Yet another new species is described in the rheophilic catfish genus Trichomycterus this week. T. argos is known from the Rio Doce watershed in the neotropical Atlantic rainforest of the Serra do Brigadeiro, Minas Gerais state, eastern Brazil.

The area is a national park and home to numerous endemic species although only around 5% of the original forest cover now remains. Continue reading »

The perciform genus Pristolepis has a highly-fragmented distribution in southern India, Indochina and the Sunda Islands. A new species from the Western Ghats mountains in southern India, which has been available in the aquarium trade as P. sp. ‘red eye’,  is described this week and published in the mega journal Zootaxa, bringing the number of officially-recognised species to four. Continue reading »

A recently-discovered member of the genus Dario with an interesting history is described from southern India in the journal Zootaxa this week.

This is the first record of the genus in southern India. © Hayath

New species Dario urops is named in reference to the conspicuous ocellus on the caudal peduncle, the presence of which distinguishes it from the other three members of the genus, and it can be further told apart by presence of a horizontal suborbital stripe (vs. absence in congeners), by lacking extended lappets on the dorsal-fin spines (vs. possessing), and unusual vertebral counts (14+14–15= 28–29 vs 11–13+12–14=24–27). Continue reading »

Tim Addis of TA Aquaculture has been organising charity fish auctions for over ten years from which over £7500.00 have subsequently been donated to various charitable causes. The events take place twice annually and the first for 2012 is this coming Sunday 3rd June at Lodge Park Social Club, Redditch, Worcestershire.

The popularity of these auctions has increased tremendously over the years and they now represent one of the best opportunities to pick up rare species at bargain prices as well as being an excellent day out. Entrance costs just  £2 of which 100% is donated to the County Air Ambulance Trust, and breakfast, lunch, and drinks will be available.

For further information please see Tim’s website with the auction details available via the yellow link at the top left of the page.