A new species of fish has been discovered in the Northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh.

The new species was discovered by Dr. Keshav Kumar Jha, who has named it as Schizothorax sikusirumensis, after the rivers – Siku and Sirum in East Siang District at the junction, from where it was found.

Jha also serves as an associate professor and current head of the Department of Zoology at Jawaharlal Nehru College in Pasighat.

It may be reminded that last year, Fisheries and Aquatic ecology research team led by prof. DN Das from Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU) discovered five species of fish from the state.

These species include the Mystus prabini (discovered in Sinkin and the Dibang rivers in Lower Dibang Valley district); the Exostoma kottelati (discovered in the Ranga river in Lower Subansiri district); the Creteuchiloglanis tawangensis (discovered in the Tawangchu river in Tawang district); the Garra ranganensis (discovered in the Ranga river); and the Physoschistura harkishorei (discovered in the Dibang and the Lohit rivers in Lower Dibang Valley district).