Genus Tor Higher classification Tor | Phylum Chordata Scientific name Tor khudree Rank Species | |
 | ||
Similar Tor, Cyprinidae, Tor tor, Olive barb, Hypselobarbus | ||
Sringeri mahseer tor malabaricus tor khudree sanctuary
Tor khudree, the Deccan mahseer or black mahseer, is a large freshwater fish of the carp family found in major rivers and reservoirs of India and Sri Lanka. The local name is mahseer or maha seer and this was considered as one of the greatest of game fish in India. Found throughout India, but found of the largest size and in the greatest abundance in mountain-streams or those which are rocky.
Contents
- Sringeri mahseer tor malabaricus tor khudree sanctuary
- Tor khudree in 4500 gal 2 feet dec 19 2016
- Description
- Record catches
- References
The fish moves to upper reaches of small streams to spawn. They feed on plants, insects, shrimps and mollusks and may be grown in ponds. While large fish of over a metre and 45 kg in weight have been recorded in the past, such sizes are no longer found.
Tor khudree in 4500 gal 2 feet dec 19 2016
Description
Length of the head is 4 to 5 inches and the widest point of the body is at 4.3 to 5.5 inches from the snout. The eyes are at 6.25 to 7.5 inches behind the snout in moderate sized specimens but as much as 3.5 inches smaller specimens. The lips are thick, with an uninterrupted fold across the lower jaw, and with both the upper and lower lips in some specimens produced in the mesial line. The maxillary pair of barbels are longer than the rostral, and extending to below the last third of the eye. Fins the dorsal arises opposite the ventral, and is three fourths as high as the body; its last undivided ray is smooth, osseous, strong, and of varying length and thickness. Himalayan, Bengal, and Central Indian specimens generally have the spine strong, and from one half to two thirds the length of the head, it rarely exceeds this extent. In Canara, Malabar, and Southern India, where the lips are largely developed, the spine is very much stronger and as long as the head excluding the snout. Pectoral as long as the head excluding the snout ; it reaches the ventral, which is little shorter. Anal laid flat does not reach the base of the caudal, which is deeply forked. Lateral line complete, 2 to 2.5 rows of scales between it and the base of the ventral fin ; 9 rows before the dorsal. Colour silvery or greenish along the upper half of the body, becoming silvery shot with gold on the sides and beneath. Lower fins reddish yellow.
Record catches
H. S. Thomas in his Rod in India quotes a note by G. P. Sanderson: