Parapsilorhynchus prateri
Overview
Parapsilorhynchus prateri, the Deolali minnow, is a critically endangered species of cyprinid fish currently only known from the Darna River near Deolali in Nashik District, Maharashtra, India. It is possibly extinct as it has not been recorded since 2004. Recently Nandur Madhameshwar declared a new Ramsar site in Maharashtra which provide sanctuary to the Deolali minnow.
Parapsilorhynchus prateri faces severe threats from dam construction and water diversion projects that fragment its riverine habitat and alter natural flow regimes. Sand mining and gravel extraction activities directly destroy critical spawning substrates, while agricultural runoff and domestic pollution degrade water quality in its limited range. The species' restricted distribution in specific river systems makes it extremely vulnerable to localized habitat modifications.
Habitat
This freshwater fish inhabits fast-flowing rocky streams and rivers with gravel and boulder substrates in the Western Ghats of India. It requires well-oxygenated waters with specific flow characteristics and clean substrates for feeding and reproduction.
