New fish species discovered in Brahmaputra named after Assam's Dibrugarh

India Today

07-07-2025

In a remarkable discovery from India's northeast, researchers have identified a new species of freshwater fish in the Brahmaputra River near Dibrugarh, Assam.The species, named Pethia dibrugarhensis, belongs to the cyprinid family, which includes carps and minnows — some of the most diverse freshwater fish in the world.The discovery was made during an ongoing survey of aquatic biodiversity in the Brahmaputra basin. Scientists say the fish is distinct from its relatives in several important ways.advertisement
One of its most unique features is an incomplete lateral line, a sensory organ that helps fish detect movement and vibrations in the water. It also has a black spot near the tail, which stretches slightly upward and downward along the body.Other distinguishing features include the presence of 10 scales around the tail area, and specific scale patterns on the body — including 4 rows of scales between the dorsal fin and the lateral line, and 4 rows between the lateral line and the pelvic fin.The fish also lacks barbels, the whisker-like structures near the mouth found in many other species, and shows no humeral mark, which is a dark spot near the shoulder area common in other related fish.The discovery adds to the growing list of unique species found in the biodiverse waters of Assam and northeastern India, which are home to many endemic freshwater fish.The researchers behind the study say this new species highlights the ecological richness of the Brahmaputra River system and the urgent need to conserve it.Experts say that detailed scientific studies like these help us better understand freshwater ecosystems and protect lesser-known species from threats such as habitat destruction and pollution.As India continues to explore and catalogue its rich aquatic life, discoveries like Pethia dibrugarhensis remind us of how much there still is to learn — and protect — beneath the surface of our rivers.- Ends