Catla Catla Introduction, Morphology & it's Characteristics.

Catla catla, commonly known as Catla, is a freshwater fish species native to the Indian subcontinent. It is one of the primary freshwater food fish in India, Bangladesh, and surrounding regions. Catla are typically found in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs with slow to moderate water flow. They are herbivorous fish, feeding mainly on phytoplankton, aquatic plants, and detritus. Catla are important economically and culturally, often used in religious ceremonies and festivals in South Asia. They are also farmed extensively due to their high demand for consumption. With their rapid growth rate and ability to thrive in a variety of water conditions, Catla play a crucial role in the aquaculture industry in the region.

1. University of Chakwal, Pakistan

2. Topic: Catla fish Department of Zoology Presented by: Sahibzadi Iqra Farhat Roll # UOC-BSZOL-F2020/017 Session: 2020-24 Instructor Name: Dr. Syeda Nadia Ahmad 2

3. ichthyology

4. Introduction Taxonomy Distribution Historical background Importance Morphology Unique facts Behavior Recent research

5. Introduction TO CATLA FISH Catla commonly known as Thaila  It is important part of polyculture system  Habit- a surface-feeder, usually feeds on phytoplankton, zooplankton, small insects, and crustacean.  Spawning period- April to late July .  Catla catla is known as a protein major source from Pakistani aquatic bodies.  [6] 5

6. TAXONOMY 6 The taxonomy of Catla catla fish is as follows: Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Cypriniformes Family: Cyprinidae Genus: Catla Species: Catla catla   [4]

7. DISTRIBUTION 7 Basically present in freshwater habitats of South Asia, including: Pakistan: Indus River system  India: Ganges, Yamuna, Brahmaputra river systems Bangladesh: Major river systems like the Ganges, Brahmaputra, Meghna  Nepal: Terai floodplains   [5]

8. Historical background Traditional practice in the eastern Indian states.  Due to high growth rate its demand increased in India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Laos, Pakistan and Thailand.  The collection of riverine seed was the only source for culture until the 1950s. In 1957 this form of polyculture was revolutionized in Pakistan and other south-east Asian countries. [2] 8

9. Historical background CONT. 5. The species has also been introduced elsewhere,  including Sri Lanka, Israel, Japan, and Mauritius. 6. At present,  catla  forms an integral component species, both in three-species polyculture with rohu and mrigal, and six-species composite carp culture, which adds common carp , grass carp  and silver carp  to the species mix. [2] 9

10. 10 Fig. 1: Main producer countries of Catla catla (FAO Fishery statistics, 2006) Pakistan

11. importance Food and Nutrition:   Catla catla  is a highly preferred food fish due to its: Large size:  They can grow up to 1-1.2 meters and weigh over 40 kgs. Flavor:  Their flesh is considered delicious and a delicacy in South Asian cuisine. Nutritional Value:  They are a good source of protein, essential fatty acids, and minerals. [6] 11 Fig. 2: Catla fish as food (kolkatafish.com)

12. Aquaculture:   Catla catla  plays a significant role in aquaculture for several reasons: Fast Growth:  They are the fastest growing among the three major carps Polyculture:  They are ideal for polyculture systems, effectively utilizing the upper water layers while other carp species occupy different zones . [6] 12 Fig.3: Catla fish in polyculture system ( agrifarming.in)

13. Ecological Role:   Catla catla  contributes to maintaining a healthy ecosystem by: Diet:  As herbivores, they regulate algae and plankton populations, preventing excessive growth and improving water quality . [6] 13 Fig. 4: Catla fish eat lagae ( farm2.staticflickr.com)

14. morphology Body- short and laterally compressed,  Head- very large,  Scales-  large cycloid ,  Head- devoid of scales;  Snout- bluntly rounded;  14 Eyes- large and visible from underside of the head;  Mouth- wide and upturned with prominent protruding lower jaw; Upper lip- absent,  Lower lip- very thick ; [2]

15. Morphology cont. Barbels - absent  Lower jaw with a movable articulation at symphysis Gill rakers long and fine; pharyngeal teeth in three row;  Greyish on back and flanks, silvery-white below; fins dusky Anal fin short;  Pectoral fins long extending to pelvic fins;  Caudal fin forked;  Dorsal fin inserted slightly in advance of pelvic fns, with 14 to 16 branched rays;  [2] 15

16. 16 Fig. 5: Morphology of Catla Fish (stock.adobe.com)

