Golden Mahseer

Tor putitora, Hamilton 1822

Description:

Golden or Himalayan Mahseer is an endangered species of Cyprinid family that is found in rapid streams, riverine pools and lakes in the Himalayan regions and south Asia, ranging from Iran south to Sri Lanka, southeast to Thiland. It's a popular gamefish, the largest species can reach 2.75m (9ft) in length and can weigh upto 54kg (119lb).

Habitat:

Snow-fed rivers in mountainous regions.

Notes:

It's threatened by habitat loss, habitat degradation, pollution and overfishing. This one 4.00kg, and another 17.00 kg and smaller ones were caught during our angling expedition (along Subansiri River in Arunachal Pradesh) at the confluence of rivers Subansiri and Tai. We practice strict 'Catch & Release.'

Species ID Suggestions

6 Comments

Mhmed 5 years ago

Thnaks Mark

After looking at glacial. Maximum world maps, it does seems the land is connected, with possible rivers flowing, in what is now sea bed, Continental. Shelf.

Indeed the cold water Golden Mahseer would have the opportunity to migrate. Like it did across the Himalayas

Mark Ridgway 5 years ago

Fluctuating sea levels often submerging and emerging the land between India and Sri Lanka (during the Pleistocene epoch or ice ages) might have something to do with it. They were often one land.

Mhmed 5 years ago

How did the species reach an island like Sri Lanka cut off from the mainland rivers

DrNamgyalT.Sherpa 10 years ago

Thanks Mark. We're familiar with this variety in Sikkim, Northern West Bengal (Darjeeling District), Bhutan, Nepal and this time in Arunachal Pradesh along Subansiri River. Rivers here are clear, fast and furious. These Mahseers give real good fight. Next moth we're going to Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Mark Ridgway 10 years ago

Magnificent fish. This makes the wikipedia one look very plain. Maybe a colourful fast-water version.

DrNamgyalT.Sherpa 10 years ago

Thanks Sisir. In fact this Mahseer's from nearer your area. We passed through Tezpoor and on the way back had dinner in your town. We rafted along Subansiri River from Daporijo, a distance of 89km upto the dam site.