Snow Trout

Schizothorax richardsonii

The snow trout (Schizothorax richardsonii), also known as the common snowtrout, is a freshwater cyprinid in the family Cyprinidae. Adults reach about 30-60 cm with a streamlined body adapted for fast-flowing mountain waters, displaying olive-brown to silvery coloration with scattered dark spots. They have small scales and a distinctive fleshy lower lip adapted for scraping algae from rocks. This species inhabits fast-flowing, cold mountain streams and rivers at depths of 0-5 meters throughout the Himalayan region, from Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh to Uttarakhand and Assam in India, as well as Nepal, Bhutan, and Afghanistan. Snow trout are omnivorous, feeding primarily on algae, aquatic insects, and plant detritus. They require clear, cold, well-oxygenated waters below 15C and are important bioindicators of healthy Himalayan stream ecosystems. Their presence in pristine mountain waters makes them symbols of healthy aquatic habitats in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region.