Abstract The iconic snow trout (Schizothorax spp.), a flagship cold-water species and vital bio-indicator of high-altitude freshwater ecosystems in the Hindu Kush Himalayas (HKH), faces an escalating extinction crisis driven by overfishing, habitat fragmentation, pollution, and accelerating climate change. Despite their critical role in supporting the nutrition, livelihoods, and cultural identity of mountain communities across eight countries, a comprehensive synthesis integrating phylogenetic diversity, multifaceted anthropogenic and climatic threats, and actionable conservation strategies is conspicuously absent. This review synthesises peer-reviewed studies, grey literature, and regional assessments to map the distribution, phylogeny, taxonomy, and population status of snow trout across the HKH region. Phylogenetics has revealed cryptic lineages and high endemism, yet taxonomic ambiguities and failed aquaculture trials hinder effective management. We identified knowledge gaps in transboundary population connectivity, climate refugia, and scalable breeding protocols. This review delivers a robust, evidence-based conservation framework encompassing in-situ habitat restoration, ex-situ cryopreservation and live gene banks, community-enforced sustainable fisheries, climate-resilient stocking, and cross-border policy harmonisation, which are essential for safeguarding snow trout, preserving Himalayan aquatic biodiversity, and securing the future of dependent indigenous communities.
Wanjari et al. (Sat,) studied this question.