News: Tamil Nadu government has sanctioned Rs. 1 crore for a new conservation programme aimed at protecting four lesser-known endangered species including the lion-tailed macaque, Madras hedgehog, striped hyena, and hump-headed mahseer fish.
About Humpback Mahseer Fish
- The Humpback Mahseer (Hypselobarbus mussullah) is a large and striking freshwater fish.
- Family: Cyprinidae.
- It is endemic to the Cauvery river system including Kerala’s Pambar, Kabini and Bhavani rivers.
- It is popularly known as the “Tiger of the Cauvery river”.
- Habitat: It thrives in pristine mountain streams and clear, oxygen-rich waters with swift currents, rocky substrates, and abundant aquatic vegetation.
- It is one of the largest freshwater fish in India and can grow up to 1.5 meters in length.
- Physical features
- The most distinguishing feature is its high-backed body, which sets it apart from other mahseer species.
- It has a stout, elongated form with a noticeable hump behind the head and a tall dorsal fin.
- Its broad pectoral and pelvic fins help it navigate fast-flowing waters.
- The fish’s color ranges from silver and greenish brown to golden tones, with a darker back and lighter flanks.
- It has a terminal mouth with thick lips suited for grazing, along with two pairs of barbels that act as sensory organs for detecting food along the riverbed.
- Diet: Its diet includes algae, aquatic insects, and crustaceans
- Ecological Significance: Ecologically, the Humpback Mahseer plays an essential role as a keystone species in river ecosystems.
- Conservation Status:
- IUCN: Endangered species.
- Threat: Habitat loss, river damming, pollution, and overfishing.
About Lion-Tailed Macaque
- The lion-tailed macaque is a species of Old World monkey.
- Family: Cercopithecidae.
- Scientific name: Macaca silenus
- It is native to the mountainous regions in southwest India.
- It is one of the smallest among macaque species.
- Distribution: These monkeys are exclusively found in the Western Ghats.
- Physical Feature: The most distinguishing feature is its silver-white mane. It surrounds the macaque’s head and comes down along its cheeks to the chin, making it look like a ‘bearded ape’.
- Habitat: They inhabit the upper canopy of monsoon forests and tropical evergreen forests.
- Diet: It is an omnivorous animal and consumes a wide variety of foods.
- Behavior: They are an arboreal and diurnal creature.
- They use 17 different sounds and calls to communicate, including a loud cry to indicate territorial boundaries.
- One of the distinguishing features of this species is that the males mark or establish the boundaries of their territories through vocal calls.
- Conservation Status:
- IUCN: Endangered
- CITES: Appendix I
- The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I
- Threat: Habitat loss, fragmentation, and human encroachment
