Feeding Habits and Reproductive Biology of an Endemic Carp, Osteobrama Cunma (Day, 1888) of Manipur (Teleostomi: Cyprinidae)

Yumnam Bedajit; Sushant Kumar Chakraborty; Waikhom Vishwanath; Geetanjali Deshmukhe; Ashok Kumar Jaiswor; Yurembam Motilan

Volume : III, Issue : V, May - 2014

Feeding Habits and Reproductive Biology of an Endemic Carp, Osteobrama Cunma (Day, 1888) of Manipur (Teleostomi: Cyprinidae)

Yumnam Bedajit, Sushant Kumar Chakraborty, Waikhom Vishwanath, Geetanjali Deshmukhe, Ashok Kumar Jaiswor, Yurembam Motilan

Abstract :

The alimentary canal of Osteoama cunma is a long tube with undifferentiated stomach. Pharyngeal teeth are present for crushing the aquatic plants which formed the main food item (40–60%). The maximum values of Gonadosomatic Index for males and females were observed during May (6.25) and June (13.9824) respectively. Absolute fecundity determined in the size range of 91–111.53 mm in total length and 6.89–17.77g in body weight ranged from 1001 egg for ovary weight of 0.91g to 7449 eggs for ovary weight of 1.91g. These findings will be important for pisciculture and fisheries resource management strategies as this is an endemic species whose population has declined drastically