Mangalore: Three New Fish Species Spotted from Western Ghats
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (MM/RD)
Mangalore, Feb 19: Three new fish species have been spotted by Dr. Pramod. P K, state co-ordinator of ornamental fish development, Marine Products Exports Development Authority (MPEDA) at sub-regional office, here from the western ghat region of Karnataka, recently.
The 3 varieties discovered included a Danio sp, Schistura sp., and Mesonemachelius sp from the streams of Agumbe and adjacent water bodies reaching Sita river, in Shimoga district. The identities of the species were confirmed by the scientists, Dr.K Rema Devi and Dr T J Indra of Zeological Survey of India, Chennai. The species name will be described soon, sources informed
Danio sp and Schistura sp were collected from a high altitude stream (more than 2000 ft MSL) reaching Sita River. Danio sp is characterised by two pairs of elongated barbels.
Schistura sp is yellowish brown in colour with 11-13 bands on the body; the bands start from the posterior part of the pectoral fin. Dorsal fin is provided with beautiful black markings. Pectoral fin golden yellow in colour, Ventral anal and caudal fins are deep yellowish without any dots or markings.
All the new varieties were collected and identified as part of the efforts for preparing a database on the indigenous ornamental fishes available in the Western Ghat region of Karnataka. So far, there is no concerted attempt to develop a scientific database on the indigenous ornamental fish resources in the rivers of Karnataka, sources added.
Similar work has been conducted in Kerala and other parts of Western Ghats. The newly discovered varieties of the Western Ghats show that the Western Ghats with its pristine rivers harbours a rich variety of freshwater species which still remain to be explored and described. These attractive species have good potential to be introduced as ornamental fish varieties in the domestic and international ornamental fish trade. But the resource abundance of the species should be studied and captive breeding technology should be perfected prior to popularisation of the fishes in trade, experts opined.