A new species of bumblebee catfish has been described in the latest issue of the journal Zootaxa.
Kelvin Lim and Heok Hee Ng have named the catfish from central Sumatra Pseudomystus heokhuii, after Heok Hui Tan, who brought the attention of the fish to the authors.
The new species can be distinguished from other members of the genus in having a color pattern consisting of a pale midlateral stripe and two pale oblique bands on the sides of the body.
Pseudomystus heokhuii appears most similar to P. leiacanthus, but can be further distinguished from it in having two dark narrow irregular bars on the caudal fin, longer pectoral spine, longer caudal fin with pointed lobes, longer nasal and maxillary barbels, a straight premaxillary tooth patch, a more sharply tapering snout when viewed dorsally and an even predorsal profile.
Pseudomystus heokhuii is unusual for its genus in exclusively inhabiting blackwater peat swamp habitats that are very acidic. This species is apparently schooling, as large aggregations are frequently caught.
For more information, see the paper: Lim, KKP and HH Ng (2008) Pseudomystus heokhuii, a new species of bagrid catfish from Sumatra (Teleostei: Bagridae). Zootaxa 1686, pp. 37"47.