A new species of freshwater fish has been discovered in the Brahmaputra River near Dibrugarh in Assam. The species has been named Pethia dibrugarhensis, after the location of its discovery.

Classified under the cyprinid family—which includes carps and minnows—the fish was identified during an ongoing survey of aquatic biodiversity in the Brahmaputra basin. Researchers observed several distinct features in the species, including an incomplete lateral line, a prominent black spot near the tail, and unique scale arrangements around the dorsal and pelvic fins.

The species also lacks barbels and does not exhibit the humeral mark commonly found in other cyprinids.

Scientists say the discovery underscores the ecological richness of the Brahmaputra River and highlights the importance of conserving freshwater biodiversity in Assam and the broader Northeast region.