Systematic position (Nelson 2006)
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Order: Siluriformes (Catfishes)
Superfamily: Sisoroidea
Family: Sisoridae (=Bagariidae) (Sisorid catfishes)
Subfamily: Sisorinae
Genus: Sisor
Species: S. rhabdophorus
Common/local names
English: Sisor catfish
Bangladesh: Chenua (চেনুয়া), Cheuna (চেউনা) and Sisir (সিসর)
India: Chennuah and Bistuiya (Bihar); Kirlu and Kirla (Punjab) (Talwar and Jhingran 1991)
Distributions: Bangladesh, Pakistan (Indus river system) and India (Ganga, Yamuna and Brahmaputra river systems) (Talwar and Jhingran 1991).
Conservation status: Critically Endangered in Bangladesh due to loss habitats (IUCN Bangladesh 2000).
Morphology: Body elongate with small inferior mouth. Also, with a long tapering tail. Six pairs of barbels, one maxillary pair and five mandibular pairs. A anteriorly serrated weak spine in dorsal fin. Adipose fin present in the form of a spine.
Pectoral fins horizontal; caudal truncate with elongated and filamentous uppermost ray. Series of bony plates from dorsal base to caudal base. Body color blackish on back and lighter below.
Fin formula:
D. I/6; P1. I/8; P2. 7; A. 6; C. 11 (Rahman 1989 and 2005; IUCN Bangladesh 2000)
D I 6; A ii 4; P I 8; V i 7 (Talwar and Jhingran 1991)
D1. I/6; D2. in the form of a spine; P. I/8; V. 7; A. 6 (2/4); C. 11 (Shafi and Quddus 2001)
Maximum length: 18 cm SL (Talwar and Jhingran 1991) and 20 cm TL (IUCN Bangladesh 2000).
Habitats: Inhibits primarily base of Himalaya (Talwar and Jhingran 1991). Haors, baors and rivers (Shafi and Quddus 2001). Found in streams (with sandy bottom and strong current) of greater Rangpur and Dinajpur districts (IUCN Bangladesh 2000). Recorded from Dharla river near Fulbari Upazila in Rangpur district of Bangladesh (Rahman 1989 and 2005).
Ecological role: Plays an ecological role as detritus feeder (Siddique, 2007).
Fishery info: Not used as table fish and have no economic importance (Siddique, 2007).
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REFERENCES
Hamilton F (1822) An account of the fishes found in the river Ganges and its branches. Edinburgh & London. An account of the fishes found in the river Ganges and its branches.: i-vii + 1-405, Pls. 1-39.
Siddique KU (ed.) (2007) Encyclopedia of Flora and Fauna of Bangladesh Freshwater fishes Vol. 23, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 300 pp.
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