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Schizopygopsis waddellii Recorded First Time in India
Scientists recently record Schizopygopsis waddellii, a rare fish species, for the first time in India from a natural lake in Tawang district, Arunachal Pradesh, at around 12,800 feet above sea level. The record expands its known distribution range and adds a new species to India’s freshwater fish fauna.
Schizopygopsis waddellii:
| Dimension | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Species Type | It is a rare species of high-altitude Himalayan fish. |
| Indian Location of Record | It is recorded from Pangkang Teng Tso Lake, a natural high-altitude lake located in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang district. |
| Altitude of Record | The record location is at around 12,800 feet above sea level. |
| Previously Known Range | It is previously known only from the Tibetan and China Plateau region, including Yamdrok Lake in Tibet. |
| Taxonomy | The fish belongs to the Cyprinidae family. |
| Adaptation | It is adapted to the harsh conditions of high-altitude freshwater ecosystems. |
| Diagnostic Morphological Features | It has an elongated, cylindrical body; a dark greyish to olive-coloured upper side and a lighter, silvery to creamy-white underside; a complete lateral line; a blunt snout; a distinctive hard plate-like structure around the lower lip and snout; a subterminal mouth; and a deeply forked caudal fin. |
| Significance of Record | The present record expands its known distribution range and adds a new species to India’s freshwater fish fauna. |