Itanagar, Sep 9 : ICAR-Central Institute of Coldwater Fisheries Research, Bhimtal has discovered Schizopygopsis waddellii from high altitude lake of Arunachal Pradesh, India. The fish were collected during July this year from a natural lake at an altitude of 12,800 feet above mean sea level from Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh. This discovery adds to India’s freshwater fish diversity. 
The finding expands the known geographical distribution of this fish species, which has traditionally been associated with the high-altitude freshwater systems of the Tibetan and China Plateau with type locality at Yamdok Lake, Tibet. The fish S.waddellii is a member of the family Cyprinidae, and is adapted to the extreme environmental conditions,characteristic of high-elevation aquatic ecosystems.
The identification was carried out through an integrative taxonomic approach combining detailed morphological characterization with molecular evidence using mtDNA. The discovery highlights the remarkable and still underexplored ichthyofaunal diversity of northeast India, particularly its remote high-altitude lakes. It also highlights the biogeographic significance of the eastern Himalayan high-altitude freshwater ecosystems and their potential to harbour species with trans-Himalayan affinities. The record provides an important baseline for future biodiversity surveys, ecological assessments, and conservation planning in the region, while emphasizing the need for continued exploration of India’s high-altitude aquatic habitats.
This discovery was carried out by a team of researchers from ICAR-CICFR, Bhimtal with support from Department of Fisheries, Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh and President-Kishan Morcha, Shar-Tso Committee of Tawang.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
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