Garra Laishrami

April 17, 2023

In a significant discovery, researchers from the Central University of Odisha (CUO) and the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have recently found a rare freshwater fish in the Koraput district.

About Garra Laishrami:

It is a new cyprinid fish species of the Garra genus found in the Kolab River.
These are characterised by the presence of a gular disc developed from tissues of the gular region that exhibit variation in the size, shape, and arrangement of the snout tubercles.
It is usually found under rocks, stones and boulders of torrential streams and rivers.
Geographical distribution: Borneo, southern China and southern Asia through Middle East Asia, Arabian Peninsula and East Africa to West Africa.

Key facts about Kolab River

It is also known as the Sabari River.
It is one of the main tributaries of Godavari.
It originates from the western slopes of Eastern Ghats in Odisha state from the Sinkaram hill ranges
It forms the common boundary between Chhattisgarh and Odisha states and later enters Andhra Pradesh to merge with River Godavari.

Source : CUO researchers find rare freshwater species in Kolab River in Odisha