Awaous Motla

About Awaous Motla

• It is a fish with a vibrant yellow-coloured body and a fleshy upper lip.
• It was collected from the Mahanadi river.
• The discovery was made during the ongoing research project funded by the department of science and technology of the Odisha government.
• The species belongs to the family 'Awaous' (Oxudercidae), and thus, is named 'Awaous motla.

Key facts about Mahanadi River

• It is one of the major east-flowing peninsular rivers in India.
• Origin: The river originates from the Sihawa range of hills in the Dhamtari district of Chhattisgarh state.
• Course:
  • It flows in a southeastern direction through Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
  • The catchment area of the basin extends over major parts of Chhattisgarh and Odisha and comparatively smaller portions of Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
• It is bounded in the north by Central India hills, in the south and east by the Eastern Ghats and in the west by Maikal hill range.
• Tributaries: The main tributaries of Mahanadi are Seonath River, Jonk River, Hasdeo River, Mand River, Ib River, Ong River and Telen River.

Q1) What is the Maikala Range?

It is a mountain range in Madhya Pradesh state, central India. It runs in a north-south direction and forms the eastern base of the triangular Satpura Range. The Maikala Range consists of laterite-capped, flat-topped plateaus (pats) with elevations ranging from 2,000 to 3,000 feet (600 to 900 metres). 

Source: Researchers discover new freshwater fish species in Odisha's Mahanadi river