New Freshwater Shrimp Species Found in Gomti River

A new freshwater shrimp species, Caridina sharmai, was discovered in the Gomti River in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, on 27 July 2026. The species belongs to the atyid shrimp group and was recorded from the upper reaches of the Gomti River, a tributary of the Ganges.

Taxonomy and Naming

Caridina is a genus of freshwater shrimps in the family Atyidae. The species name sharmai honours Professor U.D. Sharma, who is known as a pioneer in carcinology, the study of crustaceans.

Physical Features

The shrimp measures 15 to 24 millimetres in length. It has a dark brown or black body with yellowish-grey stripes, a colour pattern that matches the riverbed environment. Its rostrum is short and knife-shaped, with 15 to 22 teeth on the upper side and 4 to 9 teeth on the lower side.

Habitat and Behaviour

The species was observed in groups in the upper Gomti River region. It clings to underwater vegetation and filters food from the water, which is a common feeding method among many freshwater shrimps in the family Atyidae.

Important Facts for Exams

• The Gomti River is a tributary of the Ganges and flows through Uttar Pradesh.
• Caridina sharmai is a freshwater shrimp species from the genus Caridina.
• Atyid shrimps are freshwater decapod crustaceans found in rivers and streams.
• This is the first atyid shrimp recorded from the Gomti River at Lucknow.

Aquatic Biodiversity Context

The discovery adds a new species record to the freshwater fauna of the Gomti River basin. Freshwater shrimp records are used in studies of river ecology, species distribution, and regional biodiversity documentation.