Fin Fishes of the River Choto Jamuna

River Choto Jamuna is an important and well-known river in Northern Bangladesh and one of the major distributaries of the River Atrai. This river contributes much in terms of fish production and source of income for many fishermen living beside this river. A total of 63 species of fishes have been recorded belonging to 41 genera, 23 families and 9 orders (Galib et al 2013). However the species of fishes which are found in the Choto Jamuna at Badalgachhi upazilla in Naogoan district are given here-

 

Order: Beloniformes

Family	Species	English name	Local name
Belonidae	Xenentodon cancila	Freshwater garfish	Kakila

Order: Clupeiformes

Family	Species	English name	Local name
Clupeidae	Gudusia chapra	Indian river shad	Chapila
Engraulidae	Setipinna phasa	Gangetic hairfin anchovy	Phasa

Order: Cypriniformes

Family	Species	English name	Local name
Cyprinidae	Amblypharyngodon mola	Mola carplet	Mola, Moa
	Aspidoparia morar	Aspidoparia	Pioly
	Catla catla	Catla	Catal, Catla
	Cirrhinus mrigala	Mrigal carp	Mrigel, Mirka
	Cirrhinus reba	Reba	Raik
	Ctenopharyngodon idella	Grass carp	Glass/grass carp
	Esomous danricus	Flying barb	Darkina, Darka
	Hypophthalmichthys molitrix	Silver carp	Silver carp
	Labeo bata	Bata	Bata
	Labeo calbasu	Orange-fin labeo	Calbaus
	Labeo rohita	Roho labeo	Rui
	Puntius chola	Swamp barb	Chola puti
	Puntius phutunio	Spottedsail barb	Phutani puti
	Puntius sarana	Olive barb	Sarputi
	Puntius sophore	Pool barb	Jatputi
	Puntius ticto	Ticto barb	Titputi
	Salmostoma bacaila	Large razorbelly minnow	Chela
	Salmostoma phulo	Finescale razorbelly minnow	Chela
Cobitidae	Botia dario	Bengal loach	Rani, Bou
	Botia lohachata	Reticulate/Y-loach	Rani, Bou
	Lepidocephalus guntia	Guntea loach	Gutum
	Somileptus gongota	Gongota loach	Pahari gutum

Order: Cyprinodontiformes

Family	Species	English name	Local name
Aplocheilidae	Aplocheilus panchax	Blue panchax	Pach chok

Order: Perciformes

Family	Species	English name	Local name
Ambassidae	Chanda lala	Highfin glassy perchlet	Choto chanda
	Chanda nama	Elongate glass-perchlet	Nama chanda
	Chanda ranga	Indian glass-perchlet	Lal chanda
Anabantidae	Anabas testudineus	Climbing perch	Koi
Channidae	Channa marulius	Great snakehead	Gozar
	Channa orientalis	Walking snakehead	Cheng
	Channa punctata	Spotted snakehead	Taki
	Channa striata	Snakehead murrel	Shol
Gobiidae	Glossogobius giuris	Tank goby	Bele, Baila
Mugilidae	Rhinomugil corsula	Corsula mullet	Ural, Korsula
Osphronemidae	Colisa fasciata	Banded gourami	Boro kholisha
	Colisa lalia	Dwarf gourami	Lal kholisa

Order: Siluriformes

Family	Species	English name	Local name
Bagridae	Mystus aor	Long whiskered catfish	Ayre
	Mystus cavasius	Gangetic mystus	Gulsa tengra
	Mystus seenghala	Giant river catfish	Guizza ayre
	Mystus tengara	Tengara catfish	Choto tengra
	Mystus vittatus	Stripped dwarf catfish	Tengra
	Rita rita	Rita	Rita
Clariidae	Clarias batrachus	Walking catfish	Magur
Heteropneustidae	Heteropneustes fossilis	Stinging catfish	Shing, Kanos
Pangasiidae	Pangasius pangasius	Pungas	Pangus
Schilbeidae	Ailia coila	Gangetic alia	Baspata
	Clupisoma garua	Garua bacha	Gang gaira
	Eutropiichthys vacha	Batchwa vacha	Bacha
	Pseudeutropius atherinoides	Potasi	Batashi
Siluridae	Ompok bimaculatus	Butter catfish	Boili pabda
	Ompok pabda	Pabdah catfish	Pabda
	Wallago attu	Freshwater shark	Boal
Sisoridae	Bagarius bagarius	Gangetic goonch	Bagair
	Gagata cenia	Indian gagata	Jungla magur

Order: Synbranchiformes

Family	Species	English name	Local name
Mastacembelidae	Macrognathus aculeatus	Lesser spiny eel	Tara baim
	Mastacembelus armatus	Zig-zag eel	Sal baim , baim
	Mastacembelus pancalus	Barred spiny eel	Guchi
Synbranchidae	Monopterus cuchia	Mud eel	Kuchia

Order: Osteoglossiformes

Family	Species	English name	Local name
Notopteridae	Notopterus chitala	Clown knifefish	Chital
	Notopterus notopterus	Bronze featherback	Foli

Order: Tetraodontiformes

Family	Species	English name	Local name
Tetraodontidae	Tetraodon cutcutia	Ocellated pufferfish	Potka

 

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Choto Jamuna at Badalgachhi upazilla in Naogoan, Bangladesh

 

The River Choto Jamuna losing its fish biodiversity day by day (Galib et al 2013). Several reasons including degradation of natural habitat, excess exploitation using illegal fishing gears, use of toxins in aquaculture ponds are responsible for this loss of fish diversity in Bangladesh (IUCN Bangladesh  2000, Galib et al 2009 and 2010). Conservation of fish diversity is essential to maintain ecological/nutritional or socio-economic equilibrium (Lakra 2010). So, as soon as possible effective management is essential to deal with this alarming threat. Establishment of perennial and seasonal (during breeding seasons) fish sanctuaries may serve this purpose.

 

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