New Freshwater Catfish Pseudolaguvia khairii Discovered in Odisha

5 August 2026National

A new freshwater hillstream catfish, Pseudolaguvia khairii, was discovered in the Budhabalanga River of Mayurbhanj district, Odisha, and named in honour of Khairi, the celebrated Royal Bengal tigress of Similipal Tiger Reserve. Belonging to the order Siluriformes (catfishes), the small species is distinguished by a unique fleshy protuberance at the base of its dorsal fin. The discovery was published in the international taxonomic journal Zootaxa.

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Similipal Tiger Reserve: Mayurbhanj, Odisha | Similipal famous for melanistic (black) tigers | Order Siluriformes = catfishes | Journal: Zootaxa | Khairi tigress raised by Saroj Raj Choudhury

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A new catfish, Pseudolaguvia khairii - named after Similipal's tigress Khairi - was discovered in Odisha's Budhabalanga River.

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