Tor putitora

Tor putitora, the Putitor mahseer, Himalayan mahseer, or golden mahseer, is an endangered species of cyprinid fish that is found in rapid streams, riverine pools, and lakes in the Himalayan region. Its native range is within the basins of the Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers.[1] It is a popular gamefish, once believed to be the largest species of mahseer, and can reach up to 2.75 m (9.0 ft) in length and 54 kg (119 lb) in weight, though most caught today are far smaller.[2] It is threatened by habitat loss, habitat degradation and overfishing, and it already has declined by more than an estimated 50%.[1] This omnivorous species is generally found near the surface in water that ranges from 13 to 30 °C (55–86 °F).[3]

Tor putitora
Babai River, Nepal
Juvenile, about 35 cm (14 in) long
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Genus: Tor
Species:
T. putitora
Binomial name
Tor putitora
(F. Hamilton, 1822)
Synonyms
  • Cyprinus putitora Hamilton, 1822
  • Barbus putitora (Hamilton, 1822)
  • Cyprinus mosal Hamilton, 1822
  • Barbus mosal (Hamilton, 1822)
  • Tor mosal (Hamilton, 1822)
  • Barbus progeneius McClelland, 1839
  • Tor progeneius (McClelland, 1839)
  • Barbus macrocephalus McClelland, 1839

Its caudal, pelvic, and anal fins show tint of reddish-golden colour. While the body above its lateral line is generally golden in colour at adulthood, the gold colour might be absent in young specimens.
Hamilton's original description says "The head is blunt, oval, small, and smooth". He goes on to say "The mouth is small" and "the lateral line is scarcely distinguishable".[4] However, the largest head of any mahseer species, with a large mouth and prominent lateral line stripe, are features considered to be important in the correct identification of this species. A cavefish species found in Meghalaya in India is likely derived from this species.[5]

Releases beyond native range

Recent releases of artificially bred stock have been into the Irrawaddy River basin in Nagaland, India and, through the Indo-German Biodiversity Programme [6] releases into the Hira Bambai reservoir and small streams around Melghat Tiger Reserve, part of the Tapti River basin [7]. The effect of releasing fish from a different river basin, well outside its native range is uncertain. That these fish are being released over a ten-year period, with as many as 10,000 in each batch, must be considered a huge threat to the native mahseer and other fish species[8]. According to Dr Ogale, former scientist leading the fish breeding programme for Tata Power: "When these mature, there will be more fingerlings which will be then introduced in river Tapi" [9]. River Tapi is a west-flowing river of the central Indian state of Maharashtra.

Most researchers believe this fish is in a population decline, hence the Red Listing status of Endangered. Some, however, have noted that Tor putitora is "quite abundant"[10], which also raises questions about the status of ongoing stock augmentation programmes.

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References
  1. Jha, B.R.; Rayamajhi, A.; Dahanukar, N.; Harrison, A. & Pinder, A. (2018). "Tor putitora". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T126319882A126322226.en.
  2. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2012). "Tor putitora" in FishBase. January 2012 version.
  3. IRG Systems South Asia Pvt. Ltd. (December 2014) Cumulative Impact and Carrying Capacity Study of Subansiri Sub Basin including Downstream Impacts. Final Report, volume 1. Central Water Commission, India.
  4. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/6897#/summary
  5. Dan Harries, Thomas Arbenz, Neelesh Dahanukar, Rajeev Raghavan, Mark Tringham, Duwaki Rangad and Graham Proudlove. 2019. The World’s Largest Known Subterranean Fish: A Discovery in Meghalaya (NE India) of A Cave-adapted Fish related to the Golden Mahseer, Tor putitora (Hamilton 1822). Cave & Karst Science. 46(3); 121–126.
  6. http://indo-germanbiodiversity.com/pdf/publication/publication15-07-2019-1563191397.pdf
  7. https://www.thehitavada.com/Encyc/2019/11/22/Golden-Mahashir-fish-fingerlings-released-in-Hira-Bambai-reservoir.html
  8. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Conservation-project-helps-revive-Mahseer-in-rivers/articleshow/48737691.cms
  9. https://punemirror.indiatimes.com/pune/others/mahseer-fish-makes-a-comeback-in-melghat/articleshow/46979898.cms
  10. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333918157_International_Journal_of_Fisheries_and_Aquatic_Studies_2016_41_341-347_Distribution_record_on_abundance_of_Tor_putitora_in_Jammu_waters
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