Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

FOOD AND FEEDING HABITS OF THE HILL STREAM FISH GARRA GOTYLA GOTYLA (TELEOSTEI: CYPRINIDAE) IN THE STREAMS OF SOUTH-EASTERN RAJASTHAN

Kuldeep Singh Gaur , Vipul Sharma , M.S. Sharma and Bhoopendra Kumar Verma

Abstract

Study of food and feeding habits of fishes is of great importance in understanding migration, growth and seasonal variations in conditions. The study was carried out to investigate the stomach contents of Garra gotyla gotyla from hill streams and tributaries of the Chambal river situated in South-eastern part (24° 51' 53"N to 25° 00' 23"N, 75° 26' 25"E to 75° 35' 52"E) of Rajasthan. Food and feeding habits of Garra gotyla gotyla was studied. It was found to be a herbivorous fish. The food recorded includes algae belonging to Chlorophyceae (Volvox sp., Oedogonium sp., Spirogyra sp., Ulothrix sp.and Chlorella sp.), Myxophyceae (Oscillatoria sp.) and Bacillariophyceae (Tabellaria sp., Fragillaria sp., Pinnularia sp., Cymbella sp., Synedra sp. and Navicula sp.). Out of these Oedogonium sp.was the most frequent amongst Chlorophyceae whereas the Cymbella sp. was most represented in the Bacillariophyceae.