devi, K. & Rajan, P. T. (2000) An account of ichthyofauna of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Bay of Bengal. Records of Zoological Survey of India, 178, 1 - 434.","Lazara, K. J. (2001) The killifishes, an annotated checklist, synonymy, and bibliography of recent oviparous Cyprinodontiform fishes. The killifish master index, 4, i-xviii + 1 - 624, appendices A-C.","Palavai, V. & Davidar, P. (2009) A survey of freshwater fishes of Andaman Islands. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 106 (1), 11 - 14.","Beck, S. V., Carvalho G. R., Barlow A., Ruber L., Hui Tan H. & Nugroho E., et al. (2017) Plio-Pleistocene phylogeography of the Southeast Asian Blue Panchax killifish, Aplocheilus panchax. PLoS ONE, 12 (7), e 0179557. https: // doi. org / 10.1371 / journal. pone. 0179557","Day, F. (1870) On the Fishes of the Andaman Islands. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, pp. 677 - 705.","Eschmeyer, W. N., Fricke, R. & van der Laan, R. (2017) Catalog of fishes: genera, species, references. (http: // researcharchive. calacademy. org / research / ichthyology / catalog / fishcatmain. asp). Electronic version accessed 17 Dec 2017.","Kottelat, M. (2013) The fishes of the inland waters of southeast Asia: a catalogue and core bibiography of the fishes known to occur in freshwaters, mangroves and estuaries. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 27 (Supplement), 1 - 663.","Arnold, J. P. (1911) Der Formen- und Farbenkreis der Haplochilus panchax - Gruppe. Wochenschrift fur Aquarien- und Terrarienkunde, 8 (46), 669 - 672.","Steindachner, F. (1892) Uber einige neue und seltene Fischarten aus der ichthyologischen Sammlung des K. K. Naturhistorischen Hofmuseums. Denkschriften der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften in Wien, Mathematisch- Naturwissenschaftliche Classe, Abt. 1, 59, 357 - 383, pls. 1 - 6.","Berkenkamp, H. O. & Etzel, V. (1986) Revision der asiatischen Gattung Aplocheilus McClelland, 1839 (Familie Aploheilidae [sic] Bleeker, 1860). Deutsche Killifisch Gemeinschaft Journal, 18 (3), 32 - 43.","Cuvier, G. & Valenciennes, A. (1846) Histoire naturelle des poissons. Tome dix-huitieme. Bertrand, Paris, xix + 505 pp., pls. 520 - 553.","Sundara Raj, B. (1916) Notes on the freshwater fish of Madras. Records of the Indian Museum, 12 (6), 249 - 294, Pl. 25 - 29.","Meinken, H. (1966) Uber eine neue Aplocheilus - Art aus Ceylon (Mitteilungen der Fischbestimmungsstelle des VDA LIII). Aquarien Terrarien, 13 (3), 76 - 78."]}

From the present work, 24 species of freshwater fishes belonging to six orders, 12 families and 19 genera are reported. The family Gobiidae constituted six genus and eight species, followed by Eleotridae with four genus and seven species. Seven species are known to be diadromous and share distribution elsewhere; three species, namely, Channa sp., Rasbora sp. and Aplocheilus sp., are distinct from their known congener and of primary freshwater origin. Three species are endemic to Andaman Islands. Six species of alien fishes are known to be introduced for freshwater aquaculture. Threat to the indigenous fish fauna in the form of alien fish introduction and anthropogenic activity is discussed. The present work calls for conservation of freshwater ecosystem in the island groups with a risk assessment of fragile biotopes. It is also concluded that further exploratory streams may yield more species new to science.

