Researchers from the Central University of Odisha and the Zoological Survey of India have identified a new species of freshwater fish in the Kolab river, located in the Koraput district of Odisha. The discovery, named Garra laishrami, was made during an ichthyological survey by Supriya Surachita, a Department of Science & Technology Inspire Fellow.
Surachita’s research, conducted under the supervision of Prof. Sharat Kumar Palita, Dean of the School of Biodiversity and Conservation of Natural Resources at CUO, focuses on the diversity, distribution, and threats to fishes in the freshwater bodies of Koraput in the Eastern Ghats of Odisha.
The newly discovered cyprinid, or freshwater fish, has been named after Dr. Laishram Kosygin of ZSI, in recognition of his contributions to the study of Indian freshwater fishes. The fish category Garra is known for its elongated shape, varying in size from small to medium, and is characterized by the presence of a gular disc. Typically found in regions from Borneo to West Africa, this particular variety, Garra laishrami, is unique to the Kolab river in Odisha’s Eastern Ghats.
The fish, ranging from 76 mm to 95.5 mm in length, has an added significance – it is edible, and local communities in the region consume it. Garra laishrami is usually found beneath rocks and among stones and boulders in torrential streams and rivers.
The discovery highlights the rich biodiversity of the Kolab river, and researchers believe that a more in-depth study of Koraput is essential to uncover various types of organisms in the region. Prof. Palita expressed optimism about the possibility of finding more new fish species in the area.
Details of the study on this new fish species have been published in the taxonomy journal “Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters” in Germany.
