CR

Deolali Minnow

Parapsilorhynchus prateri

Declining

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.

Threat summary

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.

Rocky areas· major

Conservation measures underway

Resource & habitat protectionSpecies managementSpecies recovery

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Deolali Minnow classified as Critically Endangered?
Deolali Minnow is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. 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.
Where does Deolali Minnow live?
Deolali Minnow occurs in India. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Deolali Minnow?
The main threats to Deolali Minnow are 2.1, 5.3, 8.1, and 9.3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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