A team of scientists from the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WHG) have discovered rare 4,5 million year old (Pilocene) freshwater fish fossils in the Siwalik foothill near Mohand, a scenic forest area in India’s Uttarakhand state, within the Haridwar district and near Dehradun, a popular destination for eco - tourism, wildlife trekking, and nature stays in proximity of Rajaji National Park.
These fossils include three species such as: gobies, gouramis and snakeheads, found along with otoliths that allow their evolution to be studied.
The discovery demonstrates that the Shivalik Valley boasted a calm, vegetaded freshwater habitat , marking the first such Pilocene record in the region, revealing ancient aquatic ecosystems and changes understanding of prehistoric biodiversity in northern India, challenging the idea that the land was dominated solely by terrestrial fauna.
Key Features of the Discovery:
· Fossil Type: The discovery consists of fish otoliths (hard calcium carbonate ear structures) extracted from upper Siwalik sediments.
· Identified Species: The taxa include Gobiidae indet, Trichogaster fasciata (dwarf gourami and Channa sp. (snakehead).
· Global Significance: The T. fasciata (dwarf gourami) finding represents only the second known fossil record of the Osphoronemidae family globally.
· Palaeoenvironment: The fish types suggest that the Pilocene Siwalik region was characterized by stable, calm water bodies surrounded by dense vegetation.
· Significance for Research: While the Siwaliks are known for terrestrial ffossils, this find helps fill a critical gap in knowledge about South Asia’s past aquatic ecosystems.
The discovery highlights that the region, now known for the Himalayas, was a robust freshwater habitat millions of years go.
Link
https://tvbrics.com/es/news/descubren-f-siles-de-peces-de-agua-dulce-de-4-5-millones-de-a-os-en-el-norte-de-la-india/
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