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The Science Probe Vol. 2 No. 1 (February 2014) Page No- 11-24 ISSN: 2277 – 9566
T h e S c i e n c e P r o b e | 11
ORNAMENTAL FISHES IN ROWMARI FLOODPLAIN WETLAND,
DARRANG DISTRICT, ASSAM
Seema Jyoti1 and Amalesh Dutta
2
1Research Scholar, Department of Zoology, Gauhati University, Assam, India.
Email: [email protected],
2Professor, Department of Zoology, Gauhati University, Assam, India.
ABSTRACT
Rowmari Beel is an important freshwater riverine registered floodplain
wetland of Darrang district which is rich in ornamental fish diversity.
The present investigation was carried out during 2009-2011.Floodplain
wetlands are locally known as Beels in Assam and they constitute vitally
important fishery resource of Assam. There are 1392 floodplain wetlands
in Assam of which 423 are registered and 969 are unregistered which
are rich in icthyofaunal diversity. Darrang District has 103 numbers of
wetland of which registered beels are 28 covering 6459 ha. The present
investigation shows availability of 50 numbers of ornamental fishes
belonging to 9 orders and 20 families of which family Cyprinidae
dominates showing 11 numbers of species .Of the 50 number of
ornamental fishes, about 30 numbers are classified ornamental fishes.
CAMP (1998) and IUCN (2013) status of each fishes is listed out.
KEYWORDS: Rowmari beel, Ornamental fishes, Threats,
Conservation status.
The Science Probe Vol. 2 No. 1 (February 2014) Page No- 11-24 ISSN: 2277 – 9566
T h e S c i e n c e P r o b e | 12
INTRODUCTION
The wetlands are considered as one of the
most important ecosystems of the world.
Not only are they unique ecosystems but
storehouses of great biodiversity. The
wetlands are sometimes described as “the
kidneys of the landscape” for the functions
they perform in hydrologic and chemical
cycles and as the downstream receivers of
wastes from both natural and human sources
(Mitsch and Gosselink, 1986). Floodplain
wetlands locally known as Beels constitute
vitally important fishery resource of Assam.
There are 1392 floodplain wetlands in
Assam of which 423 are registered and 969
are unregistered(Dey 1981) which, if
judiciously managed, can furnish
unimaginably high & rich benefits to the
people of the state. Darrang district has 103
numbers of wetland of which registered
beels are 28 covering 6459 ha. Rowmari
Beel is an important freshwater riverine
registered floodplain wetland of Darrang
district .Auto-stoking of the beel occurs by
the influx of the flood water when many
riverine species including ornamental fishes
enters in the beel. But it was seen that weeds
growing in the connecting canal and
siltation, hinders the flow of the water into
the beel. This beel not only provides a
sizeable amount of fish biomass for the
region, but also maintains a potential
ornamental fish diversity which remains
unattended. The present communication is
concerned with identification and diversity
of the Ornamental fish species of the
Rowmari beel and to understand the
prospects of ornamental fishery. Ornamental
fishes, both conventionally and technically,
are small in sizes and gorgeous with
attractive colour and majestic movement
purported in the aquaria. However, small
non-colourful fishes also receive ornamental
status and remain in great demand from the
aquarists if they do exhibit peculiar body
morphology, strange locomotive deportment
and are rare in occurrences and also the
juvenile stages of large growing fishes
which have high demand from the aquarists
(Dey et al .,2002).
Study area:
The study was carried out in Rowmari beel
of Darrang district of Assam. The Darrang
district is situated in the central part of
Assam in the northern side of the river
Brahmaputra .The district is gifted with vast
wetlands resources comprising of beels,
ponds, tanks, oxbow lakes, dead river
courses, low lying swamps, marshes and
tributaries. Among the 103 number of
wetland of the district .Rowmari Beel is one
of the important wetland located between
26o 19
´0.7
´´N - 26
o 19
´58
´´N latitude to 91
o
55´ 50´´ E - 91o 56´ 46´´ E longitude at 44
MSL. It is located towards southwest
direction at about 35 kms from district
headquarter Mangaldai. This beel is
important as it shows characteristics of lotic
as well as lentic habitat. The western
margins of the beel are under paddy
cultivation. Gowaltari and Ghatarag no.1
village lies in the northern side of the beel.
