Guwahati: A tiny, unassuming catfish from the Yongmon River in Nagaland has been identified as a new species, adding to the diverse family of hill stream catfish inhabiting the Ganga-Brahmaputra and Barak-Surma-Meghna river systems.
The newly discovered species, Glyptothorax pongoensis, was identified by a research team from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Kolkata, in collaboration with several other institutes. The team included Pratima Singh, a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the ZSI, along with Diamond Rajakumar Tenali, Gudabandi Vijaya Pratap, Nyamkham Phom, Maka Ratnaraju, and Laishram Kosygin.
The discovery has been published in the Journal of Natural History, a prestigious scientific journal from the United Kingdom. This finding adds to the 28 valid species of Glyptothorax catfish previously recorded from these river systems. With 22 species already known from the Ganga-Brahmaputra drainage, this discovery raises the count to 23, highlighting the region’s rich aquatic biodiversity.
“Measuring just three inches in length, this new species is a master of survival in the fast-flowing rivers of Northeast India,” the researchers noted. “Armed with a unique thoracic adhesive apparatus—a kind of natural suction pad—it clings to rocks and withstands the rushing currents of its mountainous habitat. Its features are as distinctive as its environment: an ovate-shaped adhesive apparatus adorned with intricate skin ridges, a W-shaped nuchal plate, and a nasal barbel that doesn’t quite reach the eye.”
Named after the Pongo Forest in Nagaland’s Longleng district, this small fish stands out not only for its physical characteristics but also for its cultural significance to the local communities. The people of the region have long known of this hill stream dweller, often catching it as part of their traditional diet—unaware that their routine catch would one day be recognized by the international scientific community.
The discovery of Glyptothorax pongoensis underscores the importance of conserving the unique ecosystems of Northeast India, where many species remain undocumented.
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