New Freshwater Catfish Species
Pseudolaguvia khairii Discovered in Odisha's Budhabalanga River
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Pseudolaguvia khairii is
a newly discovered freshwater catfish species found in the Budhabalanga River
of Mayurbhanj district, Odisha.
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The species was described
in the international taxonomic journal Zootaxa on 26 July 2026.
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The species has been
named in honour of Khairi, an orphaned Royal Bengal tigress known for her
association with wildlife conservation in Odisha.
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Pseudolaguvia is a genus
of small hillstream catfishes found in fast-flowing rivers across India, Bangladesh,
Nepal, and Myanmar.
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The genus belongs to the
order Siluriformes, which includes all species of catfish.
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Pseudolaguvia khairii is
only a few centimetres long.
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It is distinguished by a
unique fleshy protuberance at the base of its dorsal fin, a feature not
previously recorded in the genus.
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Khairi was rescued as an
orphaned tiger cub from the Similipal forests in the 1970s.
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She was raised by
conservationist Saroj Raj Choudhury and his wife Nihar Nalini Swain.
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Khairi became a symbol of
wildlife conservation and human-animal bonding in Odisha.
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Catfish belong to the
order Siluriformes and are found in freshwater and some brackish-water
habitats.
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Hillstream catfishes are
specially adapted to survive in fast-flowing rivers and streams with strong
currents.
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Zootaxa is a
peer-reviewed international journal that publishes research on zoological
taxonomy and descriptions of new species.
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Mayurbhanj district is
located in northern Odisha and includes parts of the Similipal landscape.
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The discovery of
Pseudolaguvia khairii highlights India’s rich biodiversity and the importance
of freshwater ecosystem conservation.
