Schizopygopsis waddellii

About Schizopygopsis waddellii

• Schizopygopsis waddellii is a rare species of high-altitude Himalayan fish.
• Family: It belongs to the Cyprinidae family.
• It is commonly known as the Tibetan fish or Waddell’s snow trout.
• Habitat: It is adapted to harsh, high-altitude freshwater ecosystems across the Tibetan Plateau and the Eastern Himalayas.
• Distribution: It was previously known only from the Tibetan and China Plateau region, including Yamdrok Lake in Tibet.
  • It was recorded in India for the first time from Pangkang Teng Tso Lake in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh.
• Key features:
  • Body: It has an elongated, cylindrical body with a dark greyish to olive upper side and lighter underside.
  • Lateral and Caudal Features: It has a complete lateral line and a deeply forked caudal fin.
  • Snout structure: It has a distinctive hard plate-like structure around the lower lip and snout.
  • Sexual Dimorphism: Males have small visible nuptial tubercles or spines and brighter coloration, while females lack spines and have duller coloration.
  • High-Altitude Adaptation: It is adapted to freezing water temperatures, low oxygen saturation, and oligotrophic high-altitude lake environments.
  • Identification: Its identity was confirmed through morphological examination and mitochondrial DNA analysis.
• Threats: The species may be vulnerable to disturbances in fragile, high-altitude freshwater ecosystems, making the conservation of these habitats important.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Least Concern (LC)