Golden mahseer
Large cyprinid fish from Himalayan rivers
Tor putitora, known as the golden mahseer, is an endangered cyprinid fish native to the Himalayan region where it inhabits rapid streams, riverine pools and lakes in the basins of the Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers. It is a popular gamefish that can reach 2.75 metres long and serves as the national fish of Pakistan.
- Reaches lengths of 2.75 metres and weights of 54 kilograms
- National fish of Pakistan and state fish in five Indian states
- Native to the Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra river basins
- Threatened by hydropower dams and overfishing practices
- Omnivorous and lives near the surface in 13 to 30 degree water
What it is
The golden mahseer is a member of the cyprinid group. Its head is blunt and oval in shape. The mouth is small and the body has very large scales. A stripe along the side helps with recognition. Fins on the tail, belly and rear have a reddish golden shade. Adults show gold on the back above the side stripe while younger fish often do not. This fish lives in fast moving water and pools. It eats both plants and animals. It prefers areas close to the surface where the temperature stays between 13 and 30 degrees Celsius. The biggest ones measure 2.75 metres long and weigh 54 kilograms.
Where it lives
This fish comes from the Himalayan area. Its home waters are the river systems of the Indus, the Ganges and the Brahmaputra. It likes mountain and foothill streams with rocky beds and also some lakes. A few sightings have happened in the Salween river on the border between Thailand and Myanmar. Hatchery raised fish have been put into the Irrawaddy basin in Nagaland and into reservoirs and streams in the Tapti basin in Maharashtra. Some have also gone into the Sepik river system in Papua New Guinea after escaping from a reservoir. Regular releases happen in the Teesta river in Sikkim and West Bengal.
How it lives
This species feeds on both plant and animal matter. It stays near the surface in its habitat. The fish can adapt to lakes formed by dams as well as natural river environments. Its ability to live in varied conditions has allowed it to survive in some artificial reservoirs.
Fish and people
People value this fish as a game species due to its size and strength when caught. It holds the title of national fish in Pakistan. It is also the state fish for Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Odisha and Uttarakhand in India. Unsustainable fishing methods have reduced its numbers. Programmes release bred fish into rivers and lakes but the results for native species are not clear. Rudyard Kipling wrote about catching a large one in his work.
Status and threats
This fish has the status of endangered on the Red List. Its population has decreased by more than 50 percent. The building of many dams for hydropower destroys the rocky river habitats it needs. Overfishing with dynamite, poison and fine nets makes the situation worse. Competition from introduced trout and common carp adds pressure. Releases of this fish into new areas may cause problems for other species there. Some places still have good numbers but the trend is downward.
Questions people ask about Golden mahseer
What does the golden mahseer look like?
It has a blunt oval head, small mouth and large scales with a prominent lateral line stripe. Adults are golden above the line with reddish golden fins while young fish may lack the gold colour. It can grow to 2.75 metres long.
Where does the golden mahseer live?
The golden mahseer lives in the Himalayan region in rapid streams, riverine pools and lakes. Its native range covers the basins of the Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers. It has been introduced to other river systems as well.
Why is the golden mahseer endangered?
Habitat loss from hydropower dams and overfishing with dynamite, poison and fine nets have caused a decline of more than 50 percent. Competition from non native species and issues from stocking programmes also affect it.
What does the golden mahseer eat?
This omnivorous fish eats a mix of plant and animal matter. It stays near the surface in water temperatures from 13 to 30 degrees Celsius in its river and lake habitats.
Is the golden mahseer a game fish?
Yes, it is a popular gamefish known for its large size and fighting ability when hooked. It is the national fish of Pakistan and state fish in several Indian regions.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Tor putitora", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryFish rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes, and figures change over time. Nothing here is investment or buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.
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