New Species from India - Oreichthys warjaintia

Scientists have discovered a new species of fish in northeast India, which they named Oreichthys warjaintia after finding it in the Pyrngang stream. This fish is unique compared to its relatives in several ways: it has a specific pattern of scales running along its side (25-27 scales with tiny holes in them), distinctive fins with 13 rays in its side fins and 5-5½ rays in its bottom fin, and a special pattern of small bumps under its eye (14 rows). It also has a black spot at the base of its tail and uniquely coloured fins. When scientists looked at its DNA, they found it was quite different from its known relatives - about 8-11% other, which is significant enough to confirm it's a new species. This is similar to how different breeds of dogs have different DNA, but the differences are large enough to make this fish its own species rather than just a variety.

Oreichthys warjaintia, a new species of cyprinid fish fromMeghalaya, India (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae)Authors: Lekiningroy Dann | Neelesh Dahanukar | Rajeev RaghavanPaper Link: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jfb.16001

Source: Beta Mahatavraj via fb/meenkaran