Tor putitora

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Tor putitora
Golden mahseer (Tor putitora) Babai River.jpg
Babai River, Nepal
Tor Putitora.jpeg
Juvenile, about 35 cm (14 in) long
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Genus: Tor
Species:
T. putitora
Binomial name
Tor putitora
(F. Hamilton, 1822)
Synonyms
  • Cyprinus putitoraHamilton, 1822
  • Barbus putitora(Hamilton, 1822)
  • Cyprinus mosalHamilton, 1822
  • Barbus mosal(Hamilton, 1822)
  • Tor mosal(Hamilton, 1822)
  • Barbus progeneius McClelland, 1839
  • Tor progeneius(McClelland, 1839)
  • Barbus macrocephalusMcClelland, 1839

Tor putitora, the Golden Mahseer, Putitor mahseer, or Himalayan mahseer, is an endangered species of cyprinid fish that is found in rapid streams, riverine pools, and lakes in the Himalayan region. Its native range is within the basins of the Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers. [1] It was reported to be found in the Salween river, the natural border between Thailand and Myanmar as well, but the number is very rare, only three times in 28 years. [2]

Contents

This omnivorous species is generally found near the surface in water that ranges from 13–30 °C (55–86 °F). [3] It is a popular gamefish, once believed to be the largest species of mahseer, and can reach up to 2.75 m (9.0 ft) in length and 54 kg (119 lb) in weight, though most caught today are far smaller. [4]

Its caudal, pelvic, and anal fins show tint of reddish-golden colour. While the body above its lateral line is generally golden in colour at adulthood, the gold colour might be absent in young specimens.
Hamilton's original description says "The head is blunt, oval, small, and smooth". He goes on to say "The mouth is small" and "the lateral line is scarcely distinguishable". [5] However, the largest head of any mahseer species, with a large mouth and prominent lateral line stripe, are features considered to be important in the correct identification of this species.

The Golden Mahaseer is the National fish of Pakistan. [6] [n 1] It is also the state fish of the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhyapradesh and the UT of Jammu and Kashmir. [7]

Nobel Prize Winner for Literature - Rudyard Kipling, wrote: "There he met the mahseer of the Poonch, beside whom the tarpon is a herring, and he who catches him can say he is a fisherman." (Rudyard Kipling - "The Day's Work" 1898 - "The Brushwood Boy" 1899).

Conservation issues

It is threatened by habitat loss, habitat degradation and overfishing, and it already has declined by more than an estimated 50%. [1] The prospect of large-scale dam building across the distribution range gives cause for concern reflected by the current Red Listing status.
Most researchers believe this fish is in a population decline, hence the Red Listing status of Endangered. Some, however, have noted that Tor putitora is "quite abundant", [8] which also raises questions about the status of ongoing stock augmentation programmes.

Habitat

The golden mahseer is naturally found in montane and submontane regions within streams and rivers across the Himalayan region. Its habitat includes high-energy river systems with rocky substrates, and the species has shown adaptability to lacustrine environments formed by dam impoundments. Additionally, introduced populations have established in lakes where suitable habitats for reproduction are created by ephemeral stream inputs. The species' ability to thrive in varied environmental conditions underscores the importance of preserving both natural river ecosystems and artificial reservoirs for the sustainable conservation of this fish species in the South Himalayan region. [1]

Releases beyond native range

Recent releases of artificially bred stock have been into the Irrawaddy River basin in Nagaland, India and, through the Indo-German Biodiversity Programme releases into the Hira Bambai reservoir and small streams around Melghat Tiger Reserve, part of the Tapti River basin. [9] The effect of releasing fish from a different river basin, well outside its native range is uncertain. That these fish are being released over a ten-year period, with as many as 10,000 in each batch, must be considered a huge threat to the native mahseer and other fish species. [10] According to Dr Ogale, former scientist leading the fish breeding programme for Tata Power: "When these mature, there will be more fingerlings which will be then introduced in river Tapi". [11] River Tapi is a west-flowing river of the central Indian state of Maharashtra. Golden mahseer from Lonavala hatchery in Maharashtra, India were supplied to the government of Papua New Guinea [12] [13] where the fish escaped into the local Sepik river system after release into the Yonki reservoir. There are fears about the decline of native species following these introductions. [14]

