4.5 Million-Year-Old Fish Fossils Found Near Dehradun

Researchers from the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG) discovered freshwater fish fossils (otoliths or ear bones) in the Mohand area of the Shivalik foothills, dating back around 4.5 million years to the Pliocene epoch.

The fossils belong to three groups: Snakehead (Channa), Gobi (Gobiidae), and Gourami (Trichogaster fasciata). The Gourami fossil is only the second such finding globally, with the first discovered in Sumatra, Indonesia.

The discovery suggests that the Mohand region once had a slow-moving or stagnant freshwater ecosystem, such as a lake or pond, with dense vegetation.

While the Shivalik hills are known for terrestrial animal fossils, this marks the first strong evidence of a freshwater aquatic ecosystem in the region, revealing insights into ancient South Asian biodiversity.

The discovery suggests that the Mohand region once had a slow-moving or stagnant freshwater ecosystem, such as a lake or pond, with dense vegetation.

Scientists Discover India’s First 4.5-Million-Year-Old Freshwater Fish Fossils Near Dehradun

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