Tor putitora, the golden mahseer, putitor mahseer, or Himalayan mahseer, is an endangered species of cyprinid fish that is found in rapid streams, riverine pools, and lakes in the Himalayas region. Its native range is within the basins of the Indus River, Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers.[Kittipong Jaruthanin and Pong Bang Tan, Monsters of the River 2013, Aquarium Biz, Vol. 4 Issue 39 (September 2013) ]
This omnivorous species is generally found near the surface in water that ranges from .[IRG Systems South Asia Pvt. Ltd. (December 2014) Cumulative Impact and Carrying Capacity Study of Subansiri Sub Basin including Downstream Impacts. Final Report, volume 1. Central Water Commission, India.]
It is a popular gamefish, once believed to be the largest species of mahseer, and can reach up to in length and in weight, though most caught today are far smaller.
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.
Hamilton's original description 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".
The golden mahaseer is the National fish of Pakistan.
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).
Conservation issues
It is threatened by
habitat loss, habitat degradation and
overfishing, and it already has declined by more than an estimated 50%.
The prospect of large-scale dam building across the distribution range gives cause for concern reflected by the current Red Listing status.
Most researchers believe this fish is in a population decline, hence the Red Listing status of Endangered. Some, however, have noted that Tor putitora is "quite abundant",
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.
Releases beyond native range
Recent releases of artificially bred stock have been into the
Irrawaddy River basin in Nagaland, India and, through the Indo-German Biodiversity Programme releases into the Hira Bambai reservoir and small streams around
Melghat Tiger Reserve, part of the
Tapti River basin.
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.
Threats
Habitat loss and degradation
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.
Overfishing and unsustainable practices
Overfishing exacerbates the challenges faced by
Tor putitora, with unsustainable practices such as dynamiting, poisoning, and the use of fine-meshed nets contributing to a decline in populations. The impact of overfishing is notable in various river systems, affecting the species' overall population dynamics.
Notes