Partasasmita R, Nuari T, Erawan TS, Iskandar J. 2015.The diversity of fish species and the disturbances in the Cikawung river, Cianjur, West Java, Indonesia. Nusantara Bioscience 7: 171-176.The diversity of fish species in the Cikawung river, the south coast of West Java, Indonesia plays a very important role for the villagers around the river. This river is an important source of animal protein for villagers of Karangwangi, Cidaun, Cianjur, West Java, Indonesia. The river flow is partially included in the Bojonglarang Jayanti Natural Reserve area. Based on the information given by the local residents, the Cikawung river used to have many species of fish 15 years ago, but now the population find it very difficult to get the fish in the river. People suspect that it is related to the frequency of fishing in various ways such as nets, fishing rods and even toxic chemicals. The object of this study is to determine the diversity of fish species in the Cikawung river and its disturbances as well as preservation and traditional conservation efforts by local residents. The study was conducted at inside and outside the natural reserve. The method used is a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. The quantitative data gathering was performed by using structured interviews with 86 respondents that were chosen randomly among residents in the vicinity of the Cikawung river, using questionnaires. The results show that there are 32 species of fish, consisting of 22 species in the natural reserve, and 20 species outside the conservation areas. There are only 10 species of fish that found inside the natural reserve, while there are only 9 species of fish species found outside. It is found that there is 76% of the species of fish that is extremely rare, while the fish that are commonly found is Aplocheilus panchax and Puntius binotatus. The existence of fish tends to be very rare due to the fishing activities that continue to occur and the intensive use of pesticides. The decline in species diversity and abundance of fish species in the Cikawung river initiate local government and community leaders to make the arrangement of the use of Cikawung river as traditional conservation areas with the issuance Karangwangi Village Regulation (Perdes).

Data are available on Dryad with the DOI 10.5061/dryad.5j501., The complex climatic and geological history of Southeast Asia has shaped this region’s high biodiversity. In particular, sea level fluctuations associated with repeated glacial cycles during the Pleistocene both facilitated, and limited, connectivity between populations. In this study, we used data from two mitochondrial and three anonymous nuclear markers to determine whether a fresh/brackish water killifish, Aplocheilus panchax, Hamilton, 1822, could be used to further understand how climatic oscillations and associated sea level fluctuations have shaped the distribution of biota within this region, and whether such patterns show evidence of isolation within palaeodrainage basins. Our analyses revealed three major mitochondrial clades within A. panchax. The basal divergence of A. panchax mitochondrial lineages was approximately 3.5 Ma, whilst the subsequent divergence timings of these clades occurred early Pleistocene (~2.6 Ma), proceeding through the Pleistocene. Continuous phylogeographic analysis showed a clear west-east dispersal followed by rapid radiation across Southeast Asia. Individuals from Krabi, just north of the Isthmus of Kra, were more closely related to the Indian lineages, providing further evidence for a freshwater faunal disjunction at the Isthmus of Kra biogeographic barrier. Our results suggest that Sulawesi, across the Wallace Line, was colonised relatively recently (~30 ka). Nuclear DNA is less geographically structured, although Mantel tests indicated that nuclear genetic distances were correlated with geographic proximity. Overall, these results imply that recent gene flow, as opposed to historical isolation, has been the key factor determining patterns of nuclear genetic variation in A. panchax, however, some evidence of historical isolation is retained within the mitochondrial genome. Our study further validates the existence of a major biogeographic boundary at the Kra Isthmus, and also demonstrates the use of widely distributed fresh/brackishwater species in phylogeographic studies, and their ability to disperse across major marine barriers in relatively recent time periods., Global Innovation Initiative Grant to MdB, "Environmental DNA for rapid assessment of biodiversity and conservation priorities in Indonesia", will be used for data submission in Dryad upon acceptance of publication

Aplocheilus panchax domesticated as candidates of broodstock is genetically identified in order to be cultivated and restocked. This research is aimed at identifying the gene of Aplocheilus panchax from the waters of West Papua. Samples were collected from several locations. In Sorong only seven samples were obtained due to the decrease of population of A. panchax, because increase population of predator. The length of the total genomes of A. panchax which were isolated ranged 20 and 30 kb. Their amplicon length was approximately 400 bp. The quality of DNA was excellent with high level of brightness, brighter than the DNA bands in the DNA marker. Cyt b sequences from the samples of KT_MKW_01 with forward and reverse primers were aligned and manually proof read to ensure that DNA sequences corresponded to the peak of electropherogram. The results of BLAST sequence obtained from real sequences from Cyt b gene of A. panchax had 99% similarity with GenBank and alignment indicated that point of polymorphism was not found. All the sequences had exactly similar nucleotide sequences, that the amplified Cyt b gene was a greatly conserved gene and 34 samples were grouped into the same haplotype based on fragment of Cyt b gene.

