At a Glance
The Hump-backed Mahseer, also known as “tiger of the water”, is one the world’s largest freshwater fishes, that once dominated the fast-flowing river of the Cauvery River basin in the Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot in India. The Hump-backed Mahseer can grow to lengths of 1.5 meters (5 feet) and weigh up to 45 kilos (100 pounds). It is the largest mahseer species, but it wasn’t until 2018 that scientists were able to confirm that it was the same species that had initially been described in 2007, and was different from another mahseer species found further south. It has several characteristics that provided clues it was a distinct species. It has a large hump on its back, reddish fins with black patches, and an upturned mouth.
Today, this legendary species survives in only a handful of isolated populations and its numbers have plummeted by more than 90% in the last 15 years. The species is now restricted to a few remnant populations, primarily within the Moyar River Gorge, home to apex predators such as tigers, elephants, and leopards.
The major threats to the Hump-backed Mahseer are the destruction and degradation of their habitat for projects like dams and sand mining, unsustainable fishing and the introduction of the non-native Black Mahseer.
At a glance
Taxa
Fish
Geography
India
Status
Critically Endangered
Habitat
Freshwater rivers
Estimated Population
Unknown
Threats
Overexploitation; invasive non-native species; habitat disturbance and degradation
Potential Recovery Actions
Research and monitoring; habitat protection; invasive species management
