Unearthing Time: 45-Million-Year-Old Snakehead Fish Fossil Found in Himachal’s Ancient Waters

In the quiet hills of Himachal Pradesh, where misty mornings meet ancient rocks, a remarkable chapter of Earth’s history has just been uncovered. Dr. Ritesh Arya, a passionate geologist and founder of the Tethys Fossil Museum, has discovered a 45-million-year-old Snakehead Fish skull in the Subathu Formation—a find that’s making waves in the world of paleontology.

A Fossil That Bridges Oceans and Continents

The fossil was found in a modest stream cutting through the Subathu Formation, a geological treasure trove that marks the final days of the Tethys Ocean and the beginning of India’s dramatic collision with Asia during the Eocene epoch. Back then, the Himalayas hadn’t yet risen, and the region was submerged under shallow marine waters.

“This fossil tells a story of transition,” said Dr. Arya. “Finding a freshwater fish in marine sediments confirms that this area was once a shifting landscape—from ocean to land—as India drifted northward after breaking away from Africa.”

Scientific Validation and Expert Praise

The fossil has been identified as a member of the Snakehead Fish family (Channidae) by Prof. Rajeev Patnaik of Panjab University. Renowned paleontologist Prof. Ashok Sahni called the discovery a “significant addition” to the Subathu fossil record, offering rare evidence of early freshwater fish evolution in the Himalayan foothills.

This find adds a vital piece to the puzzle of how ecosystems evolved during the uplift of the Himalayas—a period that transformed marine worlds into mountainous terrain.

A Museum of Time and Advocacy for the Future

Dr. Arya’s journey with fossils began in 1988, and his earlier discoveries—from shark teeth to whale bones—have been featured on iconic science shows like Turning Point and Surbhi. These specimens now reside in the Tethys Fossil Museum in Dangyari near Kasauli, a space dedicated to preserving India’s prehistoric legacy.

Beyond discovery, Dr. Arya is on a mission. He’s been advocating for Kasauli and its surrounding regions to be declared a Geopark—a move that would protect the area’s fossil heritage while promoting education, research, and geotourism.

A Glimpse Into Deep Time

The newly discovered Snakehead Fish fossil is currently under detailed study and will soon be on display at the Tethys Fossil Museum. Visitors will have the chance to stand face-to-face with a relic from a time when India was still drifting, the Himalayas were yet to rise, and freshwater life was just beginning to flourish.

It’s not just a fossil—it’s a window into a world long gone, and a reminder of the stories still waiting to be told beneath our feet.