The main river Brahmaputra is at a distance
of 3.93 kms south east. The beel collects its
drainage through a small canal
‘Sirpalimukh’ of 2.69 kms length which
happens to be sole outlet. During winter
season the Rowmari beel shrinks
considerably and is reduced to two pockets,
‘Arimari’ and ‘Tuldhung’. Water enters
through ‘Sirpalimukh’ to ‘Tuldhung’ then to
Rowmari.
The Science Probe Vol. 2 No. 1 (February 2014) Page No- 11-24 ISSN: 2277 – 9566
T h e S c i e n c e P r o b e | 13
Fig 1: Location map of Rowmari Beel______________
________________________________
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The Rowmari Beel is being monitored since
Jan 2009 to March 2011. The map of the
area was obtained from the Director of land
Records, Government of Assam. Landscape
elements in Rowmari beel was identified
through exclusive field visits, ground
trotting using GPS. Fishes were collected
from different sites with the help of
fishermen using different types of nets
namely, gill nets, cast nets, dip nets, drag
nets and other locally used fishing gears.
Fishes caught using indigenous methods like
The Science Probe Vol. 2 No. 1 (February 2014) Page No- 11-24 ISSN: 2277 – 9566
T h e S c i e n c e P r o b e | 14
katal fishing were also taken into account.
Fishes collected are preserved in 9-10 %
formaldehyde solution (Jayaram, 1999) and
identified on the works of Talwar and
Jhingran (1991), Nath and Dey (2000) and
www.fishbase .com. Fishes are also
distinguished as classified or non-classified
(Dey et al., 2002).Conservation status is
given as per IUCN (2013.2) and CAMP
(1998).Other relevant data were collected by
direct enquiries of fishers as well as fish
traders.
Fig 2: Landuse map of Rowmari beel.
(Source: Satellite imageries of March 2010 IRS ID LISS III)
______________________________________________________________________________
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
The main Rowmari beel is according to
Govt. records is of 50 ha but now it has
shrinked to about 41.38 ha (excluding
‘Tuldhung’ and ‘Arimari’) .The length of
Rowmari beel is 2.38 kms and breadth at
centre is 1.81 m. The average depth of the
beel during dry months is 8ft whereas in wet
month it ranges from 14.5-18ft .It is seen
The Science Probe Vol. 2 No. 1 (February 2014) Page No- 11-24 ISSN: 2277 – 9566
T h e S c i e n c e P r o b e | 15
that Rowmari beel is mostly surrounded by
cropland covering about 150284 ha, the
settlement covers 2850 ha and water cover
around the beel is of about 3150 ha. (Fig:
2)In the winter season, the chars and
chaparis surrounding the Rowmari beel form
good grazing grounds where Rabi crops
such as mustard, pulses, potatoes, vegetables
are grown. The majority of the population in
the area is dependent on agriculture and at
least 40% of the population is dependent on
fishing. The fishermen does fishing in the
beel under the prevalence of supervisor
allotted by a Mahaldar and gets paid
according to fish catch per day. In Ghatarag
no.1 village, there is a fishing community
known as ‘malo’ whose main occupation is
fishing and so most of the fishermen comes
from this village. They are not literate and
lack knowledge about ornamental fishes.
Since the beel is perennial and has
potentiality too, ornamental fishery could be
developed as an alternate source of income
and the fishermen could be trained with little
effort.
