Researchers have discovered a new species of catfish in the biodiverse northern Western Ghats spanning the states of Goa and Maharashtra. The fish inhabits shallow hill streams where the streambed is made up of sand, pebbles and stones, creating microhabitats that help it hide and forage for food. During field surveys conducted over five years, the researchers encountered the species only twice, underscoring its rarity and the ecological importance of the fragile habitats it occupies.

This species was brought to our attention by Dr. Neil Soares of Mumbai and Sanjog of Kolad, who collected the first specimen in the year 2020 from Kolad.