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Dawkinsia is a genus of cyprinid fishes from freshwater in South India and Sri Lanka. It was split off (i.e., reclassified) from genus Puntius in 2012. The genus is endemic to South Asia; most species are found in the Western Ghats, with one inhabiting the Knuckles Hills of Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan species colonized the island by crossing the Palk Isthmus (now the Palk Strait) during the Pliocene-Late Pleistocene.

Species

GENUS

  1. KingdomAnimalia
  2. PhylumChordata
  3. ClassTeleostei
  4. OrderCypriniformes
  5. FamilyCyprinidae
Habitatbrackish, freshwater
Observations recorded751

via GBIF

Wikidata facts

Image
Puntius filamentosus Thomas.jpg
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taxon name
Dawkinsia
Commons category
Dawkinsia
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Article

4 sections
Contents
  • Etymology
  • Description
  • Species
  • References

Dawkinsia is a genus of cyprinid fishes from freshwater in South India and Sri Lanka. It was split off (i.e., reclassified) from genus Puntius in 2012. The genus is endemic to South Asia; most species are found in the Western Ghats, with one inhabiting the Knuckles Hills of Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan species colonized the island by crossing the Palk Isthmus (now the Palk Strait) during the Pliocene-Late Pleistocene.

== Etymology == Dawkinsia is named after the evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins in recognition of his "contribution to the public understanding of science, particularly, of evolutionary science". Dawkins describes this as "a great honour".

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