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News: Researchers discovered a rare new catfish species, Amblyceps vayavy, in hill streams of the Western Ghats in Goa and Maharashtra.
About Amblyceps Vayavy
- Amblyceps vayavy is a newly identified species of freshwater catfish from the northern Western Ghats.
- Name Origin: The word ‘vayavy’ means ‘northwest’ in Marathi and Konkani, referring to its distribution in the northwestern Western Ghats.
- Habitat: The fish lives in clear, fast-flowing, well-oxygenated hill streams with sand, pebbles, and stones that create microhabitats for hiding and feeding.
- Rivers associated with: The species has been recorded from the Kundalika River in Maharashtra and the Ragada River in Goa in the northern Western Ghats.
- Distinct Features: The species can be identified through features such as a bifurcated caudal fin, incomplete lateral line, absence of centrally projecting hooks in the tail veins, and a distinct adipose fin structure.
- Ecological Sensitivity: The species is highly sensitive to pollution, siltation, habitat disturbance, and changes in river flow.
- Conservation Concern: Construction activities and habitat changes in the Western Ghats may threaten such specialised freshwater fish species.
- Significance: The discovery highlights the rich endemism and fragile freshwater biodiversity of the Western Ghats.
