New Catfish Species Discovered in Odisha Named After Legendary Tigress Khairi

Key facts

• A new catfish species, Pseudolaguvia khairii, has been discovered in the Budhabalanga river in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district.
• The species is named after the legendary tigress Khairi, who was rescued as an orphaned cub from Similipal in the 1970s.
• The discovery was published in the international taxonomic journal Zootaxa on July 26, 2026.
• Pseudolaguvia khairii is distinguished by a unique fleshy protuberance at the base of its dorsal fin, a feature not previously recorded in the genus.
• The genus Pseudolaguvia includes small hillstream catfishes found in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Myanmar.
• The researchers behind the discovery are Balaji Vijayakrishnan, Gaurav Anil Shinde, and Prakash Chand Gogineni.
• The naming also honors conservationist Saroj Raj Choudhury for his pioneering contribution to wildlife research and conservation.