Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Species
Why in news?
Recently, the Scientist have discovered the new snakehead fish species in a village in Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya.
Nomenclature –Named as Channa bhoi to honour the Bhoi community, who are the original inhabitants of Ri‑Bhoi region.
Family – Channidae.
Location –It was found in a small mountain stream near Iewmawlong village in Ri-Bhoi district.
Endemic – It is endemic to Ri‑Bhoi district, Meghalaya.
Taxonomy – It belongs to the “Gachua group” of snakehead fishes, a group known for its high diversity in the Eastern Himalayan region.
Habitat – Found in a small, shallow mountain streams with boulders and riparian vegetation, a typical of Ri‑Bhoi’s upland landscapes.
Features
Colour – It features a striking bluish-grey body, which is unique colour pattern differentiates it from other snakehead species.
Markings – Each scale on its body has a minute black spot, forming eight to nine horizontal rows of broken lines along the sides.
Fins – The fish also exhibits distinctive banding patterns on its pectoral fins.
Distinctiveness – Its genetic analysis confirmed that it is distinct from all other known species, including those already recorded in Meghalaya.
Genetic Distinctness –DNA barcoding (cox1 gene) showed 3.3–20% divergence from other Gachua group species.
It is identified as a sister species to Channa bipuli, another snakehead from Northeast India.
Significance – The discovery brings the total number of Channa species recorded from India to 26 and highlights Meghalaya as a major hotspot for snakehead fish diversity.
