Aborichthys iphipaniensis, A NEW SPECIES OF LOACH (CYPRINIFORMES: NEMACHEILIDAE) FROM ARUNACHAL PRADESH, INDIA

A new nemacheiline loach, Aborichthys iphipaniensis sp. nov. is described from the Iphipani River in Arunachal Pradesh, Northeastern India. It can be distinguished from congeners in having the following combination of characters: vent closer to snout tip than caudal fin base, long caudal peduncle, shallow body, short pre-dorsal, small eye, lateral line incomplete reaching pelvic fin origin, 33-35 almost uniform bars on lateral side of the body, and obliquely truncate caudal fin. It is considered to be a highly specialised form of the genus Aborichthys inhabiting the torrential river, as it has a very elongate body with a far forward position of the vent and long caudal peduncle.