East Sumba is a district in Sumba Island with high endemicity of malaria. The environment condition and geographical location can support the spread of malaria infection. This is a cross-sectional design research. The result shows that the spreading of malaria case is in 0 to 1000 meters from human settlements and spread evenly in remote villages. Breeding habitat are buffalo footprints, puddles, rice fields, rivers, buffalo wallows, gutters and trenches. With pH of water around 7 until 9 and the highest salt concentration is 1 ppm. It’s breeding habitat is more in the turbid water and exposed by sunlight directy. Types of water biota which is exist on the breeding habitat are alga, moss, grass, paddy, Aplocheilus panchax, Oreochromis sp. and water hyacinth. As the conclusion, malaria case spreads indigenously and the area is very potential for Anopheles spp. to breed.

An investigation was conducted to study the abundance and diversity of Small Indigenous Species (SIS) of fish in the Chalan Beel. Sampling was carried out frequently over a year in selected landing centres, fish markets and catch points. A total of 82 SIS fish belonging to 10 orders, 22 families and 46 genera were recorded. The order Cypriniformes (42.68%) was the most dominant order comprising 35 species. The most dominant family of the order Cypiniformes was Cyprinidae (77.14%) comprising 27 species, and Puntius was the largest genus including 7 species. The most abundant SIS fishes observed during the study period were Tengra ( Mystus vittatus , M. tengara ), Punti ( Puntius sophore and P. ticto ), Taki ( Channa punctatus ), Guchi Baim ( Mastacembelus pancalus ), and the least abundant SIS fish were Aplocheilus panchax , Badis badis , Danio sp. and Chaca chaca . Availability of the species were ranked as Few (39%), followed by Common (23%), Very Common (15%), Rare (16%) and Very Rare (7%). At Mohisluti fish landing centre (under Tarash, Sirajganj) the highest number of species (79, 96.34%) of small fishes were found. Abundance of different SIS fishes were found to vary with the season. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/ujzru.v30i0.10756 Univ. j. zool. Rajshahi Univ. Vol. 30, 2011 pp. 67-72

The present study is based on screening of food preference by the indigenous fish under its natural condition. The gastrointestinal contents as an indicative of effective bioregulatory activity envisage the selection of a larvivorous fish. As many as 32 species of fishes were collected from their natural habitats at Imphal and Bishenpur districts in Manipur State between August 2007 to February 2008. Faecal drops of active fishes revealed remains of larvae / pupae of mosquitoes. However, the food types in 26 species of fish comprised larvae / pupae of mosquito, algae, weeds, tadepole fishes, crustaceans, insects, gastropods, worms and detritus / debris. On the basis of food preference Aplocheilus panchax, Polyacanthus fasciatus and Puntius manipurensis have been considered as most potent larvivorous fish of the study area.

Allocreadium fasciatusi is a common trematode occurring in the intestine of the fish Aplocheilus melastigma. The distribution of this fluke inside the fish host has been studied for a period of one year. The fluke occurred throughout the year, the incidence ranged from 20 to 88, and the number of parasites per infected host varied from 1 to 58. The fluke exhibited a seasonal cycle of occurrence with a peak both in incidence and intensity in the month of September. For the rest of the year the population remained constant and there was a balance between recruitment and loss from the trematode populations. The maturation cycle of A. fasciatusi also followed a seasonal pattern. Although the flukes were recruited in all the months, the peak invasion occurred in September. The large numbers of immature flukes received during this month became gravid by January. The availability of infective larvae was considered to be important in influencing the seasonal cycles. The incidence and intensity of infection were found to be independent of the size of the fish but female fish were noted to be the more heavily infected.

During surveys of the trichodinid parasites in freshwater and estuarine fishes in Chittagong Division, Bangladesh four new species of the genus Trichodina were investigated and morphologically studied. These are: Trichodina aplocheilusi sp. n. from Aplocheilus panchax, Trichodina chittagongensis sp.n. from Labeo bata, Trichodina kaptaiensis sp. n. from Chanda nama and Trichodina siddiquae sp. n. from Heteropneustes fossilis. Taxonomic and morphometric data for these trichodinids based on wet silver nitrate impregnated specimens are presented.

