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Kryptoglanis shajii is a species of subterranean catfish found in subsurface waters in the Western Ghats in Kerala, India. This cavefish grows to a length of 5.9 centimetres (2.3 in) SL.[3][4] It is currently the only known member of its genus and family.[2] Although first discovered from underground waters, it has also been seen in dense vegetation in paddy fields and was found to be common in this habitat in the Chalakudy.[5] The species strongly avoids light and feeds on small invertebrates.[5]
| Kryptoglanis shajii | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Kryptoglanidae Britz, Kakkassery & Raghavan, 2014[2] |
| Genus: | Kryptoglanis Vincent & J. Thomas, 2011[3] |
| Species: | K. shajii |
| Binomial name | |
| Kryptoglanis shajii | |
This genus and Horaglanis, both from the Western Ghats, are the only known underground-living catfish in India.[2][6]
The morphology of K. shajii differs from all other known species of catfish and includes such features as the absence of dorsal fin; the presence of four pairs of barbels; an upwardly directed mouth, with a distinctly projecting lower jaw with 4 set of teeth; subcutaneous eyes; anal fin completely confluent with the caudal fin; anal and caudal fins together carry 70–74 fin rays; and no spines in any of the fins. These differences have led to its being assigned to its own family.[2]
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