This newly discovered fish can change its colour like a chameleon

Subject : Environment

Section: Species in news

Context:

Scientists have recently discovered a new fish species from the Milak river, Nagaland.

Details about the fish species:

The newly discovered species Badis limaakumi has been named after Limaakum, assistant professor and head of the zoology department at Fazl Ali College, Nagaland.
Discovered in Nagaland’s Mokokchung district.
- Limaakum found the fish during the project Integrated Taxonomic Studies on The Fishes Found in The Rivers of Nagaland.
It belongs to the family of Badidae, a small freshwater fish found in streams with slow or moderate water flow.
The fish has a rapid colour-changing ability.
Fourteen species of Badis — six from the Brahmaputra in West Bengal and B. badis found in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan; seven species from Brahmaputra and Kaladan river and one species B. britzi from Sharavati river of the Western Ghats — were already been identified. The new fish species adds the number to 15.
Fish from the Badis family are known as chameleon fish for their ability to change colour. This helps them blend with the surroundings when under stress.

Milak river:

Milak River is situated in Mokokchung district in Nagaland, India. The nearest town to this river is Naga Town and it has been located 40 kms south towards Tuli. Langpangkong Range rises from above the Melak plains and is effectively marked by the gentle and rolling plains. Tuli is one of the most populous towns that are located near to this river in Mokokchung district in Nagaland. Main tributary of the Milak river is Tsurong.
Doyang river is the longest and the biggest river of Nagaland.

Source: DownToEarth