Maturational Dynamics of Hill Stream Catfish Amblyceps apangi

Amblyceps apangi Nath & Dey, 1989 under family Amblyceptidae (order Siluriformes) is a small sized regionally endemic fish, locally known as ¿tayek¿ (in Nyishi dialect) in Arunachal Pradesh, India. The catfish has its local importance compared to others, being used as medicine by the indigenous tribe and also having potential ornamental significance. This fish, uniquely inhabits the foothill streams, stenothermal in nature, prefers rocky headwaters or first order stream followed by second order streams having dense riparian vegetation in general. The family is diagnosed in having compressed body, Anterior and posterior nostrils close together which is separated by nasal barbel. Dorsal fin covered by thick skin, its base short, spine weak. Adipose fin present, confluent with caudal fin in some. Caudal fin forked to emarginated. Anal fin base short, Barbels 4 pairs, Lateral line incomplete. Three genera have been recognized in this family viz. Liobagrus, Xiurenbagrus and Amblyceps. Members of this family are distributed in the East, Southeast, and South Asia including India, Pakistan, Myanmar, Thailand, China, North and south Korea, and Japan.