Threats

Habitat loss and degradation

primary threat to Tor putitora is habitat loss and degradation, driven predominantly by the extensive development of hydropower projects in the Himalayan range. This anthropogenic impact poses a substantial risk to the species, as it results in the deterioration and reduction of essential habitats. [1]

Overfishing and unsustainable practices

Overfishing exacerbates the challenges faced by Tor putitora, with unsustainable practices such as dynamiting, poisoning, and the use of fine-meshed nets contributing to a decline in populations. The impact of overfishing is notable in various river systems, affecting the species' overall population dynamics. [1]

Notes

  1. "The Official National fish of Pakistan" respectively

Related Research Articles

<i>Tor</i> (fish) Genus of fishes

Tor is a genus of cyprinid fish commonly known as mahseers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mahseer</span> Common name for several genera of carp

Mahseer is the common name used for the genera Tor, Neolissochilus, Naziritor and Parator in the family Cyprinidae (carps). The name is, however, more often restricted to members of the genus Tor. The range of these fish is from Vietnam in the east and China in the north, through Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia, and across southern Asia including the countries of India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh within the Indian Peninsula, plus Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Afghanistan. They are commercially important game fish, as well as highly esteemed food fish. Mahseer fetch high market price, and are potential candidate species for aquaculture. Several of the larger species have suffered severe declines, and are now considered threatened due to pollution, habitat loss, overfishing and increasing concern about the impacts of unregulated release of artificially bred stock of a very limited number of species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trout cod</span> Species of fish

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macquarie perch</span> Species of fish

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bhimtal Lake</span> Lake in Uttarakhand, India

Bhimtal is a lake in the town of Bhimtal, near Nainital city in Nainital district of Kumaon, India with a masonry dam built in 1883 creating the storage facility. It is the largest lake of Nainital district, as well as Kumaon, which is known as the "Lake district of India".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giant barb</span> Species of fish

The giant barb, Siamese Giant carp, or simply Siamese carp is the largest species of cyprinid in the world. These migratory fish are found only in the Mae Klong, Mekong, and Chao Phraya River basins in Indochina. Populations have declined drastically due to habitat loss and overfishing, and the giant barb is now considered critically endangered.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maharana Pratap Sagar</span> Reservoir in India

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tor khudree</span> Species of fish

Tor khudree, the Deccan mahseer, Khudree mahseer, or black mahseer, is a freshwater fish of the carp family found in major rivers and reservoirs of India and Sri Lanka. Found throughout India, following large-scale introductions of artificially-bred fish across the country, but found of the largest size and in the greatest abundance in mountain or rocky streams.
The fish as originally described by Sykes in his November 1838 paper 'On the Fishes of the Dukhun' as Barbus khudree, is a silvery-bluish coloured fish, with blood red fins or fins tipped with a bluish tinge. The type locality is the Mula-Mutha River close to the Indian city of Pune, a part of the Krishna River basin.
Although there have been efforts to artificially breed this mahseer since the early1970's, there is no way to determine if these fish are Tor khudree, as the populations within the type locality have gone extinct.

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The Manas River, known in Bhutan as the Drangme Chhu, is a transboundary river in the Himalayan foothills between southern Bhutan, India, and China. It is the largest of Bhutan's four major river systems, with the other three being the Amo Chu or Torsa River, the Wang Chu or Raidak, and the Puna Tshang Chu or Sankosh. It is met by three other major streams before it again debouches into India in western Assam. The river flows for a total length of 400 kilometres (250 mi), including through Tibet for 24 km (15 mi), Bhutan for 272 kilometres (169 mi), and Assam for 104 kilometres (65 mi) before it joins the mighty Brahmaputra River at Jogighopa. A major tributary of the Manas, the Aie River, joins it in Assam at Bangpari.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nainital Lake</span> Lake in Uttarakhand, India

Naini Tal, also known as Naini Lake, is a natural freshwater body, situated amidst the town of Nainital in Kumaon, Uttarakhand, India. It is tectonic in origin and was almost circular,until frequent landslides made it crescent shaped and has an outfall at the southeastern end. Nainital, along with other lakes of Kumaon, is integral to tourism and recreation in Kumaon. The lake is also an integral part of Kumaoni folklore.

