New catfish species found

ITANAGAR: A team of ichthyologists from Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU) here have discovered a new species of catfish in West Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh.

The catfish were found in the Yomgo river, which is located at an altitude of 1,999 metres at Mechukha in the district recently, a press release issued by the team said here on Sunday.

This is the second species in the genus Creteuchiloglanis after the first such species was reportedly discovered at Kalaktang in West Kameng district of the state during 1966, the release claimed.

The holotype and paratypes of the species were deposited and preserved in the Rajiv Gandhi University Museum of Fishes (RGUMF), and Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Itanagar.

The species epithet 'payjab' is derived from the local name of the fish in Memba, a colloquial term of the native ethnic group living in the locality.

The team, which was led by D N Das of RGU, also included Achom Darshan Singh, Rashmi Dutta, Akash Kachari, and Budhin Gogoi, the release added.