This presentation provides information on the Kalibasu fish species. It discusses the local and scientific names of the fish, its taxonomic position, physical description including size and coloration, distribution across several countries in Asia, habitat in rivers and streams, diet of algae and plants, economic importance as a food source and its liver oil, ecological role in maintaining water quality, and threatened conservation status. The presentation was given by Shoriful Islam for a zoology class.
2. NAME
Local Name :
English : Orange Fin Labeo
Bangladesh : Kalibaus, Baus, Kalia
Common Name : Black Rohu
Scientific Name : Labeo calbasu
3. TAXONOMIC POSITION
Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Sub-Phylum : Vertebrata
Class : Oesteichthyes
Order : Cypriniformes
Family : Cyprinidae
Genus : Labeo
Species : Labeo calbasu
4. DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIES
Lips thick, fringed. 2 pairs of barbells,
rostal pair longer than maxillary pair.
Eye situated a bit anterior from the half of
the head .
Caudal peduncle is short .
Lateral well marked .
Scale type cycloid.
Scales moderate in size .
5. DESCRIPTION
Continue
There are 20 rows of scales before dorsal fin &
22 rows round the caudal peduncle.
Mouth is moderately wide and inferor.
Colour dark black but the ventral part light dark .
Ventral portion of the opercular region is white
iris coppery.
This fish attains a length of 90 cm .
8. HABIT AND HABITATS
Generally it is a bottom feeder.
It feeds on vegetable
matter,crustaceans,insect larvae etc.
It does in habit rivers and tributaries .
They are also seen in deep pools
clear sluggish streams,creeks .
It can be reared in ponds & tanks .
9. FOOD AND FEEDING HABIT
It feeds on algae 10% , higher plants 48%
,protozoa 12% ,crustaceans 10%
,Mollusca 5% ,mud and sand 15% .
L. calbasu feeds mainly organic detritus
which was recorded in the gut contents
more than 80% throughout work.
Latter contributed mostly on blue green
algae, diatoms and zooplankton are
described as incidental food.
10. ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE
The species is artificially bred in hatcheries
through hypophysation.
Marketed fresh during the winter season.
5.36g oil is found from 65 cm of its liver.Its
liver oil contains vitamin A.
This fish is in great demand in the market.
It is a good sport on rod and line.
11. ECOLOGICAL ROLE
Keeps the habitat clean by controlling the
population of aquatic plants,filamentous
algae,diatoms etc.
It improves the sanitation of tanks.
It also feeds on dead & decaying matter at
the bottom.
It act as scavenger & improves sanitation.
12. STATUS AND CONSERVATION
Available in Barnai river but listed in IUCN red list as threatened.
Public awareness builds up and stopped destructive fishing method
for conservation of the species.
The species was abundant in the catches of the haors & beels of
Sylhet and Mymensingh during the 1960s.
Currently it is available in small quantities.