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<i>Tor douronensis</i> Species of fish

Tor douronensis, also known as Labeobarbus douronensis, is a species of ray-finned fish of the family Cyprinidae in the genus Tor. This Asian fresh water river carp can be discovered in southern Thailand, east to Vietnam and south to Indonesia. The species is known from the Chao Phraya and Mekong rivers.
This fish has been attributed to Valenciennes however, in his original notes, he claims that the fish he described "formed part of the collection made in Java by Kuhl and Van Hesselt; they named it Dourr." Certainly, the type locality is Java, in Indonesia and the holotype is lodged at Bogor Zoology Museum.

<i>Tor tambroides</i> Species of fish

Tor tambroides, known as empurau in Malay, is a species of mahseer native to Southeast Asia.

<i>Tor tor</i> Species of fish

Tor tor, commonly known as the tor mahseer or tor barb, is a species of cyprinid fish found in fast-flowing rivers and streams with rocky bottoms in India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Pakistan. It is a commercially important food and game fish.

Tor sinensis, the Chinese or Red mahseer is a species of mahseer native to the Mekong River. It is known with certainty only from Yunnan, China; reports from Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand require confirmation.
It is one of four currently valid species described from China, the others being Tor laterivittatus, Tor polylepis, and Tor yingjiangensis.

<i>Tor remadevii</i> Species of fish

Tor remadevii, the orange-finned mahseer, also known as the hump-backed mahseer, is a Critically Endangered species of freshwater fish endemic to the Western Ghats of India. It is restricted to the Kaveri river basin.

<i>Tor tambra</i> Species of fish

Tor tambra, the Javan mahseer, is a species of mahseer native to Southeast Asia.

Tor ater, the dark mahseer, is a species of mahseer, a fish, native to Central Laos.

Tor barakae is a species of mahseer native to Manipur, India.

<i>Tor malabaricus</i> Species of fish

Tor malabaricus, the Malabar mahseer, is a fish, a species of mahseer native to southwestern India.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Jha, B.R.; Rayamajhi, A.; Dahanukar, N.; Harrison, A. & Pinder, A. (2018). "Tor putitora". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T126319882A126322226.en .
  2. Kittipong Jaruthanin and Pong Bang Tan, Monsters of the River 2013, Aquarium Biz, Vol. 4 Issue 39 (September 2013) (in Thai)
  3. IRG Systems South Asia Pvt. Ltd. (December 2014) Cumulative Impact and Carrying Capacity Study of Subansiri Sub Basin including Downstream Impacts. Final Report, volume 1. Central Water Commission, India.
  4. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Tor putitora". FishBase . January 2012 version.
  5. Hamilton, Francis (28 November 1822). "An account of the fishes found in the river Ganges and its branches". Printed for A. Constable and company. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  6. "Pakistan". Archived from the original on 2016-11-28.[ non-primary source needed ]
  7. "State Fishes of India" (PDF). National Fisheries Development Board, Government of India. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  8. "(PDF) International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies 2016; 4(1): 341–347 Distribution record on abundance of Tor putitora in Jammu waters". Researchgate.net. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  9. "Golden Mahashir fish fingerlings released in Hira Bambai reservoir". Thehitavada.com. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  10. "Conservation project helps revive Mahseer in rivers". The Times of India . Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  11. "Mahseer fish makes a comeback in Melghat". Punemirror.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  12. Nautiyal, Prakash; Babu, Suresh; Behera, Sandeep (2013). Mahseer Conservation in India Status, Challenges and the Way Forward. WWF-India.
  13. Coates, D. (1997). Fish stocking activities undertaken by the Sepik River Fish Stock Enhancement Project (1987-1993) and the FISHAID Project (1993-1997) (PDF) (Report). Rome: FISHAID Project.
  14. Dudgeon, David; Smith, Ross E. W. (2006-02-28). "Exotic species, fisheries and conservation of freshwater biodiversity in tropical Asia: the case of the Sepik River, Papua New Guinea". Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. 16 (2): 203–215. Bibcode:2006ACMFE..16..203D. doi:10.1002/aqc.713. ISSN   1052-7613.