RELATIONSHIPS OF SUNDASALANX 



25 



larvae of other clupeoids, and obvious acceleration of gonadal 

 maturation suggest Su.ndasa.lanx are progenetic. Whitehead & 

 Teugels (1985) attributed the small size of Sierrathrissa leonensis 

 to progenesis, but Sundasalanx exhibits a more extreme condition 

 of the syndrome than Sierrathrissa leonensis since S. leonensis is, 

 morphologically, a miniature 'adult'. Among fishes perhaps only 

 Schindleria (Johnson & Brothers, 1993) matches Sundasalanx for 

 degree of progenesis. Both Sundasalanx and Schindleria 

 (Schindler, 1932; Gosline, 1959) are obvious larval forms that 

 have attained reproductive capabilities. This may be what sets 

 them apart from other small progenetic fishes, like Sierrathrissa, 

 with paedomorphic reductive tendencies. 



Sundasalanx is of such small size an individual probably only 

 goes through one sexual cycle during its lifetime. Mature or matur- 

 ing specimens have been taken from the Barito River during February 

 and August, suggesting Sundasalanx might breed year around, a 

 reproductive phenomenon observed for other species of tropical 

 Bornean freshwater fishes (Roberts, 1989). Alternatively, it may 

 follow a bimodal breeding pattern tuned to rainfall patterns of the 

 region since February and August are months which correspond to 

 the two periods of low rainfall and low water levels of the annual 

 climatic cycle of Central Kalimantan. Larvae of marine clupeoids 

 can attain the known size of Sundasalanx within two months or less 

 if water temperatures are high enough and resources adequate 

 (Blaxter& Hunter, 1 982). Conditions permitting, Sundasalanx prob- 

 ably is capable of completing its life cycle within a single wet-dry 

 cycle only half a year long, and thus might be capable of completing 

 two generations per annum. 



Weitzman & Vari (1988) and Kottelat & Vidthayanon (1993) 

 observed that many miniature freshwater fishes are found in still or 

 slow-flowing waters. Within the Barito River basin Sundasalanx 

 was captured adjacent to strong currents and its apparent ability to 

 move in-shore at dusk within a riverine environment suggests it is an 

 exception to this generalisation, as is also one of the other miniature 

 clupeifonns (Thrattidion noctivagus Roberts, 1972; Whitehead, 

 1988). Barito River Sundasalanx also appears to be found only in 

 larger habitats. It was never taken in small tributary streams, many of 

 which were sampled. 



Acknowledgements. The Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) is 

 gratefully acknowledged for permission to conduct research in Indonesia: Dr. 

 Soetikno Wirjoatmodjo, Dr. Dedy Darnedi, Dr. Arie Budiman. and Mr. Pak 

 Amir, all of the Research and Development Centre for Biology, Bogor, Java, 

 have supported research efforts in the Barito basin and their support is 

 gratefully acknowledged; The Worshipful Company of Fishmongers, the 

 Royal Society, and the Godman Fund are acknowledged for financial sup- 

 port; Project Barito Ulu is acknowledged for logistic support; Dr. Maurice 

 Kottelat kindly made Kapuas River materials available from his private 

 collection. Oliver Crimmen is thanked for his efforts in describing the new 

 species. Colin Patterson, Dave Johnson, Peter Forey. and Lance Grande all 

 made valuable suggestions toward improving the manuscript. Finally my 

 colleague and friend Agus Tjakrawidjaja is warmly acknowledged for his 

 personal attention to research on freshwater fishes in Indonesia. 



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