A new species of catfish named Olyra sancta has been discovered in the Tissa River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra River system in Arunachal Pradesh. The discovery adds to the growing inventory of aquatic biodiversity in the region.

Belonging to the family Bagridae, Olyra sancta is an anguilliform catfish characterized by a distinct adipose fin, slender body depth, and specific head and body proportions. The species was identified through detailed morphological study and confirmed using genetic analysis based on the COI mitochondrial gene.

Researchers noted that the finding emphasizes the ecological richness of Arunachal Pradesh and the need to conserve its freshwater ecosystems. The discovery also brings attention to the largely unexplored ichthyofauna of the region, positioning Arunachal Pradesh as a critical area for biodiversity research.