Humpback Mahseer

Hypselobarbus mussullah is a large cyprinid that has a laterally compressed body which is just over a quarter as deep as it is long (standard length). with a steep dorsal profile forming an obvious hump which runs to the base of the dorsal fin and then slopes gently away to the caudal fin. It has a narrow, thick lipped mouth which is downward facing with two pairs of short barbels behind the mouth. One pair is rostral and one pair is maxillary and this is one of the features that distinguishes it from otherwise similar species. The dorsal fin origin is just in front of the origin of the pelvic fins and the dorsal fin is concave on its upper margin, with a strong, smooth and stiff spine. The caudal fin is deeply forked with small tubercules on the rays. The overall colour is brown with a paler abdomen and it may have dark tips to the fins. It can grow to a maximum total length of 150 cm (59 in) and a weight of 90 kg (200 lb). …

H. mussullah is endemic to the Western Ghats in southern India. It has been recorded from the Krishna and possibly the Godavari in the states of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Kerala. It occurs in isolated pockets and the species' distribution is extremely fragmented and the total area of the species range is probably less than 500 km2 (190 sq mi).

This species shows a preference for the deeper stretches of clear, fast flowing large jungle streams and rivers in upland areas. It has an omnivorous diet and feeds on fish, crustaceans, molluscs, frogs, fruits and algae.