Kerala’s flood ‘fugitives’ Kerala’s river systems, which the authors study, are home to around 200 species of fish, 30 percent of which are endemic to the region. Both species are also top predators in their native habitats, feeding on smaller fish (which puts Kerala’s small native species at risk). His journey, however, was not in vain; he was able to procure a small piece of fish tissue from the head. But though neither of the fish seems to have established “sustaining populations” in any of these river systems, their presence here is still a cause for concern, claims Kumar, professor and head of the Department of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries at the University of Kerala. 1Up In The House | Team24 takes another Chicken Dinner? After a month’s such work of analysing news reports, social media photographs and videos of ‘strange’ fish caught after the 2018 floods, and re-confirming sightings with local fishermen and fish vendors, the team – of A. Biju Kumar (University of Kerala), Raj, C.P. The arapaima and gar are dedicated parents too: their active care of their young increases the survival of their broods. While tiny swordtails and the giant gourami (both ‘fugitives’ of the ornamental fish industry) have established themselves in some rivers and streams of Kerala but are not invasive, the same cannot be said of the African catfish Clarius gariepinus. The fish probably escaped from aquaculture facilities during the floods, and are now ‘fugitives’ in the natural ecosystem, claim researchers. “However, there is no data on this, as most of the farms that were growing these fish are illegal and no one has background information on the number of fish stocked in these ponds along these flood plains.”. Like the arapaima, the gar too is alien: its native habitats are the freshwater lakes of North America. The Arapaima or Paicheis one of the largest species of freshwater fishes. Similarly, there is a huge demand for arapaima and alligator gar among fish hobbyists but these fish quickly outgrow their aquariums and owners often release these fish in the wild, said Raghavan. They also feature large scales. Additionally, arapaimas are air-breathers, a feature that could help them survive even in polluted habitats. “These are hardy species and our water bodies are ecologically suitable for them to establish good populations,” he wrote in an email. The Arapaima Fish is shaped like a torpedo. Photo from Smrithy Raj. “These are hardy species and our water bodies are ecologically suitable for them to establish good populations,” he wrote in an email. “Whether the species could turn invasive would depend on the number of breeding pairs that entered Kerala’s water bodies,” agreed Kumar. WhatsApp photographs of the unusual fish brought Smrithy Raj, a doctoral researcher studying fishes at Thiruvananthapuram’s University of Kerala, to the spot in a couple of days. However, there are no studies on the actual impacts these species could have on freshwater systems in India. “Once it does, we can get information on new occurrence records again.”. Arjun (of Thiruvananthapuram’s Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management) and Unmesh Katwate and Rajeev Raghavan (of Kochi’s Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies – KUFOS) – also obtained information on the presence of the alligator gar, another fish never recorded in Kerala’s waters before. Alligator gar too are formidable predators; they are piscivorous generalists with an affinity towards live fish, said Raghavan, an assistant professor at KUFOS. But though neither of the fish seems to have established “sustaining populations” in any of these river systems, their presence here is still a cause for concern, claims Kumar, professor and head of the Department of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries at the University of Kerala. Freshwater fish are fish that spend some or all of their lives in fresh water, such as rivers and lakes, with a salinity of less than 0.05%. Clear definitions of when a species is invasive in the real sense and causes ecosystem- and fisheries-level impacts are also crucial, he said. Their large scales are tough for predators to break through. Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, National Bureau of Fish Genetics Resources, Ashoka Trust for Research, Ecology and the Environment, using environmental DNA (e-DNA) to detect invasive fish, You may republish Mongabay content in your publication at no cost. Kerala’s river systems, which the authors study, are home to around 200 species of fish, 30 percent of which are endemic to the region. It is the largest freshwater invasive fish found in Kerala. After a month’s such work of analysing news reports, social media photographs and videos of ‘strange’ fish caught after the 2018 floods, and re-confirming sightings with local fishermen and fish vendors, the team – of A. Biju Kumar (University of Kerala), Raj, C.P. But this diversity is at risk due to ‘fugitive’ fish such as the arapaima and gar that escaped from aquaculture facilities and farms during the floods, claim the authors. Their bodies are black and they have reddish markings on them. At OLX you can find Fishes & Aquarium accessories and services in Kerala. The locals believe that because of this reason, Arapaimas are one of the most aggressive fishes in the world. Arapaima gigas. The fish can measure up to three metres in length and could put the native fish species at risk. Kerala’s flood ‘fugitives’ Kerala’s river systems, which the authors study, are home to around 200 species of fish, 30 percent of which are endemic to the region. Squirming around at the base was a fish he had never seen before: flat-headed and sporting large scales tinted in pink and cream. The illegally-introduced species is fast becoming a major concern in the state, says Basheer, who is part of an NBFGR project to study the impacts of exotic fish species in Indian waters, “Populations of African catfish are rapidly increasing in some waterbodies in Kerala, such as the Mattupetty, Aanayirangal and Periyar reservoirs of Idukki district,” he says. Kothamangalam (Ernakulam): A giant fish that weighs more than 100 kg and has a length of 6.75 feet has drawn crowd to the fish farm in Nadukani. A new family of bony freshwater fish has been discovered from paddy fields of Kerala. It was 7 September, barely a month after the floods of 2018 had wrecked large parts of Kerala. This fish was featured in the first episode of Jungle Hooks made in 2002, where Jeremy Wade attempted to catch this fish on camera. Alligator gar too are formidable predators; they are piscivorous generalists with an affinity towards live fish, said Raghavan, an assistant professor at KUFOS. Very rare to see this awesome monster fish in the hobby! 