In yet another remarkable addition to his list of discoveries, Limaakum, an assistant professor in the Department of Zoology at Fazl Ali College, Mokokchung, has once again discovered a new fish species, now officially named Badis limaakumi in his honor. He has been dedicated to researching fish species in Nagaland since 2020.
This latest discovery emerged under the project titled ‘Integrated Taxonomic Studies on The Fishes Found in The Rivers of Nagaland,’ sponsored by the Higher Education Department.
Remarkably, this marks the second occasion that the team has identified a previously unknown fish species in the Milak River of Mokokchung. It is worth noting that Limaakum had previously discovered a dwarf catfish known as ‘Pseudolaguvia vespa‘ in the same river back in December 2021.
Limaakum said, “The team has worked hard for about a year and came up with this new discovery. Some more fishes believed to be new species to science have been identified and work is ongoing for its confirmation.”
This newly discovered fish species goes by several local names, including ‘Tepdang,’ ‘Akngashi (Ao Chungli),’ ‘Aokngatsü (Ao Mongsen),’ and ‘Sempi,’ among others.
Interestingly, according to Limaakum, these fish appear black in their natural habitat but undergo a remarkable color change when placed in an aquarium or different environments. This unique trait has earned them the nickname ‘chameleon fish,’ with the extent of color change linked to the level of stress the fish experiences. Furthermore, Limaakum mentioned that male Badis species typically exhibit larger size and more vibrant colors compared to females.
Adding to his accomplishments, in October 2022, Limaakum discovered another new fish species, now known as ‘Pethia dikhuensis.’ The zealous zoologist envisions a promising future for Nagaland, aspiring for its recognition as a ‘Fish Biodiversity Hotspot’ in the coming 8-9 years.
“In just a short span of three years, we have discovered three new fish species from a small area. This discovery once again proves that we are harboring many undiscovered species. It’s not limited to fish; I believe there is also great potential in the fields of plants and entomology,” he told Mokokchung Times when asked about the significance of this discovery in achieving his aspiration of declaring Nagaland a ‘Fish Biodiversity Hotspot.’
Currently, there are about 25 recognized Badis species, with 15 of them reported in India. Badis species inhabit freshwater bodies such as rivers, ponds, and marshes in northern India, eastern Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal, including the Ganges, Brahmaputra, Mahanadi, and Indus basins. They are predatory by nature, feeding on tiny freshwater invertebrates.
“In Nagaland, it remains unclear whether the Badis found in different water bodies in different areas are the same species or not. More research needs to be conducted in this regard,” he added.
The article was published on Biotaxa.org under the title, “Badis limaakumi, a new species of badid fish from Nagaland, Northeast India (Teleostei: Percomorpha: Badidae)” on 27 September, 2023.