The present investigation shows availability
of 50 numbers of ornamental fishes
belonging to 9 orders and 20 families of
which family Cyprinidae dominates showing
11 numbers of species (Table1). Sen (2003)
has reported presence of 266 species
belonging to 10 orders and 38 families in
North-East India including Assam, of which
196 have ornamental value (Dey et al.,
2002). About 62 ornamental fish species
belonging to 41 genera, 18 families and 7
orders were recorded in floodplain wetlands
of lower Brahmaputra basin (Kalita et
al.,2013).Chakravartty et al.,(2012) in their
study in Kapla beel in Barpeta district of
Assam have found 67 number of classified
ornamental fish species. Bhattacharya et al.,
(2000) have recorded 217 fish species from
Assam of which 50 species have ornamental
value. In the present study Order
Cypriniformes was found to be dominant
representing 20 species with 40%
contribution to the total ornamental fish
species, which is followed by Perciformes
with 24 number, Siluriformes with 9
species,Mastacembeliformes with
3,Osteoglossiformes with 2 and
Clupiformes,Beloniformes,Cyprinidontiform
es,Tetradodontiformes each with 1 number
of ornamental fish species. Out of 20
families found, Cyprinidae represented the
highest with 11 genera. Of the 50 species,30
number of classified ornamental fishes have
been identified(Table:2) The availability of
50 ornamental fish species is good enough
to start up captive breeding of demandable
fishes thus commercializing them and also
conserving the depleting stock.
Conservation status of the ornamental fish
from the beel and percent occurrence of fish
under CAMP and IUCN is given in Table
3.Out of 50 species reported in the present
investigation4% are endangered,18%
vulnerable,40% at lower risk near threatened
,10% at low risk least concern , 26% not
evaluated as per CAMP. However, as per
IUCN (2013)10% of the total ornamental
fishes are near threatened, 86%at low risk,
2% not evaluated and 40% remain data
deficient.
The present investigation ascertains that
only highly demandable ornamental fish
species could be selected for mass
propagation. The highest demandable
species among them are B.dario, T.lalius,
T.chuna, X.cancila, N.nandus, C.orientalis,
C.striatus, T.cutcutia, M. aral, M. pancalus,
A. panchax, N.atherinoides, G.gagata, P.
sophore, L.guntea, B.badis which has good
market value (Dey et el., 2002). The
fishermen could be hence trained for capture
and culture of ornamental fishes near the
beel which in future could turn out as
potential business. But there are many
factors affecting the beel like excessive
The Science Probe Vol. 2 No. 1 (February 2014) Page No- 11-24 ISSN: 2277 – 9566
T h e S c i e n c e P r o b e | 16
fishing, grazing, uneconomic use of fishing
gears and other activities. The natural stock
is losing ground due to paddy and jute
cultivation along the catchment area of the
beel. Thus the study of Rowmari beel
provides crucial information about the status
of the ornamental biodiversity in the beel
and thus gets the emphasis for conservation
and awareness.
Table 1: List of Ornamental fishes found in Rowmari beel during 2009-2011 with their
taxonomic status and conservation status as per 1UCN (2013.2) and CAMP1998)
Order Family Name of Fish
Species
Common
name
Vernacu
lar
Name
IUCN
Status
CAMP
status
Osteoglossif
ormes
Notopteridae Chitala chitala
(Hamilton,1822)
Humped
