306 REPORT (IN KISHKS. PART T ! rORITIDAE 



SYSTEMATIC ACCOUNT 



NcmacJiilus stoliczkae (Steindachner) 

 1866. Cobitis slolicckac, Steindachner, Vcrh. Zool.-bot. Gcs. JVicii, p. 793, pi. xiv, fig. 2. 

 1868. Ncmachiliis stoliczkae, Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, p. 360. 

 1876. N eviachcilus stoliczkae, Day (in part), Proc. Zool. Soc. London, p. 795. 

 1878. Ncmachcilus stolicckae, Day (in part), Sci. Res. 2nd Yarkand Miss. ]chth\oL, p. 14, pi. v, 



fig. 2. 

 1878. Ncuiacheihis stoliczkae, Day (in ])art), I-isli. India, p. 620, pi. civ, fig. 10. 

 1889. Ncmacliihis stoliczkae, Day (in part), faun. Brit. Ind. Fish. I, p. 235, fig. 84. 

 1922. Nemachihts stoliczkae, Hora, Kcc. Ind. Mus. XXIV, p. 78. 

 1935. Nemachilus stoliczkae, Hora & Mukerji, Visser's Karakoruni I, p. 429, ])!. iv, fig. 4. 



The species was originally described from 12 specimens obtained from Tsho Mararai 

 (Tso Moriri), a lake in the Rupshu Province of Western Til)et at an altitude of 15,500 

 ft. Day^' assigned a very wide range of distribution to this species and recorded it from 

 Leh, Snima, Lukong, Cliagra, Yarkand, Sarikol and Akta.sh. Since then it has been reported 

 fmni widely different places in Central Asia and several varieties of it have Ijeen described 

 by Russian ichthyologists" from Eastern Turkestan (Tarim River System) and Tm-kestan 

 (Oxus River System). In 1922, it was pointed out by me that of the large miniber of 

 specimens referred to A^. stoliczkae by Day and nnw preserved in the cnjk-ctinn uf the Indian 

 Museum, only those that came from Rupshu, Lukong and Chagra could Ik; definitely assigned 

 to this species. A specimen from "Kashmir" was also referred to A^ stoliczkae, but there 

 seems to have been some mistake alx)Ut the locality of this example, as the species ap])ears 

 to be restricted to high altitudes. Mukerji and I have recorded this species from Leh, 

 I'anamik, Nungstet, Suget-Karaul and Alenazar-Kurghan after studying the material obtained 

 I)y the Netherland Karakorum Expedition. The first three localities arc on the Iieadwaters 

 of the Indus, while the last two are in the Karakash Valley whence the waters flow into 

 the Tarim River. All these places are situated at fairly high altitudes. 



The Yale North India Expedition made collections in Western Tilx!t and ttbtained 

 specimens from several places to the north-east of the type-locality. Though originally 

 descril)ed from a lake," it appears to be a torrential form as it is devoid of a functional 

 air-bladder. It seems likel)- that the species enters lakes for breeding purposes. Several 

 yomig" si)ecimens were obtained by the Expedition liom \'ay(' Tso; wliilo fnllv grown 

 specimens were obtained from several streams. 



In view of the great confusion that prevails regarding this species, I take this oppor- 

 tunity to give a detailed description with figures from freshly preserved material. 



D.3/8; A.3/5: P. 13; V.8; C.19 

 Neiinuliiliis stoliczkae is a long and slender s])ecies in which tlir luad and the anterior 

 ])art of the body are depressed; while the tail region is compressed and whip-like. The 



"Day, I'rvc. /mil. Sue. Lnmlvii, p. 595 (18/6); .SVi". h't-s. Jml Yail:,nul Mission, hhtliyol., p. 14, pi. v, Hr. 2 

 (1878). 



" Herzensteiii, Wiss. Res. Pr=nmtski Ccntrut As. Kris. /.ool. Ill (>), |i. H (1888); Hcfk, I'oiss ili-s luiii.v 

 Douces dc L'U. R. S. S., pt. ii, p. 559 (1933). 



"Mr. Hutchinson informs me that he used a trawl on very favourable ground at the north end (estuary of 

 Pcldo-le stream) of Tso Moriri, and found no fish. He is of opinion that the types of A', stoliccltae must have 

 come from a stream flowing into the lake. (This is stated to be the case in the original description. G. E. H.) 



