Nagaland: 2 new fish species discovered in Mokokchung district

In a remarkable scientific discovery from Mokokchung district, researchers have identified two new species of freshwater fish in Nagaland and named them after the son and daughter of a late collaborator, fulfilling one of his final wishes.
The species– Glyptothoraxsentimereni and Oreichthyselianae – were discovered during ichthyological surveys in Mokokchung and later described in the international journal Zootaxa.
The study was carried out by J. Praveenraj of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research–Central Island Agricultural Research Institute in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and independent researcher Balaji Vijayakrishnan of Mumbai, in collaboration with the late Lt. Limaakum, an assistant professor at Fazl Ali College. Although Limaakum passed away before completion of the research, his collaborators finalised the study and honoured his memory by naming the species after his children.
Glyptothorax sentimereni was discovered in the rocky stretches of the Dikhu River.
The species belongs to a group of torrent-dwelling catfishes adapted to fast-flowing mountain streams and possesses a specialised adhesive structure on its underside that helps it cling to rocks in strong currents.
The second species, Oreichthys elianae, was found in a tributary of the Tsurang River.
Measuring just over 2.5 cm in length, the tiny fish is distinguished by its bright red fins and a prominent black blotch at the base of its tail.
Researchers said the discoveries add to the known aquatic biodiversity of the Brahmaputra river basin and highlight the ecological richness of Nagaland, located at the intersection of the Eastern Himalaya and Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspots.
Praveenraj said naming the species after Limaakum’s children fulfilled one of his final wishes and served as a tribute to his passion for scientific research.