Labeo heladiva

This species is distinguished from all Sri Lankan and peninsular-Indian congeners by the following set of characters: two pairs of barbels (maxillary and rostral); D 12-13 branched rays; lateral line scales 44-51; scales in transverse series ½8-½9+1+6–7; circumpeduncular scales 19-22; eye diameter 18.4-24.4 % HL. Colouration: 6-7 rows of scales on side of body above and between tip of pectoral fin and origin of anal fin with orange-colored patches, resembling an orange blotch; upper and lower margins of scales on the side of the body are dark-pigmented, forming 9-13 hazy lines (Ref. 118635).

Dorsal soft rays (total): 1213

Inhabits relatively still waters and occurs in deep pools in larger rivers and in most low-country reservoirs. Feeds mainly on algae.

Occurs primarily in rivers, but also observed among the fisheries catch in dry-zone reservoirs. The species is largely restricted to the lowland floodplain of both the dry and the wet zones (demarcated by the 2000 mm/yr isohyet) and it was observed also within the tidal influence of estuaries, suggestive of its tolerance of salinity. This species is abundant wherever it occurs but is of minor importance to inland fisheries (Ref. 118635).