*Corresponding author e-mail: arunacm@gmail.com International Journal of Pure and Applied Zoology ISSN (Print) : 2320-9577 Volume 3, Issue 4, pp: 322-327, 2015 ISSN (Online): 2320-9585 http://www.ijpaz.com Rishan Publications Research Article IDENTITY OF GUDUSIA CHAPRA AND RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF GUDUSIA SUHIA (FAMILY CLUPEIDAE: CLUPEIFORMES) M. Arunachalam 1* , Agnes Flora 1 , S. Chinnaraja 2 and Asha Rayamajhi 1 , 1 Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Sri Paramakalyani Centre for Environmental Sciences, Alwarkurichi-627 412, Tamil Nadu, India 2 Research Department of Zoology, Poompuhar College (Autonomous), Melaiyur-609 107, Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu, India Article History: Received 18 th August 2015; Accepted 18 th October 2015; Published 29 th October 2015 ABSTRACT In the genus Gudusia, G. godanahiai and G. suhia are synonymised with G. chapra. Based on recent collections from India and Nepal we established the identity of Gudusia suhia and it can be distinguished from G. chapra in having fewer anal fin rays (22 vs. 24-26) and fewer lateral transverse scale rows (26 vs. 31-35). Keywords: Clupeidae, Identity, Gudusia chapra, Re-establishment, G. suhia. INTRODUCTION Genus Gudusia is represented by three species, Gudusia chapra (Hamilton), G. godanahiai (Srivastava 1968) and G. vareigata (Day 1889). However, G. godanahiai was synonymized with G. chapra by later workers and also another species, G. suhia (Chaudhuri 1912) is also under synonymy with G. chapra. Recently we collected specimens of Gadusia from the rivers in Uttar Pradesh, India and from Nepal, which on closer examination show that there are two distinct species namely, G. chapra and G. suhia and hence we herein redescribe Gadusia chapra and resurrect G. suhia from synonymy of G. chapra. Also G. godanahiai is synonymized with G. chapra. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fish collections were made during 2010-12 by Dr. M. Arunachalam and Dr. C. Vijayakumar from fishermen near rivers and lakes and also from fish markets in U.P., India. Fish sampling (Gudusia chapra) was also carried out in Koshi River at Koshi Barrage, eastern Nepal in April, 2014. Methods used for the meristic and morphometric data are based on Hubbs and Lagler (1964). Morphometric characters from 9, 18-26 and 29-31 and 34-35 are the additional truss measurements (Strauss and Bookstein 1982). Additionally we provide one meristic character of L.tr. (Day 1889) as “number of longitudinal rows of scales between the back and abdomen, usually counted, unless some other part of the side is specified, from the anterior end of the dorsal fin to the ventral”. Body measurements are expressed as percentage of Standard Length (%SL); head measurements are expressed as percentage of Head Length (%HL). Materials examined in this study are deposited in Fisheries Research Division Fish Museum, Kathmandu, Nepal (FRDFM). Comparison materials are from MSUMNH (Manonmaniam Sundaranar U niversity, Museum of Natural History) and also from CMA (collections of M. Arunachalam). RESULTS Gudusia chapra (Hamilton) (Figures 1A-1B and Tables 1-2) Diagnosis: Gudusia chapra is distinguished with its congener Gudusia suhia in having more anal fin rays (24- 26 vs. 22), more pectoral fin rays (12-14 vs. 11), more lateral transverse scale rows (31-35 vs. 26), more