In the aquariums of various Asian countries and also on the internet it is known as the red-tailed claw fish (from English, Redtail Claw). And it has been known popularly and commercially, at least, since the beginning of this century. But, curiously, the world of science had not officially cataloged it, at least, it did not recognize it as a different species from other similar claw fish. Reviewing files and thoroughly analyzing the characteristics of this small and striking fish, experts have now published a study that marks the baptism of the Garra panitvongi, the official name assigned to this new species for science, according to an article published in the specialized magazine Zootaxa. .
Redtail Clawfish have olive-green scales and colored skin reminiscent of a goldfinch, changing abruptly to bright orange and red along the tail, making them easy to spot on the bottom of clear streams.
The researchers were aware of the fish’s existence, but “discovering” a new species requires a scientific description based on specimens collected from their natural environment. Red-tailed claws appear to be restricted to a small stretch of river that straddles the Thai-Myanmar border. The locality is isolated and difficult to access, so wild red-tailed claws have existed in relative obscurity, despite their global appeal.
Larry Page, curator of ichthyology at the Florida Museum of Natural History, has examined fish in Thailand every year since 2007. He recently came across some redtail talons while doing field work along the Kasat River, a tributary of the Ataran River in neighboring Myanmar.
“When we first collected specimens, we thought it must be widespread in Myanmar because of its popularity in the aquarium trade. But it turns out it’s not. It’s only in the Ataran river basin,” he said.
Page and his colleagues published the description of the new species in the journal Zootaxa. Redtails take their place among nearly 200 additional species in the genus Garra, one of the most diverse and widely distributed groups of fish anywhere on Earth. Claw can be found in streams and rivers from the far reaches of West Africa to the Middle East, India, and South and East Asia, including parts of China. However, their ubiquity has not resulted in a corresponding amount of research on the group.
Many species of clawfish have faces and snouts encrusted with spike-like nodules called tubercles, which can be used to attract mates or defend against adversaries.
“There is surprisingly little information about its natural history,” Page said. There are few studies that broadly assess diversity in the genus, and little is known about the relationships or how various groups within Garra have diversified.
According to Larry Page, basic information on fish biology is available, but often in the form of studies on individual species or regions. “Most of them live in fast-moving water and have a disc-shaped structure formed from a modified lower lip, which they use as an adhesive pad to cling to rocks and maintain their position in the water column while they swim.” feed”. says this expert.
The new clawfish subsists mainly on algae and the occasional arthropod, which they eat by scraping debris off rocks with specialized mouthparts. Like other species in the genus, red-tailed talons have rigid frontal structures that they use to defend nests, but they fall off after the breeding season ends.
The red-tailed claw can be distinguished by its unique, elongated snout, covered in even more tubercles, which can be raised or lowered, apparently as a means of intimidating opponents during combative encounters. As their common name suggests, their tails are patterned red as a sign of aggressiveness.
Their unique color pattern and painstaking ability to remove algae have made them a coveted component of aquarium tanks, but their late addition to the list of scientifically described species underscores the pressing need to take stock of biodiversity in understudied regions.
Red-tailed claw populations appear to be restricted to a small river basin that crosses the Thai-Myanmar border.
Larry Page, who is working on a book describing fish from the Mae Klong River basin in Thailand, said the late description of the redtail claw is part of a larger recurring pattern. “Many of the Southeast Asian fish are named after species discovered in India or Indonesia because they look alike.” People know that particular species exist, Page said, but they are confused with those from other geographic areas and consequently their diversity has been drastically underestimated.
Page and his colleagues named the new species Garra panitvongi, after the author of another book on the fish of Thailand, Nonn Panitvong. Hailed as a biodiversity hero by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Panitvong is both a businessman and an avid naturalist. He has nurtured a passion for nature since childhood, translating books about animals written in English with the help of his mother. He developed a special appreciation for Thailand’s aquatic life from his father, who took him fishing.
