New Species of Cat Fish Found in Mizoram

[Mrudul Godbole]

Jun 27, 2010
New Species of Cat Fish Found in Mizoram
By sinlung / On : 4:13 AM/

Aizawl, Jun 27 : Zoologists claimed to have discovered a new species of sisorid cat fish in Mizoram.

The species of cat fish named Pseudolaguvia virgulata is recently discovered from the Barak river drainage in Mizoram, said Dr Lalramliana, Assistant Professor of Department of Zoology, Pachhunga University College, Mizoram.

This finding has been published in Zootaxa by Dr Heok Hee Ng, Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, Singapore. ''Members of the sisorid genus Pseudolaguvia are small catfishes found in rivers draining the sub-Himalayan region and Myanmar,'' Dr Lalramliana said.

''They superficially resemble miniature species of Glyptothorax in overall morphology and in having a thoracic adhesive apparatus with a median depression, but can be distinguished in having prominent postcoracoid processes,'' he added.

Dr Lalramliana told reporters that eleven species of Pseudolaguvia are considered valid so far and with this it become twelve.

The new species can be distinguished from congeners in having a brown body with two or three narrow, pale longitudinal stripes and a pale Y-shaped marking on the dorsal surface of the head.

Dr Lalramliana highlighted that fish fauna in Mizoram is poorly documented and credit should be given to Dr Tawnenga, Principal Pachhunga University College as he is the one who gave support to document the fish fauna of Mizoram which is undertaken by department of Zoology of the institution.

Zoologists have also recently discovered a new frog species at a national lake in Mizoram, about 100 kms from the state capital Aizawl.

The new frog species - Leptolalax Tamdil, named after the lake in which it was found - is diagnosed with unique features such as eyelids with tubercles, distinct tympanum and unusual folds, undiluted toe tips with dermal fringes, long hind limbs and distinct colour patches.

Link - http://www.sinlung.com/2010/06/new-s...-found-in.html

[Sabyasachi Patra]

Great news indeed. The north east states, popularly referred to as the Seven sisters - are the pride of India. The amount of biodiversity present in those states should be carefully preserved.

These states should be incentivised so that they don't join the rat race of the so called development by damning rivers and creating polluting industries. These states should be provided special financial incentives, so that the people should not feel to be at a disadvantage vis-a-vis other Indians.

I am sure, many more discoveries are awaiting in forests of these states.

Cheers,
Sabyasachi

[Lakshminarayanan Nataraja]

The North-eastern states are the least explored but unfortunately the most exploited belt curretly.

The bio-diversity of that region is in no way inferior to Amazonia and these discoveries are certain to happen.

A clear protection strategy cutting across all 7 states of N.East is the need of the hour.