Mystus irulu, a new species of bagrid catfish from the Western Ghats of Karnataka, India (Teleostei: Bagridae)

Mystus irulu, new species, is described from the Netravathi River system from the Western Ghats of Karnataka. It differs all South Asian congeners in having a uniformly black colour pattern, a long-based adipose fin reaching the base of the last dorsal-fin ray anteriorly, dorsal fin with convex dorsoposterior margin, and the following combination of characters: body depth at anus 19.9-22.3 % SL, dorsal-fin spine length 17.5-18.7 % SL, adipose-fin base 34.2-38.4 % SL, caudal peduncle depth 10.6-11.9 % SL and eye diameter 27.2-37.1 % HL.

Automated summary

Mystus irulu, a newly described species, is characterized by its uniformly black color pattern, long-based adipose fin, and specific measurement ratios differentiating it from other South Asian congeners.