Pseudobagarius eustictus, a new species of catfish from northern Laos (Siluriformes: Akysidae)

Abstract

Pseudobagarius eustictus, new species, is described from the Nam Heung drainage (a tributary of the Mekong River) in northern Laos. It is distinguished from congeners in having a unique combination of the following characters: a weakly-produced snout in which the upper jaw extends only slightly beyond the margin of the lower jaw when viewed ventrally, 3 tubercles on the posterior margin of the pectoral spine, eye diameter 8% HL, head width 24.1% SL, dark yellow dorsal and lateral surfaces of the head, pectoral spine lacking elongate extensions, pectoral fin reaching the pelvic-fin base when adpressed against the body, dorsolateral surfaces of body without longitudinal series of prominent tubercles, body depth at anus 13.7% SL, length of adipose-fin base 17.7% SL, caudal-peduncle depth 7.0% SL, and 33 vertebrae.