Imphal, March 23: After the world famous Shiroi Lily and the Sangai, matter has now come to light that Manipur is also home to a number of fish species which are highly prized for their ornamental values in Europe and the United States.

So far five indigenous fish species of such kind have been found in the hill districts while the Life Science Department of Manipur University has been able to identify another 20 different such species.

At the moment Manipur has between 80 and 100 species of fish which are and can be used to adorn the aquariums of many homes.

Speaking to The Sangai Express at his office chamber today, Professor Waikhom Bishwanath of the Life Science Department of MU said that at present there are five fish species found in the rivers in the hill districts which are highly prized for their ornamental values in Europe and US.

Manipur University has been able to identify 80 to 100 species of fish which are highly sought for aquariums.

The species were detected during a campaign launched under the National Agricultural Technology Department, said the Professor.

In fact such is the demand that offers have come in from the US that they are ready to buy a Botia species (locally known as Sareng Khoibi) at 100 dollars each.

The other species which are highly prized include Acamtopsis (Ching Ngakrizou), Dazio Nemchulines (Ngatup), Rasbora and Botia (Sareng Khoibi), said the Professor.

Different species of fish have been found at the Barak river, Iril river, Chakpi river and rivulets and springs in the hill districts, said the Professor and added that some of the species type are yet to be established.

On the commercial viability of supplying such species of fish, Prof Bishwanath said that since most of the species live in running water, culturing them is a problem.

Attempts to supply Sareng Khoibi upto Calcutta at the rate of US 100 dollar per piece failed.

Professor Bishwanath has also been contributing regularly to the journal published by the Bombay Natural History Society as well as in the Ichthyological Exploration of Fresh Water journal published in Germany on the new discovery of different fish species in Manipur.

Since 1986, Professor Bishwanath and his team have been able to discover 20 new species of fish in Manipur.

Last year 7 fish species which can be used for ornamental purposes were discovered.

The fish species discovered last year and which were officially declared include Schisturatigrinum (Ngatup), Garra Paralissor-hyncluss (Ngamu Singum) Schistura Reticulata (Nga-tup), Sisro Barakensis, Batasio Niger.

Sisro Barakisis is found in the Barak river and is named after the river.

Two species which have been discovered by the team but are yet to be officially declared are Schistura Minutus (Ngatup) and Glypthoral Ventrolineatus (Ngapang).

The Professor further said that though the indigenous species of fish Pengba is today successfully reared it is now extinct in the wild.

As way back as in 1920, Dr SL Hira in his book had mentioned about the presence of 67 species of fish in Manipur, said Bishwanath and added that in 1912, one gentleman Choudhury mentioned two species of fish from Manipur in his book.

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