1Up In The House | Final Circle 1v3 by MorTaL OP? Image credit: Biju Kumar. There are news reports of alligator gar sightings from waterbodies in the states of Maharashtra, Odisha, West Bengal, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. “However, there is no data on this, as most of the farms that were growing these fish are illegal and no one has background information on the number of fish stocked in these ponds along these flood plains.”. Nevertheless, lack of mechan-isms for implementing and enforcing these provisions facilitates the illegal farming of top predators like arapaima and alligator gar in Kerala… “For the police and customs staff checking on biological quarantines, fish are fish. But now they are raised for us on a famous fish farm and are found living in aquariums all over the world. Some species may need to be addressed specifically. Maximum Size: In aquariums Arapaima can grow to be about 6' long, and sometimes larger if fed properly and if the water quality is good. Find latest and upcoming tech gadgets online on Tech2 Gadgets. Trade in both the species is barred in India. Kumar, who documented how ornamental exotic South American suckermouth armoured catfishes (genus Pterygoplichthys) were invading the drain networks of Thiruvananthapuram city in a study in 2015, found that traders and aquarium hobbyists were releasing these fish into drains when they grew too large for their aquariums or tanks. Smaller sized pellets when young, and larger sized pellets when bigger, is the ideal food for these fish. Pothanikkad native George Antony grew this giant fish in his farm. This policy, coupled with both an extensive database of invasive species with information on their invasion biology and an awareness campaign, would help in gradually managing the issue of invasive species, suggests Kumar. The illegally-introduced species is fast becoming a major concern in the state, says Basheer, who is part of an NBFGR project to study the impacts of exotic fish species in Indian waters, “Populations of African catfish are rapidly increasing in some waterbodies in Kerala, such as the Mattupetty, Aanayirangal and Periyar reservoirs of Idukki district,” he says. In Brazil, they are known as \"pirarucu,\" a word from the Tupi language, which translates roughly as \"red fish.\" In Peru, they are known … Genetic tests revealed that it was the arapaima, one of the world’s largest freshwater fish, endemic to the Amazon in South America. while the Kerala Fish Seed Bill, 2014 demands strict quarantine measures for introduction of any non-native fish into the state. Alligator gar in Kerala’s waters could indeed be a potential concern because the species is primarily carnivorous and can feed on native fish, said V. S. Basheer, principal scientist at Kochi’s National Bureau of Fish Genetics Resources (NBFGR). Mongabay-India is a conservation and environment news and features service that aims to bring high quality, original reports from nature’s frontline in India. For instance, in the case of the African catfish, identifying “recruitment areas” from where invasive fish fingerlings could be dispersing to other connected habitats such as swamps and wetlands (habitats with standing vegetation and slush where the catfish thrives very well and breeds) could be important, added Basheer. But the larger problem of aliens turning invasive is not restricted to Kerala’s waters alone. Also find here related product comparison | ID: 20067869648 Featured Today 11-28-2020. They are torpedo-like in shape, with narrow heads and long bodies. Chalakudy River is the one of very few rivers of Kerala with relics of riparian vegetation in substantial level. The arapaima is a river fish that appears in late summer.It was not present in Animal Forest, but appeared in subsequent games, and it will only appear between the hours of 4pm and 9am.Its rarity attributes to its sell price of 10,000 Bells.Its shadow size is huge, and likewise it is the largest river fish. Popular gadgets including laptop, tablet and mobile specifications, features, prices, comparison. Antony bought the fish from a Thrissur native 7 years ago. It measured six feet long and weighed a whopping 41 kilograms. Sergio Ricardo de Oliveira. But this diversity is at risk due to ‘fugitive’ fish such as the arapaima and gar that escaped from aquaculture facilities and farms during the floods, claim the authors. Both survive on small fish. Kerala has the largest number of these vloggers, followed by Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra. A couple of photos and videos making rounds on social media suggest that an Arapaima, a genus native to the Amazon and Essequibo basins of South America was caught by some locals from the Chalakudy river in Thrissur District. Several fish introduced legally in India for aquaculture such as tilapia are thriving in many water bodies across the country. This has to change, as we try to control truly invasive populations,” added Kelkar. Image credit: Smrithy Raj. “No new licenses should be given to farms for importing alien species,” he added. “This species could have a bigger chance to proliferate in Kerala’s freshwater habitats than the arapaima,” he says. Also find here related product comparison | ID: 20067869648 It is also known Pirarucu, after the son of the tribal chief who disobeyed gods. Other things, a number that seems barely enough to ‘ threaten ’ river systems to eat in Kerala Season! 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