A confined field experiment was conducted to investigate biological control of malaria and inland filariasis vector, Anopheles sinensis Wied. by combined use of larvivorous fishes, Aplocheilus latipes or Aphyocypris chinensis and herbivorous, Tilapia mossambicus niloticus in natural rice fields at Banwol near Suwon, Gyeonggi province from June through October, 1989. In the presence of naturally breeding Aplocheilus at the density of 0.8 fish/m2 water surface, the natural control of Anopheles larvae ranged 34.4% to 51.6% from June through August; later supplemental introduction of herbivore (Tilapia) at the release rate of 1-pair per 10 m2 resulted in 67.8% increased to 80.0% control of Anopheles sinensis in 3rd and 5th week respectively. In a combined fish release at the rate of 1.0 fish/m2 of Aphyocypris and 1-pair/10 m2 of Tilapia produced 67.3% and 82.1% mosquito larval reduction in 3rd and 5th week periods, respectively. The similar pattern of gradual but significant suppression of mosquitoes was also evident in separate rice paddy in 4-5 week period, maintaining ca. 75‘82% for the subsequent mosquito breeding season in comparison with control plot.

The topminnow Aplocheilus lineatus detects and localizes the source of water surface waves with its cephalic lateral line system. Previous behavioral experiments with Aplocheilus have been performed with blinded animals. We tested how well sighted Aplocheilus can be trained to discriminate between water surface waves of different frequency and duration and whether the animals used information from the lateral line for discrimination. Our data show that sighted topminnows can be trained to respond to and discriminate between single-frequency water surface waves and that lateral line information is required for the discrimination. Thus, blinding the animals by surgically removing the eyes in many cases is probably not a necessary prerequisite for testing the sensory capabilities of the lateral line in surface-feeding Aplocheilus.

The fish, Aplocheilus panchax (Hamilton-Buchanan, 1839), is recorded as a new host of Aphanomyces laevis de Bary, 1860. It is the first and only report of any oomycete causing disease on A. panchax. Aphanomyces laevis was found to be a virulent parasite of A. panchax that caused cotton-wool disease involving the skin and fins. The hyphae also penetrated deep into the tissues of the infected fish and all of them ultimately died.

We report the development of twelve single-copy anonymous nuclear polymorphic loci (SCNPs) developed from the ‘Blue Panchax’ killifish, Aplocheilus panchax. Ninety-six clones from a genomic library were examined, and 59 potential loci were tested across individuals from several geographically disparate populations of A. panchax, sampled from across the breadth of this species’ range (India–Sulawesi). All 12 loci reported here amplified successfully in the six populations examined, and showed variation. An average of 18.4 SNPs per kilobase were identified (total of 11,007 bp sequenced per individual). These markers should provide a useful resource for phylogeographic and population genetic studies of Aplocheiluspanchax, and may prove useful for studies on other Aplocheilids.

The surface-feeding fish Aplocheilus lineatus uses its cephalic lateral line to detect water surface waves caused by prey insects. The ability of Aplocheilus to discriminate between surface waves with aid of the lateral line system was tested by go/no-go conditioning. Our results show that Aplocheilus can distinguish between single-frequency surface wave stimuli with equal velocity or equal acceleration amplitudes which differ only in frequency. Frequency difference limens were about 15%, i.e. fish distinguished a 20-Hz wave stimulus from a 23-Hz stimulus in 100% of the trials. Aplocheilus can also discriminate between pure sine-wave stimuli and sine waves which show abrupt frequency changes. In contrast, fish were unable to distinguish amplitude-modulated wave stimuli (carrier frequency 20, 40 and 60 Hz, modulation frequency 10 and 20 Hz) from pure sine waves of the same frequency, even if amplitude modulation depth was 80%.

An experimental study on sperm entry into the micropyle of the medaka egg was carried out in order to analyze the effect of micropylar size on fertilization. The eggs and micropyles of Oryzias latipes were larger than those of Oryzias melastigma. When eggs of O. latipes and O. melastigma were simultaneously inseminated by spermatozoa of O. latipes, O. melastigma or Aplocheilus panchax, O. melastigma spermatozoa rapidly entered the conspecies eggs as well as the large micropyles of O. latipes eggs, while most of the O. latipes and A. panchax spermatozoa failed to rapidly enter the small O. melastigma micropyles. Moreover, when O. latipes eggs with a small or a large vestibule were simultaneously inseminated by O. melastigma spermatozoa, the size of the micropylar vestibules (range of 17-23 μm in diameter) also affected rapid sperm entry into the egg. However, this effect was not recognized when the eggs were inseminated by conspecies spermatozoa. On the other hand, when O. latipes eggs were insemi...

