A newly discovered species of cyprinid fish in the Brahmaputra River at Maijan, located in Assam’s Dibrugarh district, marks an important addition to the ichthyofaunal richness of Northeast India’s river systems. Named Pethia dibrugarhensis, the species derives its name from its place of origin.
The discovery resulted from a freshwater faunal survey conducted by a team of researchers from the ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CIFRI), Guwahati regional centre; ICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpore; and Manipur University. The findings were recently published in the peer-reviewed journal National Academy Science Letters by Springer Nature.
“This finding underscores the vast, yet underexplored, biodiversity of the Brahmaputra basin,” said Basanta Kumar Das, Director of ICAR-CIFRI, who spearheaded the study. “Each newly documented species enhances our understanding of the region’s intricate aquatic ecosystems. Ongoing systematic surveys are crucial for cataloging and conserving these species amidst growing environmental challenges.”
The research team comprised Niti Sharma and Simanku Borah from ICAR-CIFRI Guwahati, alongside freshwater taxonomist W Vishwanath and Pethia expert M Dishma from Manipur University. Pethia dibrugarhensis, a barb belonging to the Cyprinidae family, was observed in moderately swift river sections with a substrate of mud, sand, and rocks, coexisting with other small native fish species.
The species is characterized by distinct morphological traits, including an incomplete lateral line, a conspicuous black blotch extending across both sides of the caudal peduncle, and the absence of humeral marks and barbels, setting it apart from related species.
