Scholarlink

<p>The Neogene Siwalik deposits have long been recognised for their rich terrestrial fossil record, yet their freshwater ichthyofauna remains virtually unknown. This gap limits our understanding of past aquatic ecosystems and the biogeographic history of South Asian freshwater fishes. In this study, we report the first fossil record of freshwater fish otoliths from the Upper Siwalik Pliocene deposits of Mohand, Saharanpur district, in the northwestern Himalaya, India. Three taxa <i>Channa</i> (Channidae), <i>Trichogaster fasciata</i> (Osphronemidae), and Gobiidae indet. were discovered through our extensive bulk sampling. Among these, <i>T. fasciata</i> represents the second known fossil record of Osphronemidae globally and the first based on otoliths. The assemblage reflects a structured trophic composition composed of mid-level preys and apex predators. These faunal components suggest a calm, possibly lentic freshwater habitat with dense vegetation, consistent with the spawning behaviour of labyrinth fishes and the hunting of snakeheads. Despite the limited number of otoliths, this collection provides rare but significant insights into Pliocene freshwater biodiversity in the Himalayan region.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Pliocene otoliths from NW India reveal first fossil osphronemid and structure of a Himalayan freshwater ecosystem

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月31日

查看全文
  • Ningthoujam Premjit Singh,
  • Chien-Hsiang Lin,
  • Ramesh Kumar Sehgal,
  • Abhishek Pratap Singh,
  • Konsam Nildy Devi,
  • Rigzen Angmo,
  • Haroon Nazir,
  • Rajeev Patnaik,
  • K. Milankumar Sharma

摘要

The Neogene Siwalik deposits have long been recognised for their rich terrestrial fossil record, yet their freshwater ichthyofauna remains virtually unknown. This gap limits our understanding of past aquatic ecosystems and the biogeographic history of South Asian freshwater fishes. In this study, we report the first fossil record of freshwater fish otoliths from the Upper Siwalik Pliocene deposits of Mohand, Saharanpur district, in the northwestern Himalaya, India. Three taxa Channa (Channidae), Trichogaster fasciata (Osphronemidae), and Gobiidae indet. were discovered through our extensive bulk sampling. Among these, T. fasciata represents the second known fossil record of Osphronemidae globally and the first based on otoliths. The assemblage reflects a structured trophic composition composed of mid-level preys and apex predators. These faunal components suggest a calm, possibly lentic freshwater habitat with dense vegetation, consistent with the spawning behaviour of labyrinth fishes and the hunting of snakeheads. Despite the limited number of otoliths, this collection provides rare but significant insights into Pliocene freshwater biodiversity in the Himalayan region.