Chocolate Mahseer

Chocolate Mahseer Latest News

Recently, Sikkim Chief Minister released ‘Chocolate Mahseer’ fish into the Rangeet river, underlining the importance of conserving indigenous fish species and protecting the state’s aquatic biodiversity.

About Chocolate Mahseer

• Chocolate Mahseer or copper mahseer (Neolissochilus hexagonolepis) is a freshwater fish species.
• The fish species belonging to the genus Tor and Neolissocheilus under the family Cyprinidae are popularly known as ‘Mahseer’.
• It is known by the local name ‘kha saw’ in Meghalaya.
• It was officially designated as the state fish of Meghalaya and Sikkim.
• Distribution: It thrives in nearly all the major rivers and hill-streams of Meghalaya, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Tripura.
• Habitat: The species inhabits clear, fast flowing streams and rivers with stony, pebbly or rocky bottoms.
• Characteristics
  • It possesses exceptional strength and agility, making it a prized catch.
  • It is equipped with powerful pectoral and dorsal fins, it possesses the remarkable ability to swiftly navigate against strong river currents.
  • Females of this species are larger in size when compared to males in the same age group.
• It is prized by anglers and is considered an indicator of healthy river ecosystems.
• Threats: Its populations are in decline due to habitat degradation, overfishing and environmental changes
• Conservation Status: IUCN Red List: Near Threatened

Source: TP

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