Devario pathirana (Kottelat & Pethiyagoda, 1990)
Barred danio
Devario pathirana
photo by Ramani Shirantha

Family:  Danionidae (Danios), subfamily: Danioninae
Max. size:  6 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater, non-migratory
Distribution:  Asia: Nilwala River basin, Opatha, Sri Lanka.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-15; Anal soft rays: 16-18. Devario pathirana differs from all its congeners by the combination of the following characters: body consisting of 8-9 dark, irregular bars between pectoral-fin origin and caudal-peduncle origin; absence of P+1 and P-1 stripes; body depth 30-33 %SL; snout length less than eye diameter; 14-15 predorsal scales; dorsal fin with 11½-12½ branched rays; anal fin with 14½ branched rays; a blunt, knob-like process on 1st infraorbital; presence of danionin notch; origin of dorsal fin to hypural distance when carried forward reaching middle of eye; pectoral fin, when adpressed, just reaching origin of pelvic fin (Ref. 118056). Description: Dorsal fin with 3 simple and 11-12 branched rays; anal fin with 3 simple and 13-15 branched rays; pectoral fin with one simple and 11-13 branched rays; and pelvic fin with one simple and 7 branched rays (Ref. 6874).
Biology:  Occurs in still pools to swift flowing streams with pebble or boulder substrates, seldom over sand. Has not been found in silted rivulets flowing into mainstream. More sedentary than D. malabaricus. Forms groups of 3-5 individuals slowly moving near the surface. Probably feeds on insects. Aquarium fish exporters voluntarily refrained from collecting this species until it was better understood and bred commercially. Collected in moderate numbers.
IUCN Red List Status: Endangered (EN); Date assessed: 07 August 2019 (B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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