Rare Himalayan fish discovered for first time in India

Itanagar: Researchers found a rare Himalayan fish in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh. It is the first time the species, Schizopygopsis waddellii, has been recorded in India. The discovery expands the known geographical range of the fish, previously spotted only on the Tibetan and Chinese plateaus.

Teams from the ICAR-Central Institute of Coldwater Fisheries Research in Bhimtal caught the specimens in July. They worked alongside the Arunachal Pradesh Fisheries Department and the Shar-Tso Committee of Tawang. The fish is a member of the Cyprinidae family. It thrives in harsh, high-altitude freshwater environments. Scientists identified the find using molecular evidence and mitochondrial DNA analysis.

The fish features a cylindrical body with a greyish, olive top and a creamy white belly. It has a blunt snout, a subterminal mouth, and a forked caudal fin. The team also noted a hard plate around the lip and a complete lateral line. These features confirmed the species identity.

Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein praised the breakthrough. He noted that the find proves how little experts know about local mountain lakes. "Discoveries of this nature demonstrate how much remains to be explored and understood about Arunachal Pradesh's natural heritage," Mein said. This record provides a baseline for future ecological assessments. It highlights the need to protect these fragile water systems in the Eastern Himalayas.