Schizopygopsis waddellii Found in Tawang Lake

Schizopygopsis waddellii, a cold-adapted freshwater fish of the Cyprinidae family, was recorded in Pangkang Teng Tso Lake in Tawang district, Arunachal Pradesh, in September 2026. The species was identified in India for the first time through field collection and laboratory confirmation using morphological study and mitochondrial DNA analysis.

Species Profile

Schizopygopsis waddellii is a Himalayan fish species previously known from the Tibetan and Chinese plateaus, including Yamdok Lake in Tibet. It belongs to the family Cyprinidae, which includes carps and minnows, and it is adapted to cold freshwater habitats at high altitude.

Lake and Location

Pangkang Teng Tso Lake is a natural high-altitude lake in Arunachal Pradesh at about 12,800 feet above sea level. The lake lies in Tawang district near the India-China border, and it forms part of the Eastern Himalayan freshwater ecosystem.

Identification and Research Method

Researchers from the ICAR-Central Institute of Coldwater Fisheries Research, Bhimtal, collected ten specimens in July 2026 with support from the Arunachal Pradesh Department of Fisheries and the Shar-Tso Committee of Tawang. The species identification used an integrative taxonomic approach, which combined external morphology with molecular analysis based on mitochondrial DNA.

Important Facts for Exams

• Schizopygopsis waddellii is a freshwater fish species in the family Cyprinidae.
• The species was first recorded in India in 2026 from Arunachal Pradesh.
• Pangkang Teng Tso Lake is a natural lake at about 12,800 feet elevation.
• Yamdok Lake in Tibet is one of the previously known habitats of this fish.

Key Morphological Features

The fish has an elongated cylindrical body, a blunt snout, a subterminal mouth, and a deeply forked caudal fin. It also has a hard, plate-like structure around the lower lip and snout, which is a diagnostic feature used in identification.

Conservation and Biodiversity Context

The record adds a new freshwater species to India’s biodiversity database and provides a baseline for future biodiversity surveys in the Eastern Himalayan region. High-altitude lakes in Arunachal Pradesh are important habitats for cold-water aquatic fauna.