About Exostoma sentiyonoae|| Cat Fish|| UPSC Current Affairs

Description

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Context

A new species of Glyptosternine catfish, Exostoma sentiyonoae, has been identified from the Dzuleke River, a tributary of the Barak River in Nagaland.

Details

This discovery marks the fourth species of Exostoma described from the Barak drainage. Exostoma is a genus of sisorid catfishes native to Asia. These species are distributed in the Brahmaputra drainage of north-eastern India, and east and south to the Salween drainages in Burma. Some species like Pangasius are widespread in the Gangetic plains. Catfish species like Exostoma Dhritiae are found in cold water ecosystems in the Himalayas.

Features of Exostoma sentiyonoae

Adipose fin: Attached to the upper procurrent caudal-fin rays.
Tubercles: Present on the dorsal-fin spine.
Body structure: Slender head, long distance between dorsal and adipose fins, and a deeper caudal peduncle.
Small eyes: Relative to other species.
41 vertebrae.

This species stands out from its relatives, based on differences in dorsal-fin base length, eye size, and fin distances.

About catfish

Category	Details
*Order*	Siluriformes
*Common Characteristics*	Catfish are a diverse group of ray-finned fish known for their whisker-like barbels, used for sensing their environment and locating food. There are over 3,000 species of catfish globally.
*Habitat*	Freshwater (rivers, lakes, ponds) and some saltwater environments. Found on every continent except Antarctica.
*Diet*	Omnivorous: feeds on algae, small fish, insects, plant matter, and detritus.
*Size Range*	Varies widely by species. Small species like the Asian bumblebee catfish are about 15 cm, while larger species like the Mekong giant catfish can exceed 3 meters.
*Behavior*	Nocturnal and benthic, often feeding at night on the bottom of water bodies. Some species are solitary, while others form groups.
*Importance*	Catfish are important in aquaculture for food production, especially in regions like Southeast Asia and the United States. They're also popular in recreational fishing.
*Threats*	Overfishing, pollution, and habitat destruction pose threats to many catfish species, especially larger ones like the Mekong giant catfish.

Sources:

Mokochungtimes

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q:Consider the following statements in reference to Catfish:

1. All the species of Catfish live in freshwater.

2. Majority of the catfish are native to Southeast Asia.

Select the correct statements using the codes given below:

a) 1 only

b) 2 only

c) Both 1 and 2

d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: d

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: Numerous species from the families Ariidae and Plotosidae, and a few species from among the Aspredinidae and Bagridae, are found in salt water.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Although catfish have a cosmopolitan distribution, more than 50% of all catfish species are native to South America.