Researchers have discovered a new species of catfish in the biodiverse northern Western Ghats spanning the states of Goa and Maharashtra. The fish inhabits shallow hill streams where the streambed is made up of sand, pebbles and stones, creating microhabitats that help it hide and forage for food. During field surveys conducted over five years, the researchers encountered the species only twice, underscoring its rarity and the ecological importance of the fragile habitats it occupies. The species was identified through the joint efforts of independent researcher Balaji Vijayakrishnan and researchers Tejas Thackeray and Abhishek Shirke from the Thackeray Wildlife Foundation. Speaking to Mid-Day Abhishek Shirke said, “The newly identified fish belongs to the genus Amblyceps and has been named Amblyceps vayavy.” The name ‘vayavy’ means `northwest` in Marathi and Konkani, referring to the species’ habitat in the northwestern part of the Western Ghats. Researchers say this is the northernmost confirmed record of the genus in the Western Ghats so far.” The fish inhabits shallow hill streams where the riverbed contains a mix of sand, gravel …