Scientific Name: Canthophrys gongota (Hamilton, 1822)
Synonym: Somileptes gongota (Currently unaccepted)
English Name: Gongota loach
Local/Bangla Name: Bagha gutum (বাঘা গুতুম), Pahari gutum (পাহাড়ি গুতুম), Telkupi (তেলকুপি)
Photo: ABR Lab
Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Teleostei
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cobitidae
Description:
Fin formula: D iii 8; A ii 5; P i 10; V i 6 . Body is subcylindrical and posteriorly tapering. Upper profile of snout is nearly straight or a little concave. Eyes are close together situated high up at middle of head. Lips are thick, lower with papillae, 4 rostral and 2 maxillary barbells. A small crect pair presents above nostrils. Anterior nostrils are tubular, posterior nostrils are simple holes. Scales are small. Lateral line is present. Dorsal fin is started at centre between anterior margin of eye and root of caudal fin. Pelvics originate slightly in advance of that of dorsal; caudal rounded. Body colour and decoration: Greenish above and yellowish-white below. Back usually with irregular bands descending upto lateral line.
Habitat & Distribution in Bangladesh:
Occurs in shallow, slow moving streams with sandy, muddy or gravelly bottom.
Environment:
Freshwater (Demersal)
References:
Rahman AKA 2005 Freshwater Fishes of Bangladesh, 2nd ed., Zool. Soc. Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh, xviii + 394 pp.
Siddiqui KU, Islam MA, Kabir SMH, Ahmad M, Ahmed ATA, Rahman AKA, Haque EU, Ahmed ZU, Begum ZNT, Hasan MA, Khondker M and Rahman MM (eds.) (2007) Encyclopedia of Flora and Fauna of Bangladesh. Vol. 23. Freshwater Fishes. Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka. 300+xxxi. pp.
DoF Bangladesh (2023) Album: Freshwater Fishes of Bangladesh, Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Bangladesh, Dhaka. 200 pp.
