Nematabramis alestes (SEALE & BEAN, 1907)

SynonymsTop ↑

Mearnsella alestes Seale & Bean, 1907; Nematabramis verecundus Herre, 1924

Etymology

Nematabramis: from the Ancient Greek νῆμᾰ (nêma), meaning ‘thread’, and presumably the generic name Abramis.

alestes: from the Ancient Greek αλεστες (aléstes), meaning ‘miller, grinder’. The precise allusion is not mentioned in the original description and remains unclear, since the authors state that this species’ pharyngeal teeth as “without evident grinding surface”.

Classification

Order: Cypriniformes Family: Cyprinidae

Distribution

Native to the southern Philippines with records from the islands of Basilan, Mindanao, Palawan, and Busuanga. It may also occur on other islands in the region, such as Tawi-Tawi or Balabac.

Type locality is ‘Zamboanga, western Mindanao, Philippines’.

Habitat

Nematabramis species are found a variety of habitat-types, from swiftly-flowing tributary streams to pools, lakes, and degraded swamps.

Maximum Standard Length

90 – 105 mm.

NotesTop ↑

N. alestes is the only member of the genus in which the barbels are shorter than the head, with additional diagnostic characters as follows: 8-9 branched dorsal-fin rays; 12-14 branched anal-fin rays; 22-23 predorsal scales; body with a pronounced ventral keel.

References

1. Seale, A. and B. A. Bean, 1907 - Proceedings of the United States National Museum v. 33 (no. 1568): 229-248
   On a collection of fishes from the Philippine Islands, made by Maj. Edgar A. Mearns, surgeon, U. S. Army, with descriptions of seven new species.
2. Inger, R. F. and P. K. Chin, 1962 - Fieldiana Zoology v. 45: 1-268
   The fresh-water fishes of North Borneo.
3. Kottelat, M., 2013 - Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Supplement 27: 1-663
   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.