Akysis vespa Ng & Kottelat, 2004
photo by James, A.

Family:  Akysidae (Stream catfishes), subfamily: Akysinae
Max. size:  3.14 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater
Distribution:  Asia: Ataran River drainage in Myanmar.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 1-1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 5-5; Vertebrae: 31-32. Distinguished from its congeners in the Akysis variegatus species group (except for A. pictus, A. prashadi and A. varius) in having no serration on the posterior edge of the pectoral spines. Differs from A. varius in possessing a gently forked (vs. truncate) caudal fin, from A. pictus in having a larger eye (12-16% HL vs. 8-10) and a smaller adipose fin (17.6-21.1% SL vs. 22.0-23.6) and from A. prashadi in having a larger eye (12-16% HL vs. 8-12) and a longer caudal peduncle (19.4-23.3% SL vs. 16.5-18.4) (Ref. 55399). Description: Dorsal fin with I,4,i, I,5 rays ; Anal fin with iii,4,i, iii,6, iii,6,i, iv,4,i, iv,5, iv,5,i rays; Pectoral fin with I,6,i, I,7, I,7,i rays; Pelvic fin with i,5 rays (Ref. 55399).
Biology:  Occurs in clear, fast-flowing stream with a gravelly bottom (Ref. 55399).
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 16 December 2010 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.