Schizothorax richardsonii (Gray, 1832)

Genus: Schizothorax Heckel

Body sub cylindrical, slightly compressed and elongated, mouth inferior, slightly arched. Lower jaw with hard horny cartilage. A labial plate on chin forming a sucker like apparatus. A distinctive row of enlarged and tiled scales on anal fin base.

Synony ms: Cyprinus richardsonii Gray, 1832; Oreinus sinuatus (Heckel) Day, 1877; O. plagiostomus (Heckel) Day, 1877; O. richardsonii Day, 1877; Diptychus annandalei Regan, 1907; O. molesworthi Chaudhuri, 1913.

Diagnosis: Dorsal fin rays 3/8, anal 3/5, pectoral 1/15-16. Body elongated, pelvic fin origin at halfway down dorsal fin. Numerous weak serrations (more than 20) on the dorsal spine. Few non prominent tubercles on the snout. Barbels two pairs, usually shorter than eye diameter.

Common names: Alwan snow trout, buchey asala, mangnya, yul-nya, du-nya

Distribution:

Punatsangchhu: Phochhu, Mochhu, Toebrongchhu (Punakha); Basochhu, Kamechhu, Harachhu (W/phodrang); Sunkosh, Dagachhu (Dagana); Changchey and Budichhu (Tsirang)

Amochhu: Yaba, Shechhu, Neychhu (Haa); Namchhu, Somchhu, Dorokha, Lingden (Samtse)

Wangchhu: Hachhu, Pachhu, Thimphuchhu

Altitude: 288 – 2800 MASL

Conservation status: Vulnerable but widely distributed in Bhutan