ITANAGAR, SEP 9:
Researchers from the ICAR-Central Institute of Coldwater Fisheries Research (ICAR-CICFR), Bhimtal, Uttarakhand, have recorded Schizopygopsis waddellii (Regan, 1908) for the first time from a high-altitude lake in Arunachal Pradesh, adding to the freshwater fish diversity known from India.
The specimens were collected in July 2026 from a natural lake in Tawang district at an altitude of around 12,800 feet above mean sea level.
The discovery expands the known geographical distribution of S. waddellii, a fish traditionally associated with high-altitude freshwater systems of the Tibetan and Chinese Plateau, with its type locality at Yamdok Lake in Tibet. A member of the Cyprinidae family, the species is adapted to the extreme environmental conditions of high-elevation aquatic ecosystems.
The identification was carried out through an integrative taxonomic approach combining detailed morphological characterisation with molecular evidence based on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA).
Researchers said the finding highlights the rich and still underexplored ichthyofaunal diversity of northeast India, particularly its remote high-altitude lakes. It also underscores the biogeographic significance of eastern Himalayan freshwater ecosystems and their potential to harbour species with trans-Himalayan affinities.
The record is expected to provide an important baseline for future biodiversity surveys, ecological assessments and conservation planning in the region, while highlighting the need for continued exploration of India’s high-altitude aquatic habitats.
The study was undertaken by a team from ICAR-CICFR in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, and the Shar-Tso Committee of Tawang.
The ICAR-CICFR team comprised Dr Neetu Shahi, Sumanta Kumar Mallik, Dr R.S. Patiyal, Mohan Singh Bisht, Dr Krishna Kala and Dr Garima. The Department of Fisheries team included Pema Khandu Thongdok DFDO Tawang and Pema Khandu Thungon DFDO West Kameng, while Koncho Dorjee and Tsering Dondup represented the Shar-Tso Committee.
The species is characterised by an elongated, cylindrical body, dark greyish to olive coloration on the dorsal side and silvery to creamy-white coloration ventrally. It has distinct sexual dimorphism, a complete lateral line, a blunt snout with a bony or horny plate on the lower lip, and a subterminal mouth positioned ventrally at the anterior end. The fish also has large lateral eyes and a forked caudal fin.
