In news- The Blue-finned Mahseer has been moved to the ‘least concern’ status from ‘endangered’ of the IUCN red list. The golden mahseer is still in danger of going extinct.
About the fish-
- Mahseer fish belongs to the genus Tor of family Cyprinidae (carps).
- It thrives in clear rivers and lakes of India and southeastern Asia, and among the largest of Indian river fishes.
- They are commercially important game fish, as well as highly esteemed food fish.
- They are potential candidate species for aquaculture.
- It is very sensitive to dissolved oxygen levels, water temperature and sudden climatic changes, hence an important indicator of freshwater ecosystems.
- They are omnivorous, eating not only algae, crustaceans, insects, frogs, and other fish, but also fruits that fall from trees overhead.
- The first species from this group were scientifically described by Francis Buchanan-Hamilton in 1822.
- The following sub species of Mahseer are generally recognized by scientists in India:
- “Golden Mahseer” or Tor Putitora found in the Himalayan streams and rivers.
- “Blue Fin / Deccan Mahseer” or Tor Khudree found in rivers of the Deccan Plateau.
- “Red Finned Mahseer” or Tor Tor found in the rivers of central India.
- “Chocolate Mahseer” or Neolissochilus hexagonolepis, found in the Indian Himalayan region.
- “Humpback Mahseer ” or Tor remadevii found in the Cauvery River and its tributaries, largest of all the subspecies.
Source: IE