feather back
Chital NT EN
Notopteridae Notopterus
notopterus
(Pallas,1769)
Grey feather
back
Kandhul
ee
LC LRnt
Clupeiforme
s
Clupeidae Gudusia chapra
(Hamilton,1822)
Indian river
shad
Korati LC LRlc
Cypriniform
es
Cyprinidae Amblypharyngodon
mola
(Hamilton,1822)
Mola Carplet Moa LC LRlc
Cyprinidae *Cabdio morar
(Hamilton ,1822)
Morari Boriala LC LRnt
Cyprinidae Chela cachius
(Hamilton,1822)
Silver
hatchet chela
Chela LC NE
Cyprinidae Cirrhinus mrigala
(Hamilton,1822)
Mrigal Mirika LC LRnt
Cyprinidae Cirrhinus reba
(Hamilton,1822)
Reba carp Lasim LC VU
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T h e S c i e n c e P r o b e | 17
Order Family Name of Fish
Species
Common
name
Vernac
ular
Name
IUCN
Status
CAMP
status
Order
Cyprinidae Esomus danricus
(Hamilton,1822)
Flying barb Darikan
a
LC LRlc
Cyprinidae Salmophasia
bacaila
(Hamilton,1822)
Lazer
Razorbelly
minnow
Cheleko
na
LC LRlc
Cyprinidae Salmophasia phulo
(Hamilton,1822)
Finescale
razorbelly
minnow
Cheleko
na
LC NE
Cyprinidae Catla catla
(Hamilton,1822)
Catla Bhakua NE VU
Cyprinidae Labeo bata
(Hamilton,1822)
Bata labeo Bhango
n
LC LRnt
Cyprinidae Labeo calbasu
(Hamilton,1822)
Black rohu/
Orangefin
labeo
Mahler,
Mali
LC LRnt
Cyprinidae Labeo gonius
(Hamilton,1822)
Kuria labeo Kurhi LC LRnt
Cyprinidae Puntius chola
(Hamilton,1822)
Swamp barb Puthi LC VU
Cyprinidae *Pethia
conchonius(Hamilt
on,1822)
Rosy barb Chokori
puthi
LC VU
Cyprinidae Puntius sophore
(Hamilton,1822)
Spotfin
swamp barb
Sendori
puthi
LC LRnt
Cyprinidae *Pethia ticto
(Hamilton,1822)
Two spot
barb
Chokori
puthi
LC LRnt
Cyprinidae Rasbora
daniconius
(Hamilton,1822)
Slender
rasbora
Darikan
a
LC LRnt
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T h e S c i e n c e P r o b e | 18
Family Name of Fish
Species
Common
name
Vernac
ular
Name
IUCN
Status
CAMP
status
Balitoridae Acanthocobitis
botia
(Hamilton,1822)
Stripped
loach
Bali
botia
LC LRnt
Cobitidae Botia dario
(Hamilton,1822)
Necktie
loach
Bagh
botia
LC NE
Lepidocephalichthy
s guntea
(Hamilton,1822)
Guntea loach Bakhar
botia
LC NE
Siluriformes
Bagridae Mystus cavasius
(Hamilton,1822)
Gangetic
mystus
Barsinga
rah
LC LRnt
Bagridae Mystus tengara
(Hamilton, 1822)
Tengara
mystus
Koli
tengara
LC NE
Bagridae Mystus vittatus
(Bloch, 1794)
Striped dwarf
catfish
Tengra LC VU
Bagridae Sperata seenghala
(Sykes, 1839)
Giant river-
catfish
Ari LC NE
Siluridae Wallago attu
(Bloch &
Schneider, 1801)
Wallago Borali NT LRnt
Schilbeidae Ailia coila
(Hamilton, 1822)
Gangetic
ailia
Bapati NT VU
Schilbeidae *Neotropius
atherinoides
(Bloch, 1794)
Indian potasi Bardia LC EN
Sisoridae Gagata cenia
(Hamilton, 1822)
Indian gagata Ngarang
,
Keyakat
ta
LC NE
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T h e S c i e n c e P r o b e | 19
Order Family Name of Fish
Species
Common
name
Vernac
ular
Name
IUCN
Status
CAMP
status
Heteropneust
idae
Heteropneustes
fossilis (Bloch,
1794)
Stinging
catfish
Singhi LC VU
Beloniforme
s
Belonidae Xenentodon
cancila (Hamilton,
1822)
Freshwater
garfish
Kakila LC LRnt
Cyprinodont
iformes
Aplocheilida
e
Aplocheilus
panchax (Hamilton,
1822)
Blue panchax Kanpon
a
LC DD
Mastacembe
liformes
Mastacembel
idae
Macrognathus aral
(Bloch &
Schneider, 1801)
One-stripe
spinyeel
Tora LC LRnt
Mastacembel
idae
Macrognathus
pancalus Hamilton,
1822
Striped spiny
eel
Turi LC LRnt
Mastacembel
idae
Mastacembelus
armatus (Lacepède,
1800)
Spiny eel Bami LC LRnt
Perciformes
