Periyar trout facing extinction

Giji K. Raman
KATTAPPANA,
The Hindu,September 17, 2014 

Brahmanakendai (Lepidopygopsis typus), a freshwater fish species in the family of cyprinidae, endemic to the Mullayar tributaries in the Western Ghats, is under threat of extinction due to habitat disturbance and introduction of hybrid varieties such as tilapia and common carp in the Thekkady lake. The species is also known as Periyar trout as it is endemic to the waters there.

The fish which is already on the red category list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) could be in more danger as nearly 80 per cent of its total population was endemic to the Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR) where the African Catfish proves a threat to its existence, say experts.

According to Rajeev Raghavan, IUCN South Asian Co-chair, the fish species was once considered to be in the Schizothoracinae family as it was physically similar to the Snow trout found in high altitude streams. Recent genetic tests, however, grouped it in cyprinidae family.

The species is found in flowing waters and lay eggs in deep waters. It was once a main diet of the Mannan tribe. The name Brahmanakendai may be due to a thread, similar to a ‘poonool,’ in its body, says conservation researcher Anvar Ali.

He says that studies by the Kerala Forest Research Institute in 1999 and individual studies later pointed to high level of survival threat on the species in its natural habitat.

This is one of the 63 species endemic to the Western Ghats’ southern region. It was first reported by Divan Bahadur Sundararajan in the tributaries of the Periyar and the Mullayar and in the portions the streams join the Thekkady lake.

Mr. Ali says that there has been no scientific study on the impact of the hybrid varieties of fish introduced in the Thekkady lake on the endemic species.

Brahmanakendai faces extinction threat as there is high stress on the waters due to competition for food and existence threat raised by the African Catfish. The species has many specialities and unique features and considering the high threat on its survival, a plan of action to protect it in its natural habitat needs to be implemented, he says.