Researchers of Post Graduate Department of Zoology discover a new freshwater fish species in Odisha’s Mahanadi River

The combined efforts of faculty, researchers and scientists of P. G. Department of Zoology, Berhampur University, Odisha, and Estuarine Biology Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, Gopalpur-on-Sea, Odisha have led to the discovery of a new species of freshwater goby of the genus Awaous from Mahanadi River having a vibrant yellow coloured body with a fleshy upper lip. The new species belongs to the family Oxudercidae and is named Awaous motla. This discovery is an addition to the genus after nearly three decades. The new species is named “motla” after the local name of this fish from where the specimens were collected. During the study of the freshwater fish components of the middle stretch of Mahanadi River, this species was collected near Sonepur, Subarnapur district, and also from the same river near Boudh bridge, Boudh district of Odisha, India. The team was led by Dr. Jaya Kishor Seth, Assistant Professor of P. G. Department of Zoology, Berhampur University along with his three research scholars, Sanmitra Roy, Sameer Sura and Dilraj Puvala and scientists, Subhrendu Sekhar Mishra and Dr. Anil Mohapatra of Estuarine Biology Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, Gopalpur-on-Sea, Odisha. The discovery was made during the ongoing research project funded by the Department of Science and Technology of the Odisha Government. The said fish is consumed both fresh and dried. Local fishermen sell ‘motla’ at Rs 600 per kg and Rs 800 per kg when dried. The mentioned article was published in the Journal of Fish Biology. The news has been covered in almost all Odia, English dailies, and international print media house The Miami Herald.