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Occurrence of Exotic Vermiculated Sailfin Catfish Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus from the Lower Stretch of River Ganga, West Bengal, India


Affiliations
1 ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, Kolkata 700 120, India
 

The present study reports a record of invasive Loricariid catfish Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus (Weber, 1991) (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the Bhagirathi– Hooghly system of River Ganga in West Bengal, India. The species was encountered from Farakka and Balagarh regions of Ganga, two areas with different hydrological regimes. The average total length and total weight of the collected species was in the range of 360–450 mm and 314-545 g respectively. This exotic species is reported to contribute about 10% of the total catch from the Balagarh area of the river stretch, while its occurrence is sparse in Farakka. The algivorous nature of feeding can pose a threat to nativebottom dwelling fish due to feeding competition. As the presence of this exotic fish in the lower parts of Ganga has been confirmed, we discuss necessary management interventions like identifying the source of its introduction in order to prevent future threats from this invasive species to native river species.

Keywords

Algivorous Feeding, Exotic Fish, Invasive Species, Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus, River System.
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  • Occurrence of Exotic Vermiculated Sailfin Catfish Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus from the Lower Stretch of River Ganga, West Bengal, India

Abstract Views: 235  |  PDF Views: 68

Authors

Basanta Kumar Das
ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, Kolkata 700 120, India
Archisman Ray
ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, Kolkata 700 120, India
Ranjan Kumar Manna
ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, Kolkata 700 120, India
C. M. Roshith
ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, Kolkata 700 120, India
Raju Baitha
ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, Kolkata 700 120, India
Subodha Kumar Karna
ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, Kolkata 700 120, India
Subhadeep Das Gupta
ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, Kolkata 700 120, India
Manisha Bhor
ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, Kolkata 700 120, India

Abstract


The present study reports a record of invasive Loricariid catfish Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus (Weber, 1991) (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the Bhagirathi– Hooghly system of River Ganga in West Bengal, India. The species was encountered from Farakka and Balagarh regions of Ganga, two areas with different hydrological regimes. The average total length and total weight of the collected species was in the range of 360–450 mm and 314-545 g respectively. This exotic species is reported to contribute about 10% of the total catch from the Balagarh area of the river stretch, while its occurrence is sparse in Farakka. The algivorous nature of feeding can pose a threat to nativebottom dwelling fish due to feeding competition. As the presence of this exotic fish in the lower parts of Ganga has been confirmed, we discuss necessary management interventions like identifying the source of its introduction in order to prevent future threats from this invasive species to native river species.

Keywords


Algivorous Feeding, Exotic Fish, Invasive Species, Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus, River System.



DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv119%2Fi12%2F2006-2009