A Guide on Schizothorax Sikusirumensis

Schizothorax sikusirumensis” is the answer to the question “What is the new fish species discovered in Arunachal Pradesh.” Dr. Keshav Kumar Jha found the new fish species. He is an Associate Professor and the Head of the Zoology Department at Jawaharlal Nehru College in Pasighat. He discovered a new species of Schizothorax fish. Near the Galang region, Mebo circle, East Siang District, at the junction of River Siku and Sirum, the fish species “Schizothorax sikusirumensis”, a new fish species, was discovered in Arunachal Pradesh. It lives in the flooded area of a torrential river drainage system. The names of the rivers Siku and Serum were used to give them their name.

Genus: Schizothorax

A genus of fish belonging to the Cyprinidae family. The body is curved and covered in small scales, with a series of larger scales on the anal fin and anal opening. There are two pairs of barbels on the pharyngeal teeth, tri serial. The underside is all black. The body can grow up to 1 meter long and weigh up to 12 kilograms. In Central Asia, Middle Asia, and Kazakhstan, fish can be found in rivers and lakes. The sticky eggs are deposited on the riverbed during spawning in the spring. Schizothorax species like the Hi Marinka (Schizothorax pseudaksaiensis) and S. esocinus eat other fish, while others like the common Marinka (S. intermedius) eat invertebrates. Also, what are the new fish species discovered in Arunachal Pradesh of this genus?

Characteristics

Schizothorax is a cyprinid fish genus ranging from southern and western China to northern South Asia (Himalaya), Central Asia, and Iran, with just one species, S. prophylaxis, found in Turkey. They are mostly found in highland rivers, streams, and lakes, while some species can be found in lower-lying areas like Lake Balkhash and the Sistan Basin lakes. Their scientific name Shenzhen ‘to cleave’ and thórax () ‘breast-plate’ comes from Ancient Greek Shenzhen ‘to cleave’ and thórax () ‘breast-plate’ (see also thorax). The western species are known as marinas, after their Russian name of Marinka, while the eastern species are known as snow trout.

Although they have a similar habitus to trout, this is due to convergent evolution. They are in no way related other than that they are both Teleostei: Trout belong to the superorder Protacanthopterygii, while cyprinids belong to the teleost superorder Ostariophysi. As a result, their ancestors must have diverged as early as the Triassic Period, over 200 million years ago.

Aspidorhynchus, Chuanchia, Diptychus, Gymnodiptychus, Gymnocypris, Oxy Gymnocypris, Platypharodon, Ptychobarbus, Schizophyta  and Schizopygopsis are all members of the schizothoracines (snow trout and allies) family, which also comprises the genera Aspidorhynchus, Chuanchia, The last two were previously frequently included in the current genus. Their delimitation is still a bit hazy. In any event, Schizothorax (and other “snow trouts”) are connected to cyprinids like Carasobarbus, Labeobarbus, Aulopyge and Cyprinion, as well as the typical barbels (Barbus sensu stricto and the doubtfully separate Luciobarbus and Messinobarbus). They were consequently assigned to the Barbinae subfamily, which is quite paraphyletic and thus amalgamated with the Cyprinidae (containing the marinas) for the most part, becoming its junior synonym in the process. 

Other Similar Species

Schizothorax argentatus

The Schizothorax argentatus has two unique forms: a riverine form and a faster-growing migratory lacustrine form, but both spawn in fast-moving currents over gravel beds. Females reach sexual maturity between 4 and 11, while boys reach sexual maturity between 3 and 8. They are a prolific species that may lay anywhere from 12,000 to 122,500 eggs in a spawning, though the amount varies depending on the demographic make-up of the spawning stock. Each egg has a diameter of 2.3 mm. The eggs need 5 days to develop at water temperatures ranging from 15 to 16 degrees Celsius and under controlled conditions.

After six days, the larval fish have grown to a length of about one centimetre, have entirely digested the yolk sac, and have begun to feed on plankton. They’ve taken on the shape of small fish by the time they’re 25 days old, known as fry. When the fry reaches 16–30 mm, they eat small benthic creatures and algae that have attached themselves to the substrate. If eaten, the unshed roe is poisonous. Balkhash Marinka feeds in three different ways. Because its lower jaw is adapted to scraping algae and vascular plants off the substrate, the variety found in mountain rivers feeds mostly on benthic animals and does not feed on flying insects.

Conclusion

Schizothorax Sikusirumensis is the answer to the question, “what is the new fish species discovered in Arunachal Pradesh. Until 30 years ago, Schizothorax fish may be found in abundance in snow-fed lakes, rivers, wetlands and canals. They feature meaty bodies that are elongated and subcylindrical and are reputed to be tastier and disease-free. Their presence in bodies of water would suggest that they were free of contamination. According to experts, more than half of Schizothorax’s 12 species have vanished. Snow Trout can be found in Dal Lake, although they are no longer found in polluted water bodies like Srinagar’s Khushalsar Lake. Biologist Jakob Heckel visited Kashmir in 1838. He discovered 16 new fish species and wrote about them in his book ‘Fische aus Kashmir.’