Koraput: Researchers from the Central University of Odisha (CUO), Koraput, have discovered two Mahseer fish species for the first time in the Indravati River system of southern Odisha.
These two Mahseer species belong to the Cyprinidae family, known for their large bodies and prominent scales. Often referred to as the “King of the Indian Aquatic System,” Mahseer is included among the 20 mega fishes of the world.
Led by Prof Sharat Kumar Palita, Dean of the School of Biodiversity and Conservation of Natural Resources (SBCNR) at the CUO, the research team documented these species.
The Mahseer inhabits fast-flowing, cold, clear, hilly rivers with pebbly, stony, and rocky bottoms and intermittent pools.
Considered sacred, it is worshipped in many Hindu temples across India. Previously, Mahseer species were reported in Odisha from the Mahanadi, Brahmani, and Similipal regions. However, they had not been documented in any rivers of southern Odisha until now.
The major rivers of southern Odisha—Kolab, Indravati, and Machhkund—are part of the Godavari River system, while Nagabali and Vamshadhara originate in Odisha and flow into the Bay of Bengal in Andhra Pradesh.
Palita initiated research on Mahseer after joining the Central University of Odisha six years ago, assigning the work to scholar Alok Kumar Naik.
These species were first documented at the Indravati Market in Khatiguda, Nabarangpur, and later identified in the Indravati Reservoir at Mukhiguda, Kalahandi, and Kapur Dam, Nabarangpur.
Under Prof. Palita’s scrutiny in the university’s laboratory, the fish were confirmed as Mahseer species and further verified by the Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, as Tor tor and Tor putitora.
The Golden Mahseer (Tor putitora) is native to the Brahmaputra and Ganga river systems in the Himalayan foothills and northeastern states like Meghalaya and Manipur, with the Narmada River considered its southernmost range.
Globally, Mahseer species belong to three genera: Tor, Neolissochilus, and Nazirtor. Members of the Tor genus are regarded as “True Mahseer.” There are 17 valid Tor species globally, found in countries like India, China, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
The IUCN has classified Tor putitora as Endangered and Tor tor as Near Threatened, emphasizing the need for conservation efforts. Many Indian states, including Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Nagaland, and Sikkim, have declared Mahseer as their state fish.