New rare catfish species discovered in Manipur hill streams
A research team identified the Exostoma nasibarbatum species during a survey of a tributary in the Chindwin river system.
A research team has identified a new species of rare glyptosternine catfish, named Exostoma nasibarbatum, in Manipur, according to The Assam Tribune.
The discovery was made during an ichthyological survey of the Bupal stream, a tributary of the Dujang River near the Myanmar border.
Assistant Professor Dr Bungdon Shangningam of Dhanamanjuri University’s Department of Zoology led the team, which included PhD scholar Paya Torisha Anal.
The species lives in fast-flowing, turbulent waters with rocky substrates and uses specific physical traits to survive in such environments.
Dr Shangningam said these small hill stream catfish are unique and rarely found in remote areas of the Dujang River.
The researchers noted that the discovery suggests more undiscovered aquatic species may exist in the underexplored regions of the upper Chindwin basin.