In two years of sampling, 10 287 fishes belonging to 62 species (39 families) were collected from mangroves and seagrasses of the Negombo Estuary. Of the species collected, 70% were marine, 27% estuarine and 3% freshwater. Aplocheilus melastigma, Ambassis dayi, Etroplus suratensis, E. maculatus, Bathygobius fuscus and Arothron immaculatus constituted 90% of the catch. Sixteen species were caught only from mangroves, 6 only from seagrasses, and 40 from both. The number of species, individuals, biomass and diversity were higher in seagrasses than in mangroves. Gobies and some siganids moved to the mangrove habitat as they grew, but cichlids, triacanthids, some eleotrids and tetraodontids preferred seagrasses. The number of species and individuals caught increased at the beginning of the north-east monsoon when the rainfall was low. The number of species and individual numbers were positively correlated with salinity and dissolved oxygen and negatively correlated with water temperature. Of the 33 species examined, seagrasses formed >25% of the gut content in juvenile Lates calcarifer, Apogon thermalis, E. suratensis, E. maculatus, Siganus javus, Butis butis and Bathygobius fuscus. Mangrove litter was the main gut content of the family Syngnathidae. E. suratensis, E. maculatus and S. javus from seagrasses contained more filamentous algae than seagrasses in their stomachs. S. javus collected from mangroves also contained more seagrasses in their stomachs than mangrove litter, indicating that the association of juvenile fishes with mangroves or seagrasses may not be obligate in estuaries subject to low tidal fluctuations.

The life history of Echinochasmus bagulai , an echinostomatid trematode in birds, is reported and stages in the life cycle are described. Natural infections with cercariae, which are of the gymnocephalous type, were found in the thiarid snail Thiara tuberculata . Metacercarial cysts were found in the gills of Aplocheilus panchax, Oryzias melastigma, Gambusia affinis and Charma punctata . Adults were obtained in the small intestine of Ardeola grayi . In laboratory experiments development of cercariae into infective metacercariae took 10 days in the gills of A. panchax . Mature flukes were recovered in 10 days in the small intestine of experimentally infected 1-day-old leghorn chicks. The eggs collected from the faeces of these infected chicks were incubated at 39°C. The free-swimming miracidia were found on the fifth day of incubation.

The population biology of metacercariae of Centrocestus formosanus (Nishigori, 1924) on the gills of the larvivorous fish, Aplocheilus panchax (Hamilton) was investigated based on data from examination of monthly samples of fish collected from a stream at Visakhapatnam during the period December 1983 to April 1986. The seasonal dynamics, dispersion pattern and long-term changes were studied. No seasonality in prevalence and density of infection with metacercariae was observed. The recruitment of metacercariae occurred throughout the year. An increase in density of infection with increase in size of the fish was noted. Possible reasons for the observed distribution are discussed. The frequency distribution of the metacercariae followed the negative binomial at different times of the year. The data indicated an increase in degree of overdispersion with increase in size offish except for a slight drop in the largest size class. Long-term changes in the abundance of metacercariae are given and a decline in parasite population abundance is noted.

Aplocheilus lineatus: AMNH 38429 SW (alizarin preparation), Published as part of Paul V. Loiselle, 2006, A review of the Malagasy Pachypanchax (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes, Aplocheilidae), with descriptions of four new species., pp. 1-44 in Zootaxa 1366 on page 41

Aplocheilus panchax: AMNH 21957 SW (alizarin preparation), Published as part of Paul V. Loiselle, 2006, A review of the Malagasy Pachypanchax (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes, Aplocheilidae), with descriptions of four new species., pp. 1-44 in Zootaxa 1366 on page 41

Malaria in Sri Lanka is closely associated with the river systems in the country. Construction of major dams across rivers has resulted in year-round pooling and anopheline mosquito breeding in river beds below the dams. This study was carried out to determine the larvivorous activity of fish found in river bed pools below the dams to identify the potential fish species for anopheline larval control in these areas. Fish species in five river beds below the dams, namely, Laxapana, Kotmale, Nilambe, Victoria, and Rantembe, were identified in June 2000. The larvivorous potential of the 12 fish species collected was determined in the laboratory based on the number of larvae consumed per fish within 10 min and an hour. Danio malabaricus Jerdon, Oreochromis mossambicus Peters, Oreochromis niloticus L., and Poecilia reticulata Peters consumed nine or more larvae per fish within 10 min. Aplocheilus dayi Steindachner and Rasbora daniconius Hamilton consumed nine and eight larvae, respectively, within 1 h. O. mossambicus, O. niloticus, and P. reticulata consumed 10 larvae per fish within 10 min. Despite some species having a high larvivorous potential in the laboratory, field studies are required to determine the feasibility of using these fish for anopheline mosquito control in the river bed pools below the dams.

