Mitochondrial Genome of Tor Putitora from Asan Wetland: Foundational Genomic Insights from Uttarakhand’s First Ramsar Site

South Asia's golden mahseer (Tor Putitora) faces elevated danger from human activities, which threaten its existence as an ecologically and culturally significant cyprinid species. This paper introduces the first complete mitochondrial genome of T. putitora from Asan Wetland, representing the premier Ramsar site in Uttarakhand. The mitochondrial genome sequence of T. putitora combined with similar freshwater taxa from the Himalayas assists in developing knowledge about population organization, evolutionary patterns, and conservation requirements. The mitochondrial genome underwent sequencing on an Illumina HiSeq system before being de novo assembled and annotated with MitoAnnotator. The circular genome consists of 16,580 base pairs that encodes 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs) along with 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes, and a control region (D-loop). Through MitoAnnotator and Chloroplot analysis, confirmed that Cypriniformes maintain a typical gene arrangement pattern. The obtained genomic dataset provides essential foundational information for building phylogenetic trees, conducting population genetic studies, and informing conservation planning for this vulnerable species. This research builds a genomic starting point that supports upcoming ecologic research at the Asan Wetland and demonstrates the effectiveness of mitogenomics for preserving freshwater biodiversity.