Amblyceps vayavy

Amblyceps vayavy Latest News

Researchers recently discovered a rare new catfish species, Amblyceps vayavy, in hill streams of the Western Ghats spanning Goa and Maharashtra.

About Amblyceps vayavy

• It is a new species of catfish.
• It was discovered in the biodiverse northern Western Ghats spanning the states of Goa and Maharashtra.
• The fish inhabits shallow hill streams where the streambed is made up of sand, pebbles, and stones, creating microhabitats that help it hide and forage for food.
• The name ‘vayavy’ means ‘northwest’ in Marathi and Konkani, referring to the species’ habitat in the northwestern part of the Western Ghats. 
• It is the northernmost confirmed record of the genus in the Western Ghats so far.
• The species can be distinguished by features such as a bifurcated caudal fin, an incomplete lateral line, an absence of centrally projecting hooks in the veins in the middle of the tail, and a distinct adipose fin structure.
• The species has so far been recorded only from a few scattered locations in Goa and Maharashtra, underscoring its rarity and the ecological importance of the fragile habitats it occupies.

Source: MD

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