A New Family Record of Fishes of China,Stinging Catfish Heteropneustes fossilis

In April,1995 and November,2001,44 fish specimens were collected in market of town of Yinjiang County and Lasha River at Nabang of Yinjiang County.These specimens were identified as stinging catfishes Heteropneustes fossilis and were the first record of this species in China.Eleven of 44 specimens were measured and described.This fish is diagnosed by following nine characters:four pairs of barbels,adipose fin absent,two longitudinal yellowish stripes along sides of body,head extremely depressed,mouth small and slightly arclike,anal fin base very long and disconnected with caudal fin,dorsal fin rays soft,pectoral spine developed with an associated venom gland on its base,occipital process not extending to base of doral fin.This fish is recorded widely distributed in Pakistan,India,Nepal,Bangladesh,Sri Lanka,Myanmar,Thailand and Laos.The specimens collected in China have fewer anal fin rays than records in Talwar & Jhingran (1992) and Day (1958).This difference is probably a result of geologicl variation.