Exostoma Blyth, 1860ZBK
Exostoma Blyth, 1860ZBK: 155. (Type species: Exostoma berdmori Blyth, 1860ZBK, by subsequent designation, by Bleeker (1863: 105). Gender neuter.
Diagnosis: Continuous post-labial groove; gill openings not extending onto venter; homodont dentition; oar-shaped, distally flattened teeth in both jaws; tooth patches separated in upper jaw; 10-11 branched pectoral rays.
ExostomaZBK is distinguished from GlyptosternonZBK, GlaridoglanisZBK, PareuchiloglanisZBK, EuchiloglanisZBK and ParachiloglanisZBK by having a continuous post-labial groove (Table 5). ExostomaZBK is distinguished from PseudexostomaZBK and OreoglanisZBK by having homodont (vs. heterodont) dentition in the lower jaw. It is further distinguished from OreoglanisZBK by having oar-shaped, distally flattened (vs. pointed) teeth in the upper jaw, and from PseudexostomaZBK by having homodont (vs. heterodont) teeth in the upper jaw. ExostomaZBK is distinguished from MyersglanisZBK by having tooth patches separated in the upper jaw and oar-shaped, distally flattened teeth in both jaws (vs. tooth patches juxtaposed and pointed teeth in both jaws). ExostomaZBK is further distinguished from PseudexostomaZBK and OreoglanisZBK by having 10-11 branched pectoral rays (vs. 16-18).
Description: 6-7 dorsal rays; 10-11 branched pectoral-fin rays; 6 pelvic-fin rays; 5-8 anal-fin rays. Head depressed; snout broadly rounded; body elongate, flattened ventrally to pelvic fins. Eyes minute, dorsal, subcutaneous. Lips thick, fleshy, papillated. Teeth small to large, moveable, oar-shaped, flattened distally and directed posteriorly in distinct patches. Maxillary barbel with well-developed membrane, soft base, and striated pad of adhesive skin. Gill openings narrow, not extending below pectoral-fin base. Branchiostegal membranes confluent with isthmus. Coracoid process not externally visible. No thoracic adhesive apparatus. Paired fins plaited to form an adhesive apparatus.
Distribution: Brahmaputra drainage, northeast India, east and south to the Salween drainages, Myanmar (Kottelat, 1989; Chu et al., 1999; Jayaram, 1999).