Int. J. Aquat. Biol. (2019) 7(1): 35-37 ISSN: 2322-5270; P-ISSN: 2383-0956 Journal homepage: www.ij-aquaticbiology.com © 2019 Iranian Society of Ichthyology Short Communication A new record of Potamanthellus caenoides Ulmer, 1939 (Ephemeroptera: Neoephemereidae) from the Chalakudi River, Southern Western Ghats of India Ollappilly Abdulkadher Banazair*,1Guna Christopher Advanced Centre of Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development (ACESSD), Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, India. Article history: Received 4 January 2019 Accepted 23 February 2019 Available online 2 5 February 2019 Keywords: Ephemeroptera, New record, Chalakudy River, Southern Western Ghats. Abstract: As part of an ongoing study on the benthic macro-invertebrates of Chalakudi River basin, of the Southern Western Ghats of India, we establish a new record of a mayfly larva (Potamanthellus caenoides). Larva of Potamanthellus caenoides Ulmer, 1939 is recorded for the first time from the upstream of Chalakudy River. The specific location, sample and brief ecological notes are appended. Introduction Ephemeroptera is a biogeographically significant archaic order of aquatic insects abounding in several enigmatic families in the Pantropical region, especially in the Oriental Realm. Neoephemeridae is a small group of mayflies presently confined to Holartic and Oriental regions. Bae (1998) recognized only three genera of mayflies viz., Potamanthellus Lestage, 1930 (seven species), Neoephemera McDunnough, 1925 (five species) and Ochernova Bae, 1998 (one species), synonymizing Leucorhoenanthus Lestage, 1930 (one species) with Neoephemera. This is not accepted by Kluge (2004), and Bauernfeind and Soldán (2012). Larvae of Neoephemeridae have unique operculate gills on the second abdominal segment that are fused medially. The larvae of Potamanthellus are distinguished from those of Neoephemera and Ochernova by their densely setate mouthparts, lack of well-developed lateral expansions of the pronotum and mesonotum, and possession of rows of long setae on the caudal filaments (Bae, 1998). However, the larvae of Potamanthellus cannot be differentiated from Leucorhoenanthus by any plesiomorphic or apomorphic traits. Based on our larval collections of *Corresponding author: Ollappilly Abdulkadher Banazair DOI: https://doi.org/10.22034/ijab.v7i1.555 E-mail address: benazeeroa@gmail.com Ephemeroptera from the Chalakudy River of the Western Ghats, and subsequent taxonomical examinations, we establish a new record of Potamanthellus caenoides (Ulmer, 1939), which is a significant range extension to South Asia from its known range viz., Sumatra Island located in Southeast Asia. Differential diagnosis of P. caenoides is verified based on the larval descriptions given (Ulmer, 1939) and subsequent revisionary studies (Bae, 1998). Materials and Methods The material was collected from the up-streams of Chalakudy River, near Valpparai and Sholayar in the south-western region of the Western Ghats of peninsular India, by Kick/Dip Net Methods and by direct hand picking (Needham and Needham, 1969) and (Pennak, 1989). The specimens were preserved in 90% ethanol. Some specimens were mounted on slides to enable detailed microscopic observations. Results Potamanthellus caenoides Ulmer, 1939 Taxonomic Status: accepted; kingdom: Animalia; phylum: Arthropoda; class: Insecta; order: Ephemeroptera; family: Neoephemeridae; taxon rank: 36 Banazair and Christopher / New record of Potamanthellus caenoides from Chalakudi River species; genus: Potamanthellus; specific epithet: caenoides Country: India; State Province: Kerala & Tamil Nadu; locality: Valparai; verbatim Latitude: 10°18'38.8''N; verbatim Longitude: 076°56'45.1''E; sampling Protocol: Hand picking; year: 2018; month: April; day: 18; habitat: Cascade; individual Count: 4; sex: male & female; life Stage: Larva; identified by O.A. Banazair & G. Christopher. Diagnosis: Potamanthellus caenoides is distinguished from other species of Potamanthellus by the following combination of characters in larvae: (i) a distinct diagonal ridge on operculate gills, (ii) distinct tubercles on abdominal terga 6-8, (iii) dorsal fore- femora with transverse row of setae (iv) relatively small body size (<8 mm), and (v) relatively short caudal filaments that possess strongly developed lateral setae. Potamanthellus caenoides is distinguished from closely related species P. ganges by the following characters: (i) posteromedian tubercle on abdominal terga 1-2 and 6-8 distinct, (ii) rows of hair like setae strongly developed and mature body ca. 6-8 mm, and (iii) dorsal fore-femora with transverse row of setae (Fig. 1). Distribution: Indonesia (Sumatra (Ulmer, 1939), Java, Bali, Lombok and Flores), Malaysia (Malay Peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak), Philippines (Mindanao), Thailand (Bae, 1998), Vietnam (Nguyen and Bae, 2003) and India (Southern Western Ghats). Ecology: The larvae of P. caenoides occur in moderately fast flowing mountain streams and rivers ranging 850-935 m in altitude. The substrates consist of relatively coarse particles (boulder 30%, cobble 20%, pebble 20% and gravel and sand 30%), fallen leaves and detritus. The water temperature in April ranges 18-23°C. Taxon discussion: Presently this genus consists of seven species viz. P. amabilis (Eaton, 1892), P. caenoides (Ulmer, 1939), P. chinensis (Hsu, 1936), P. edmundsi (Bae, 1998), P. ganges (Bae, 1998), P. shaowuensis (Gui et al., 1999) and P. unicutibius (Nguyen and Bae, 2003). However, two species viz. P. ganges is known from India from the tributary of Ganges (Bae, 1998). Potamanthellus caenoides (Ulmer, 1939) is from the southern Western Ghats and P. caenoides (Ulmer, 1939) is a new record from Chalakudi River. Acknowledgments The authors express their gratitude to Dr. A.P. Thomas and Dr. S. Prasanth Narayan for their valuable suggestions. 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