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Description |
Asia: Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh (Ref. 4832), Bhutan (Ref. 9418) and Mynmar (Ref. 57739).
Geographic Range [top]
Range Description:
The species has been reported from across the Himalayan region and elsewhere in south Asia and southeast Asia, ranging from Afghanistan, Pakistan, India (Darjeeling to Kashmir), Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, western Iran to eastern Thailand.
David Edds reported the species from Nepal from Mulghat, on the road from Dharan to Hile, Kachali river confluence, Kahare, Sabha river confluence, just east of the Tumlingtar, Brahamadev, Andhi Mohan-Andhi river confluence, Piluwaa river confluence, Gorangi - about 4 km west of Chisapani, Khalte, Chapang, purchased at Koshi barrage, just east of Katasi, Khairenitar, Narayangarh.
Countries occurrence:
Native:
Afghanistan; Bangladesh; Bhutan; India (Assam, Bihar, Darjiling, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu-Kashmir, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal); Iran, Islamic Republic of; Nepal; Pakistan; Sri Lanka; Thailand
Additional data:
? Continuing decline in area of occupancy (AOO): Unknown
? Extreme fluctuations in area of occupancy (AOO): Unknown ? Estimated extent of occurrence (EOO) - km2:
? Continuing decline in number of locations: Unknown
? Extreme fluctuations in the number of locations: Unknown ? Lower elevation limit (metres): 70
? Upper elevation limit (metres): 1891
Range Map: Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.
Population [top]
Population: It is the most common mahseer of the Himalaya and is also sometimes known as the golden, yellow-finned, grey-hound or the thick-lipped mahseer. It grows up to 2.7 m.
Annual productivity of the species declined from 0.198 gm2 per year to 0.054 gm2 per year (73%) in the Tehri Dam located in the Garhwal Himalaya, India (Sharma 2004). Since it is a heavily fished species, population declines in the entire range is inferred to be anywhere between 40-50% over the last ten years.
Catches have declined in some areas (e.g. in the valley lakes around Pokhara, Nepal) due to overfishing.
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
Additional data:
? Continuing decline of mature individuals: Yes
? Extreme fluctuations: No ? Population severely fragmented: No
Habitat and Ecology [top]
Habitat and Ecology: Inhabits the montane and submontane regions, in streams and rivers. T. putitora is a major tor distributed in mid hills stretches of Himalayan region. It inhabits rapid streams with rocky bottom, riverine pools and lakes. It seems that Sahar neither inhabits the warm terai climate nor streams of very cold climate; but in natural conditions it inhabits moderately cold and climate regions of tropical highlands. The fish is a column feeder in freshwater found in pH ranges 7.4 - 7.9 and in subtropical condition 13°C-30°C. It is omnivorous in nature during their adult stage and feed on periphytic algae and diatoms in juvenile stage. The feeding and breeding habitats are lost almost throughout their distributional range.
Systems: Freshwater
Continuing decline in area, extent and/or quality of habitat: Yes
Generation Length (years): 15.75
Movement patterns: Altitudinal Migrant
Use and Trade [top]
Use and Trade: The commercial fishery of Putitor mahseer in Jammu, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh consists largely of individuals either ascending streams for breeding or the spent ones returning to perennial ponds in plains. In Assam the population of Tor are fast depleting and at present are chiefly localised to certain major river systems only. This most attractive sport-fish with excellent food value, is fast approaching extinction in the streams and lakes of northern India. Large fishes are only found in some of the perennial pools.
In the early sixties, the species constituted one of the major species for commercial fisheries in lakes of the Pokhara Valley, Nepal. But presently this species is a negligible part of the total catch. Recent observation on growth of the species in the tropical climate of the terai showed that the growth is more rapid in warm water region than in colder waters. Traditional people have been using the blood of cut fish in foot and mouth disease; it is also applied on sore wounds in legs too. The species constitutes one of the important fish species in capture fishery in Nepal, India and several other trans-Himalayan countries.
Threats [top]
Major Threat(s): In Assam the population is fast depleting and at present are chiefly localised to certain major river systems and is fast approaching extinction in the streams and lakes of northern India. Large fishes are only found in some of the perennial pools.
This species is declining from its natural habitat due to urbanization, illegal encroachment, over fishing and chemical and physical alterations of their natural habitats.
Fishery productivity declined in the Tehri Dam in the Garhwal Himalaya, India. The stress on the population is not only due to its over exploitation, but also due to the rise in developmental activities, especially the growing number of hydroelectric and irrigation projects which have fragmented and deteriorated its natural habitat.
Conservation Actions [top]
Conservation Actions:
Further research is required in to the impact of threats, especially over-harvesting and habitat degradation.
The species has the potential for being ranched in rivers/artificial channels of Nepal and other countries of the Trans-Himalayan region.
At present, attempts to culture and conserve Tor spp. have been initiated in most trans-Himalayan countries to compensate for the decline. Strategies for preservation of existing stock by habitat conservation, development of seed production technology for restocking and culture have been undertaken to promote the population.
Citation: Jha, B.R. & Rayamajhi, A. 2010. Tor putitora. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010: e.T166645A6254146. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T166645A6254146.en. Downloaded on 31 January 2017.
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