17. UNIQUE FACTS ABOUT CATLA FISH BREEDING Catla is a eurythermal species. It grows best at water temperatures between 25-32 °C.  Catla is the most difficult to breed as it requires precise environmental conditions for spawning.  Under normal conditions catla grows to 1-1.2 kg in the first year, compared to rohu and mrigal, respectively.  It attends sexual maturity in two years.  [2] 17 Fig. 6: Conditions for cultivating Catla fish (Pixnio.com)  

18. AIR GULPING BEHAVIOR Unlike most fish, Catla catla  can gulp air from the atmosphere using a specialized suprabranchial organ. This adaptation allows them to survive in water with low oxygen levels, a common occurrence in ponds and stagnant waters during hot summers. [7] 18 Fig.7: Air gulping behavior of Catla  fish   (live.staticflickr.com)

19. BEHAVIOR OF CATLA FISH MIGRATORY BEHAVIOR Catla catla  are considered as  potamodromous.   Their movements might be related to: Feeding:  Follow food sources like plankton blooms. Spawning:   Catla perform a spawning migration during the monsoon season.  The spawning season  lasts between May and August in Bangladesh, and in India and Pakistan from June to September.  [ 7] Fig.8: Migration of Catla fish  (www.stillaguamish.com)

20. PARENTAL BEHAVIOR In the case of Catla catla , there is no parental care exhibited by the adults. Because of: Spawning Strategy:   Catla catla  are known for practicing broadcast spawning. This means they release eggs and sperm freely into the water column, leaving the fertilization and development of the eggs to chance. No Nesting or Guarding:  Unlike some fish species that build nests or guard their eggs, Catla catla show no such behavior. The released eggs become part of the plankton and fend for themselves. [7] Fig. 9: Broadcast spawning ( Testimgs.s3.amazonaws.com)

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22. Recent research finding In 2024, the study aimed to determine the amino acid profiles of Hilsa (threonine, valine, isoleucine, histidine, and lysine) Catla (methionine, leucine, and phenylalanine) [1] In 2022, the study aimed to determine the concentration of essential and toxic metals in the tissues of  Catla catla  in Mangla Lake and to assess the possible risk to the consumers.  Mean levels of Pb, As, Co, Mn, Cd, Cr and Zn in  Catla catla  muscle were found to be exceeding the international permissible limits for the safe human consumption.  [1]

23. Recent research finding cont. In 2021, the study was conducted to determine the relationship of morphometric parameters with total length of Indian major carp. Result shows that growth of fish is normal and the aquatic environment of water body is conducive for the fish. [8] In 2021, the study was conducted to assess the hematological and histopathological changes in major carp ( Catla catla ) exposed to different concentrations of copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd). The study indicates that exposure to Cu and Cd for longer period of time causes adverse hematological and histopathological changes in  Catla catla  fish. [3]

24. references 1.Ahmed, E., Jahan, I., & Shaheen, N. (2023). Comparative analysis of amino acid profile of tenualosa ilisha and catla catla and their potential contribution to recommended nutrient intake.  Bioresearch Communications- (BRC) ,  10 (01), 1371–1377.  2.  FAO. 2009.   Catla catla . In Cultured aquatic species fact sheets. 3.  Naz, S., Hussain, R., Ullah, Q., Chatha, A. M. M., Shaheen, A., & Khan, R. U. (2021). Toxic effect of some heavy metals on hematology and histopathology of major carp ( Catla catla ).  Environmental science and pollution research ,  28 , 6533-6539. 4. Pugazhendy , K., Tamizhazhagan, V., Jayanthi, C., Sakthidasan , V., & Sasikala, P. (2018). Toxicological critical review report of catla catla ( hamilton , 1822).  Indo american journal sciences ,  5 (8), 7397-7402 .  24

25. References cont. 5 . Rahman, A. K. A. (2005). Freshwater Fishes of Bangladesh (2nd ed.). Dhaka: Bangladesh Fisheries Research Forum 6. Shahzad, M. M., Hussain, S. M., Hussain, M., Tariq, M., Ahmed, N., Furqan, M., Khalid, F., & Rafique, T. (2020). Improvement in overall performance of  Catla   catla  fingerlings fed phytase included low cost plant by products- based diet.  Saudi journal of biological sciences ,  27 (8), 2089–2096 7.    Sultana, N., Chowdhury, M. A., & Shahnawaj , M. (2020). Seasonal movement    of fish species of Rajshahi and Khulna division in Bangladesh. Int. J. Fish.  Aquat . Stud, 8(3), 639-645 8.    Ujjania , N. C., & Chaudhari, S. H. (2021). Assessment of Growth Pattern in   Relation to Certain Morphometric Parameters of  Catla   catla  (Ham. 1822)    in  Vallabhsagar  Reservoir (Gujarat).  Int. J.  Livest . Res ,  11 (1), 69-74. 25