Putitor mahseer (Tor putitora) fish species and information / pictures of Putitor mahseer - Tor putitora

Putitor mahseer (Tor putitora) fish species information

Scientific Name
Tor putitora

Common Name
Putitor mahseer

Biology
Inhabit streams, riverine pools and lakes. Found in rapid streams with rocky bottom (Ref. 41236). Omnivorous, feeding on fish, zooplankton, dipteran larvae and plant matter (Ref. 40948). Juveniles subsist on plankton while fingerlings feed mainly on algae (Ref. 40948). Ascend streams to breed over gravel and stones and returns to perennial ponds after breeding. The most common Himalayan mahseer and a very attractive sport fish, with excellent food value. Specimens over 30 cm and 5 kg in weight are rarely caught in recent times (Ref. 41236). Threatened due to over harvesting and habitat loss (Ref. 58490).

Classification

Classified By

Hamilton, 1822

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Carps (Cypriniformes)

Family

Minnows or carps (Cyprinidae)

Distribution

Region

Asia

Distribution

Asia: Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh (Ref. 4832), Bhutan (Ref. 9418) and Mynmar (Ref. 57739).

Range

34°N - 20°N

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

13 °C

Water Temperature To

30 °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Freshwater; ; pH range: 7.4 - 8.0 benthopelagic; potamodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 0 - ? m (Ref. 56197), usually 0 - 1 m (Ref. 56197)

Trophic Level

3.04 s.e. 0.38 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

False

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

275 cm

Common Length

183 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums

Vulnerability

Very high vulnerability (82 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (tm = 1.5; Fec = 26,998)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Endangered (EN) (A4acde)