Tor putitora

Francis Buchanan-Hamilton's original description of Cyprinus putitora says "The head is blunt, oval, small, and smooth". He goes on to say "The mouth is small" and "the lateral line is scarcely distinguishable". Tor putitora were previously distinguished by determining head length (which is purportedly greater than body depth in the species), but analysis of T. putitora populations throughout India have determined that this method is hampered by the phenotypic plasticity of the species; this metric should not be relied upon as individuals may have head lengths less than, equal to, or greater than body depth. This variation lead to the naming of Tor macrolepis, now known to be a junior synonym of T. putitora inhabiting the Indus River. Its caudal, pelvic, and anal fins show a reddish-golden tint. While the body above its lateral line is generally golden in colour at adulthood, the gold colour might be absent in young specimens. == Habitat ==

The golden mahseer is naturally found in montane and submontane regions within streams and rivers across the Himalayan region. Its habitat includes high-energy river systems with rocky substrates, and the species has shown adaptability to lacustrine environments formed by dam impoundments. Additionally, introduced populations have established in lakes where suitable habitats for reproduction are created by ephemeral stream inputs. The species' ability to thrive in varied environmental conditions underscores the importance of preserving both natural river ecosystems and artificial reservoirs for the sustainable conservation of this fish species in the South Himalayan region. The effect of releasing fish from a different river basin, well outside its native range is uncertain. That these fish are being released over a ten-year period, with as many as 10,000 in each batch, must be considered a huge threat to the native mahseer and other fish species. According to Ogale, former scientist leading the fish breeding programme for Tata Power: "When these mature, there will be more fingerlings which will be then introduced in river Tapi". River Tapi is a west-flowing river of the central Indian state of Maharashtra. Golden mahseer from Lonavala hatchery in Maharashtra, India were supplied to the government of Papua New Guinea where the fish escaped into the local Sepik river system after release into the Yonki reservoir. There are fears about the decline of native species following these introductions. == Relation to humans ==

It is threatened by habitat loss, habitat degradation and overfishing, and it already has declined by more than an estimated 50%. which also raises questions about the status of ongoing stock augmentation programmes. The primary threat to Tor putitora is habitat loss and degradation, driven predominantly by the extensive development of hydropower projects in the Himalayan range. This anthropogenic impact poses a substantial risk to the species, as it results in the deterioration and reduction of essential habitats. intentional stocking of mahseers have been taking place for several years. It has been reported that the Teesta River in Sikkim and West Bengal has been stocked with hundreds of thousands of golden mahseer every year since at least 2014 in a drive to promote angling in the region. That the fish stocks continue to decline suggests that the policy needs to be reviewed and more efforts devoted to improving habitat as the first priority. Nobel Prize winner for Literature - Rudyard Kipling, wrote: "There he met the mahseer of the Poonch, beside whom the tarpon is a herring, and he who catches him can say he is a fisherman." (Rudyard Kipling - "The Day's Work" 1898 - "The Brushwood Boy" 1899). == Notes ==