Aplocheilus panchax: UFRJ 3140, 2; UFRJ 3141, 2 (c&s); Indonesia: Sulawesi: Desa Radda., Published as part of Wilson J. E. M. Costa, 2005, The Neotropical annual killifish genus Pterolebias Garman (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae): phylogenetic relationships, descriptive morphology, and taxonomic revision., pp. 1-36 in Zootaxa 1067 on page 28

Immature mosquito species composition and abundance were studied in irrigated and rain-fed rice fields of North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Irrigated rice fields were characterized by the prevalence of aquatic macrophytes and cyprinodont larvivorous fish, Aplocheilus panchax (Hamilton), but abundance per dip of most aquatic insect predators was lower than that in rain-fed rice fields. Anopheles peditaeniatus (Leicester), Culex vishnui Theobald, and Culex tritaeniorhynchus Giles, were dominant in both irrigated and rain-fed fields, but the abundance of the Culex species was lower in irrigated fields. The effect of irrigation system introduction on regional mosquito abundance cannot be evaluated by the enlarged surface water area alone. Changes in habitat quality, expressed as the abundance per dip (index of density per unit water area), also need to be considered.

The metacercariae of Centrocestus formosanus (Nishigori 1924) occur on the gills of freshwater fishes in association with blood vessels. The microecology of the metacercariae on the gills of the cyprinid fish Aplocheilus panchax (Ham. & Buch.) was investigated. The cysts showed a preference for anterior gills and for the dorsal section of each gill. Variations in the density of infection, season and size of the fish do not affect the spatial distribution of metacercariae. It is presumed that ventilation water currents spread the cercariae onto the anterior gills and then the cercariae actively select the preferred habitat.

The metazoan parasite fauna of two species of freshwater fishes Aplocheilus panchax and A. melastigma collected from a stream at Waltair is compared; 17 parasite species were found. Aplocheilus panchax served as a host to 13 parasite species and A. melastigma to 10 parasite species. Of the 17 parasites collected, 12 were larval helminths to which the fishes act as intermediate and paratenic hosts. This has been attributed to the interaction between terrestrial birds, mammals and fishes in determining the parasite fauna in the biocoenosis. The parasite fauna of these fishes is divided into typical and less typical according to their frequencies. Among less typical there are peripheral division parasites which are abundant in other fishes in the stream. Only six parasite species occurred in both A. panchax and A. melastigma and both fish shared most of their parasite fauna with other fishes. Differences in the parasite fauna of these fishes are attributed to the morphological, behavioural or ecological features of these fishes.

The life cycle of Genarchopsis goppo a hemiurid trematode found in the stomach of Channa punctata has been worked out in detail. The egg contains a fully developed miracidium at the time of liberation. The miracidium contains a ciliated covering, a long apical gland and a crown of spines at the anterior end. The snail Amnicola travancorica acts as the first intermediate host inside which the miracidium passes through sporocyst and redial generations. The cercaria is of cystophorous type and is identical to Cercariae Indicae Sewell XXXV. Metacercaria occurs in the ostracods Stenocypris malcolmsoni and Eucyoris capensis. The fish Aplocheilus panchax serves as the paratenic host. The entire developmental cycle from egg to egg producing adult takes 3 months.

SUMMARYSomatic chromosomes from the kidneys of both sexes of Aplocheilus panchax (Cyprinodontidae), of male Lates calcerifer (Percidae) and germinal chromosomes from the testes of A. panchax and Gadusia chapra (Clupeidae) are described. In both sexes of A. panchax, the somatic complements consist of 38 chromosomes, measuring between 2.6 and 1.1 μm in male and 2.7 and 1.1 μm in female. The male karyotype comprises 7 pairs of metacentric, 4 pairs of submetacentric, 2 pairs of subtelocentric and 6 pairs of telocentric chromosomes. The female karyotype differs in having one fairly large submetacentric more and small metacentric less than the male karyotype indicating thereby female heterogamety (ZW) in this species. The spermatocytic metaphase I contained 19 apparently homomorphic bivalents. L. calcerifer contains 2n=48 chromosomes which can be aligned into 24 homomorphic pairs comprising 1 pair of metacentric, 3 pairs of submetacentric, 1 pair of subtelocentric and 19 pairs of telocentric chromosomes. The ch...

