Putitor Mahseer

Tor putitora 

Habitat & Distribution :  Rivers of India, Bangladesh, & Myanmar

Diet : Algae, crustaceans, amphibians, fruit 

Size : Up to 2,7 m

Lifespan : 15-20 years

Description

This fish can be identified by its large head and mouth and the most striking thing is the five longitudinal lines above its lateral line. 

Behavior

The Putitor mahseer prefers large rivers with sandy or gravelly bottoms teeming with mollusks, and is believed to take refuge in deeper water during the summer. These fish tend to eat more during the rainy season, when food is abundant, and less during the dry season, when food is scarce. 

Reproduction

They migrate within freshwaters, often over long distances, using smaller hill streams for spawning and larger rivers for feeding. 

Predator(s)

 Birds, crocodiles, larger fish