Journal of Environment and Sociobiology

Arijit Ganguly ¹, Debangshu Narayan Das ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Zoology, Achhruram Memorial College, Jhalda-723202, Purulia, IN
2 Fishery and Aquatic Ecology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Rajiv Gandhi University, Rono Hills, Doimukh-791112, Arunachal Pradesh, IN

Abstract

Aborichthys kempi is a stream loach from Arunachal Pradesh having ornamental value. The present work attempts to document the gut anatomy and food preference of A. kempi for the first time with the objective to enlighten its feeding ecology which may facilitate its sustainable rearing practice. Fishes were caught throughout the year and sacrificed in order to obtain the length of esophagous, stomach and intestine. Although presence of a prominent stomach and short intestine primarily pointed to a carnivorous habit of this fish, results of relative gut length (RGL) and Zihler's Index (ZI) could not precisely confirm the same. Later, their stomach contents were examined and documented. While presence of both phytoplanktons and zooplanktons indicated towards its omnivorous habit, the presence of a huge number of zooplanktons, insects and other arthropod debris confirmed their preference to carnivory. However, there is a possibility that the species is primarily a carnivore, and ingestion of phytoplanktons was accidental during preying upon any large organism.

Keywords

Aborichthys kempi, Food Preference, Gut Anatomy, Potential Ornamental Fish, Gut Contents.

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