Bhaibulaya M., Indra-Ngarm S. and Ananthapruti M. 1979. Freshwater fishes of Thailand as experimental intermediate hosts for Capillaria philippinensis. The International Journal for Parasitology 9 : 105–108. Nine species of freshwater fishes from Thailand have been exposed to infection with embryonated eggs of Capillaria philippinensis . The eggs were fed to fishes with food or through a polyethylene tube. After 10–30 days larvae capable of establishing intestinal capillariasis in Mongolian gerbils were recovered from six fish species: Cyprinus carpio, Puntius gonionotus, Aplocheilus panchax, Gambusia holbrookii, Rasbora borapelensis , and Trichopsis vittatus . Larvae were not recovered from Tilapia nilotica, Osteochilus hasseltii and Trichogaster trichopterus . Five human cases of intestinal capillariasis have been reported from widely scattered areas of Thailand and the natural intermediate and definitive hosts remain to be determined.

Dxperiments have been worked about how fishes, Aplocheilus iatipes being used as materials, pass through the meshes of net in ordor to place a biological basis on the scientific researohes of fishing methods and implements. The results were obtained relating to the size of meshes and the thickness of netting cord, and the attraction of a head individual to the following in a shoal of the fish which passing through the meshes was mathematically expressed.

The Yufuin hot-spring is located at the foot of Mt. Yufu (450-500m above the sea) in Oita Prefecture. In the vicinity of this spring, there are many hot-springs, namely, Takemoto, Yunotsuho, Tanakaichi, Hachiyama and Ishimatsu, all of which belong to the simple carbonate springs. I found the following animals in both Takemoto and Yunotsubo on May 13th and 14th, 1937:Takemoto I: 37.5°C, pH 7.25……………Stenothyra sp.Takemoto II: 34.5°C, pH 7.2……………Aplocheilus latipes (Temminck & Schlegel), Phoxinus steindachneri Sauvage.Takemoto III: 30-35.2°C, pH. 7.25…Caridina denticulate de Haan, Sernisudcospira libertina Gould.Takemoto IV: 45.8°C, pH 7.4……………Laccobius sp.Yunotsubo I: 40.2°C, pH 7.7……………Gerris lacustris (Linne)Yunotsuho II: 32.37°C, pH 8.5-8.75…Rana, japonica Gunther, (tadpole), Aplocheilus latipes, Stratiomyia. japonica Van der Wulp (larva), Gerris lacustris, Lycosa pseudoannulata (Roesenberg & Strand), Lymnaea japonica Jay and Stenothyra sp.Rana, Laccobius, Stratiornyia and Lymnaea are commonly found in hot-springs, while Caridina and Stenothyra occur rarely. During the present study too Caridina are found in the limited thermal pools. It is very peculiar that many kinds of animals are found in alkaline springs at 1 unotsubo, as in the case reported by Brues (1932) that the insects usually occur in alkaline thermal waters, the pH-values of which range from 8.0 to 8.5.

The life history of Allocreadium fasciatusi which occurs in the intestine of a freshwater fish Aplocheilus melastigma has been worked out in detail. The snail Amnicola travancorica acts as the first intermediate host. The miracidium hatching out from the eggs attacks the snail and passes through two generations of rediae. Cercariae are of ophthalmoxiphidiocercous type with very long tail and are identical to Cercariae Indicae XLIX Sewell, 1922. The cercariae penetrate and develop into metacercariae in the haemecoel of the copepods Mesocyclops leuckarti, Microcyclops varicans and Marcocyclops distructus. Upon ingestion by the definitive host, the metacercariae excyst and develop into adults. All the stages in the life cycle are described and the life cycle is compared with other allocreadiid life cycles. The original description of A. fasciatusi is revised and Psilostomum chilkai Chatterji, 1956 from Lates calcalifer is synonymized with it.