Labeo filiferus: New species of edible fish found in Pampa river in Kerala

Researchers have discovered new species of edible freshwater fish in Pampa river in Pathanamthitta, Kerala. It has been named as Labeo filiferus (L.filiferus) and belongs to Labeo genus.
The name of newly found newly fish was taken from Latin word filiferus which refers to very long dorsal fin of the species. It can be found in entire stretch of Pampa River running through Edakadathy in Pathanamthitta.

Labeo filiferus

The Labeo filiferus characteristics are black coloured body and fins, smaller eyes, longer snout, prominent barbels and elongated dorsal and anal fins. It is 20 to 40 cm long and weighed four to five kilograms. Its eyes are brilliantly coloured with orange tinge. It can possibly be farmed on a commercial scale. It is second fish belonging to Labeo genus to be discovered in Kerala after L.dussumieri.

Labeo genus fishes

Fishes belonging to Labeo genus are widely distributed in inland waterbodies of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Malaysia, tropical Africa and Syria. They are medium-sized elongate fishes with rounded abdomen, finged lips, swollen snout and straight lateral line. As many as 31 species of Labeo are reported to be present in India, of them L.rohita (commonly known as Rohu) is extensively used in aquaculture.


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