| Nepalese snowtrout | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Cypriniformes |
| Family: | Cyprinidae |
| Subfamily: | Barbinae |
| Genus: | Schizothorax |
| Species: | S. macrophthalmus |
| Binomial name | |
| Schizothorax macrophthalmus | |
The Nepalese snowtrout (Schizothorax macrophthalmus) is a cyprinid fish species of the genus Schizothorax . [3] This snowtrout was first collected in 1979 in the alpine fresh water Rara Lake located in Nepal's Rara National Park. [2]
Rara Lake also known as Mahendra Lake is the largest fresh water lake in the Nepalese Himalayas. It is the main feature of Rara National Park, located in Jumla and Mugu Districts of Karnali Province. Rara National Park stretches over 106 km2 (41 sq mi).
Wildlife diversity is a notable feature of Nepal. Because of the variance in climate, from tropical to arctic, Nepal has a large variety of plants and animals. Wildlife tourism is also a major source of tourism in the country. There are some animal species which are unique to Nepal, such as the spiny babbler. Nepal is also host to many rhododendron species. The wildlife of Nepal includes its flora and fauna. Nepal has established numerous national parks and reserves in order to protect its diverse fauna. Nepal is a biodiversity hot spot with ecoregions broadly comprising the mountainous ecoregion, the savanna and grasslands ecoregion of the terai (foothills), and the Rara Lake ecoregion, which has many endemic species.
Diptychus is a genus of cyprinid freshwater fish, consisting of two species found in Himalaya and the Tibetan Plateau of China, India, Nepal and Pakistan, ranging west to the Tien Shan Mountains and Central Asia. The type species is the scaly osman, Diptychus maculatus. The name is derived from the Greek word di, meaning "two", and the Greek word ptyx, meaning "fold". Diptychus is up to 70 cm (2.3 ft) in total length.
Schizothorax is a genus of cyprinid fish found in southern and western China, through northern South Asia (Himalaya) and Central Asia, to Iran, with a single species, S. prophylax, in Turkey. They are primarily found in highland rivers, streams and lakes, although a few species occur in lower-lying locations, like Lake Balkhash and lakes of the Sistan Basin. Their scientific name means "cloven-breast", from Ancient Greek schízeïn (σχίζειν) 'to cleave' and thórax (θώραξ) 'breast-plate'. The western species are typically referred to as marinkas from their Russian name marinka (маринка), while the eastern species are usually called snowtrout. Although they do resemble trouts in habitus this is merely due to convergent evolution and they are by no means closely related apart from both being Teleostei: Cyprinids are in the teleost superorder Ostariophysi, while trouts are in the superorder Protacanthopterygii. Their ancestors must thus have diverged as early as the Triassic, more than 200 million years ago.
Rara National Park is a protected area in the Himalayas of Nepal and was established in 1976. Covering an area of 106 km2 (41 sq mi) in the Mugu and Jumla districts, it is the country's smallest national park. Its main feature is Rara Lake at an altitude of 2,990 m (9,810 ft). The park was established to protect the unique flora and fauna of the Humla–Jumla Region of Nepal.
A snowtrout is any of a number of ray-finned fishes from the Himalayas region. These cyprinids resemble the very distantly related trouts in habitus due to convergent evolution.
The Kumaon snowtrout is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Schizothorax.
The Kunar snowtrout is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Schizothorax which is found in India, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tibet.
The blunt-nosed snowtrout is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Schizothorax from the Brahmaputra River drainage in India and China, where it is heavily exploited for food.
The Dongu snowtrout is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Schizothorax.
Schizothorax nepalensis is a cyprinid fish species of the genus Schizothorax. It was first collected in 1979 in the alpine fresh water Rara Lake located in Nepal's Rara National Park.
The Dinnawah snowtrout is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Schizothorax from India and Nepal.
The Rara snowtrout, is a cyprinid fish species of the genus Schizothorax. The Rara snowtrout was first collected in 1979 in the alpine fresh water Rara Lake located in Nepal's Rara National Park.
Schizopyge is a genus of cyprinid freshwater fish found in Pakistan and the northwestern part of India. Schizopyge is closely related to Schizothorax and some species have historically been moved between the two genera.
Sattar snowtrout is a species of cyprinid native to the highlands of south-central Asia from Iran to China where it can be found in most types of freshwater habitats. This species can reach a length of 56 centimetres (22 in) TL and a weight of up to 1.3 kilograms (2.9 lb). It is important to local commercial fisheries.
The Chirruh snowtrout is a species of cyprinid fish found in the Himalyays in Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Nepal and China.
Ptychobarbus is a genus of cyprinid fish that is found in rivers, streams and lakes in the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau of China, India, Nepal and Pakistan, extending into the highlands of Afghanistan. They reach up to 2.2 kg (5 lb) in weight and about 65 cm (2.1 ft) in total length. They mostly feed on benthic invertebrates, but will also take planktonic organisms, aquatic plants and algae.
The Eğirdir marinka is a species of cyprinid fish in the genus Schizothorax. It is endemic to Lake Eğirdir in Turkey.
