Table 1. Morphometric and meristic characters of Chelonodon patoca from Karnataka and Kerala

		Payaswani River at Eranchipuzha Kerala MSUMNH 46. n =5
	Aghnashini River at Kritikada, Karnataka MSUMNH 21. n =1	Min	Max	Mean
Standard length	51.47	37.76	59.23
Total length	69	50.8	79.13
% HL
Eye diameter	21.03	22.72	30.36	25.35
Inter orbital distance	63.75	56.30	64.71	61.43
Snout length	41.55	36.32	39.61	38.72
% SL
Head length	41.75	40.73	43.77	42.15
Pre dorsal length	75.69	74.83	77.56	76.22
Vent to anal	2.76	2.62	4.48	3.42
Anal fin length	16.86	15.22	20.34	17.58
Anal fin height	21.78	19.90	22.25	21.33
Dorsal fin length	21.60	21.50	23.74	22.28
Pectoral fin length	17.18	15.58	18.49	16.86
Caudal fin length	34.47	34.53	37.05	35.21
Meristic counts
Dorsal fin rays	ii / 10	ii / 9 (5 )
Pectoral fin rays	ii / 15	ii / 15 (4) ii / 16 (1)
Anal fin rays	ii / 7	ii / 8 (5)
Caudal fin rays	9	9 (5)

b

a

Figure 1. Lateral view of Chelonodon patoca and shape of four-rooted spine

a - Four-rooted spine; b - Lateral view of Chelonodon patoca