Three new species of fish of genus Aborichthys

Three new species of fish of genus Aborichthys

Part of: Prelims and GS-III – Environment  

Context Recently, the Department of Zoology of Dera Natung Government College of Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh has discovered three new species of fish of genus Aborichthys of family Nemachelidae.

About three new species of fish

• The species have been named Aborichthys uniobarensis, Aborichthys barapensis and Aborichthys palinensis.
• They are distributed in streams like Senki, Barap and Palin, which are the tributaries of Brahmaputra river system.

Genus Aborichthys

• Aborichthys is an elongate and slender-bodied bottom dwelling freshwater stone loach that inhabits the moderate-to-fast flowing water of mountain rivers, streams and drainages of the Brahmaputra river basin. 
• They are freshwater, benthic (bottom-dwelling) fish.
• The species is characterised by narrow oblique bars on the body.
• It is endemic to the eastern Himalayas. 
  • Eastern Himalaya is endemic to more than 20 per cent fauna of India, including the fish species.
• These species are vulnerable to climate change as it leads to their habitat alteration.