New species of leaf catfish

Copyright © Dr Heok Hee Ng

A new species of leaf catfish from southern Borneo has been named in a recent issue of the journal Zootaxa.

Heok Hee Ng and Heok Hui Tan describe Silurichthys ligneolus from blackwater habitats in the Kahayan and Sebangau river drainages in southern Borneo.

Silurichthys ligneolus can be distinguished from all congeners except for S. sanguineus (from western Borneo) in having 3–4 (vs. 5–7) principal rays on the lower caudal-fin lobe.

It differs from S. sanguineus in having (vs. lacking) pelvic fins, fewer anal-fin rays (44–45 vs. 60) and vertebrae (46–48 vs. 57). The following combination of characters additionally distinguishes it from congeners: body depth at anus 9.1–11.0% standard length, caudal peduncle depth 4.7–5.5% standard length, eye diameter 6.7–9.8% head length, lower lobe of caudal fin indistinct, one gill raker on first branchial arch, and uniformly brown body.

Kinda looks like a RTC x Clown Knife Fish albino hybrid. I bet it would be amazing to watch them swim.

hmmmm... You think I can pick one up @ petsmart? LOL

cool.

WOW that's weird looking but cool.