A new freshwater shrimp, Caridina sharmai, was described from the upper reaches of the Gomti River in Lucknow on 27 July 2026.
Taxonomy & Naming
- Scientific classification: Genus Caridina; family Atyidae; infraorder Caridea; order Decapoda.
- Species epithet: sharmai — named for Professor U.D. Sharma, a carcinologist.
Morphology
- Size: 15–24 mm total length.
- Colour pattern: Dark brown/black body with yellowish‑grey transverse stripes.
- Rostrum dentition: Upper teeth 15–22; lower teeth 4–9; rostrum short and knife‑shaped.
Habitat & Ecology
- Location: Upper Gomti River, Lucknow (Ganges tributary).
- Microhabitat: Associated with submerged vegetation; recorded in groups.
- Feeding mode: Filter‑feeding, consistent with atyid behavioural traits.
Exam-relevant Facts
- First record: First atyid shrimp documented from the Gomti at Lucknow.
- Atyidae: Family of freshwater decapod crustaceans often used in river biodiversity inventories.
- Caridina genus: Species‑rich in Asia with numerous freshwater endemics.