Ambassidae Chanda nama
Hamilton, 1822
Elongate
glass-
perchlet
Sonda LC NE
Ambassidae Parambassis lala
(Hamilton, 1822)
Highfin
glassy
perchlet
Chanda NT NE
Ambassidae Parambassis ranga
(Hamilton, 1822)
Indian glassy
fish
Senduri
chanda
LC NE
Nandidae Badis badis
(Hamilton, 1822)
Badis Randoln
ee
LC NE
Nandidae Nandus nandus
(Hamilton, 1822)
Gangetic
leaffish
Gedgedi LC LRnt
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T h e S c i e n c e P r o b e | 20
Order Family Name of Fish
Species
Common
name
Vernac
ular
Name
IUCN
Status
CAMP
status
Gobiidae Glossogobius
giuris (Hamilton,
1822)
Tank goby Pani
mutura
LC LRnt
Anabantidae Anabas testudineus
(Bloch, 1792)
Climbing
perch
Kawoi DD VU
Osphronemid
ae
Trichogaster
lalius(Hamilton,
1822)
Dwarf
gourami
Lolkholi
sha
LC NE
Osphronemid
ae
*Trichogaster
chuna(Hamilton,18
22)
Honey
gourami
Bhasayl
ee
LC NE
Channidae Channa punctata
(Bloch, 1793)
Spotted
snake head
Goroi LC LRnt
Channidae Channa striata
(Bloch, 1793)
Striped
snakehead
Sol LC LRlc
Channidae Channa orientalis
(Bloch &
Schneider, 1801)
Asiatic snake
head
Chengal
i
NE VU
Tetraodontif
ormes
Tetraodontid
ae
Tetraodon cutcutia
(Hamilton, 1822)
Ocellated
pufferfish
Gangato
pe
LC LRnt
CAMP Abbreviation: EN-Endangered; VU-Vulnerable; LRnt-Lower risk near threatened; LRlc-
Lower risk least concern
IUCN Abbreviation: NT-Near Threatened; LC-Least concern; DD-Data deficient; NE-Not
evaluated
The Science Probe Vol. 2 No. 1 (February 2014) Page No- 11-24 ISSN: 2277 – 9566
T h e S c i e n c e P r o b e | 21
Table 2: List of Classified ornamental fishes found in Rowmari beel during 2009-2011.
Order Name of Fish Species
Cypriniformes Amblypharyngodon mola
Cabdio morar
Chela cachius
Esomus danricus
Salmophasia phulo
Puntius chola
Pethia conchonius
Puntius sophore
Pethia ticto
Rasbora daniconius
Acanthocobitis botia
Botia dario
Lepidocephalichthys guntea
Siluriformes
Mystus tengara
Mystus vittatus
Order
Name of Fish Species
Siluriformes
Neotropius atherinoides
Gagata cenia
Cyprinodontiformes Aplocheilus panchax
Mastacembeliformes Macrognathus aral
Macrognathus pancalus
Mastacembelus armatus
Perciformes
Chanda nama
Parambassis lala
Parambassis ranga
Badis badis
Nandus nandus
Trichogaster lalius
Trichogaster chuna
Tetraodontiformes
Channa orientalis
Tetraodon cutcutia
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T h e S c i e n c e P r o b e | 22
Table 3: Percentage occurrence of ornamental fishes of Rowmari Beel under conservation status
CAMP (1998) and IUCN(2013.2).
0
10
20
30
40
50
Nu
mb
er
of
spe
cie
s
Threat category
Fig 4:Conservation status of Ornamental fishes
CAMP(1998)
IUCN(2013)
Rowmari Beel: 2009-2011 EN VU NT LRnt LRlc LC DD NE
CAMP(1998) No. of Fish
species
2 9 …. 20 5 .. 1 13
%
contribution
4% 18% .. 40% 10% .. 2% 26%
IUCN(2013) No. of Fish
species
.. 0 4 … … 43 2 1
%
contribution
… .. 10% …. … 86% 40% 2%
Fig 3
The Science Probe Vol. 2 No. 1 (February 2014) Page No- 11-24 ISSN: 2277 – 9566
T h e S c i e n c e P r o b e | 23
Pic
ture
s O
f O
rnam
enta
al
Fis
hes
Avail
ab
le A
t R
ow
mari
Bee
l
Picture 1: Ornamental fishes at landing site
collected as miscellaneous group Picture 2: Pethia conchonius
Picture 3: Puntius ticto Picture 4: Trichogaster lalius
A panoramic view of Rowmari Beel.
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T h e S c i e n c e P r o b e | 24
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