A guide to the freshwater fauna of Ceylon

Freshwater animals are of importance in the economy of most countries. In recent years the scientific cultivation of freshwater fish for food has been spreading throughout South-East Asia and the Far-East. New and useful species of fish have been introduced into many countries including Ceylon where the older system of trapping any variety of fish that is available is being replaced by scientifically planned management with a view to increasing the production of good quality fish. Considerable quantities of food mainly in the form of fish are being taken from our freshwaters, providing a cheap source of much needed protein in the diet of the villager. More recently large quantities of freshwater fish are being consumed by the urban population.

Fish and shell fish fauna of the retting and nonretting zones of the Kadinamkulam kayal, Kerala

Retting of coconut husk is one of the major problems of pollution in the estuaries (kayals) of Kerala. Retting activity has resulted in the mass destruction of the flora and fauna and has converted sizeable sections of the kayal into virtual cesspools of foul smelling stagnant waters. Levels of hydrogen sulphide, phosphate and BOD, increased while dissolved oxygen and fish and shellfish fauna decreased in the ambient waters. In the Kadinamkulam kayal a total of 37 species of fishes belonging to 26 families, 5 species of prawn and 2 species each of crabs and molluscs were recorded from the no retting zone, whereas only 20 species of fish in dead condition were collected from the rating zone. Prawns, crabs and molluscs were absent at the vetting zone. Majority of the fish fauna in the kayal were marine forms.

A guide to the freshwater fauna of Ceylon. Supplement 1.

This is the first of a series consequent to "A guide to the freshwater fauna of Ceylon" by A. S. Mendis and C. H. Fernando, Bull. Fish. Res. Stn. Ceylon No. 12, 160 pp. (1962). The purpose of this series is to make the above-mentioned work more comprehensive. The present supplement is restricted to the Arthropoda.

A Guide to the freshwater fauna of Ceylon. Supplement 2

This is the second supplement to "A guide to the freshwater fauna of Ceylon" by A. S. Mendis and C. H. Fernando, Bull. Fish. Res. Stn., Ceylon, No. 12, 160 pp. (1962). In the present supplement additions and corrections are made in the sections on Protozoa, Annelida and Arthropoda. The sections on Platyhelrainthes and Nematoda have been expanded and the Acanthocephala added. A list of species recorded and the hosts of the parasitic forms are included. In the "Guide", the insects with only larval stages in aquatic habitats were mentioned only briefly and no species lists were included. In this supplement this gap is largely filled by added notes and inclusion of species lists of all these groups except the Neuroptera, Lepidoptera, Tabanidae, Syrphidae and Stratiomyidae. The orders Neuroptera and Lepidoptera have relatively few members in freshwater habitats and the families Tabanidae, Syrphidae and Stratiomyidae have forms with larvae in aquatic habitats and also in moist places which are not true freshwater habitats. At this time, it is not possible to separate those forms living in freshwater habitats. Short diagnoses of six additional families are given, namely, the ixidae, Psychodidae, Tabanidae Stratiomyidae, Rhagionidae and Sciomyzidae. Keys are provided for the Odonata and Ephermeroptera larvae down to the family level. An attempt has been made to make the references more comprehensive. Works dealing specifically with the Ceylonese fauna are of course included, but in addition those which are of use in diagnosis of local genera and species have been cited.

A Preliminary survey of 21 Ceylon lakes. 3. Parasites and predators, food of fish, and marginal fauna

Three nematodes, two acanthocephalans and three cestodes were collected by dissecting 15 species of fish. Of these parasites only Hedruris sp. a larval nematode is responsible directly for the death of fish, since it is found in predatory species a reduction of these might prove of considerable consequence to fish, production. Bothriocephalus gowleonensis, a cestode probably introduced from China with Chinese carp, was recorded in an indigenous carp Puntius sarana. This parasite causes heavy mortality in grass carp in China and is a potential danger to local species. A single crustacean parasite was recorded. It is likely that they are widespread. No protozoa were recorded but there can be little doubt that they occur in local freshwater species and may be of considerable importance in fisheries. Several predators (insects, fish and other vertebrates) were recorded and are doubtless of considerable importance. However, the role of parasites and of predators (especially fishes) in relation to the productivity of fisheries can hardly be assessed at present and needs further study. A study of the fauna found at the shallow edges of 21 irrigation reservoirs showed an abundance of fauna in the low-country reservoirs whilst the up-country reservoirs had a poor fauna. The fauna showed insects, crustacea and mollusca in this order of abundance. The presence of insect and molluscs feeding fish in our fauna shows that these rich sources of food are being utilised.

A guide to the freshwater fauna of Ceylon. Supplement 3

This supplement to the “Guide to the freshwater fauna of Ceylon” by A. S. Mendis and C. H. Fernando. Bull Fish. Res. Stn. Ceylon 12, 160 pp. (1962) includes a number of additional records to the fauna and nomenclatural changes designed to bring the names of the Rotifera, and Hydracarina up to date. This latter involves a complete change in naming of Rotifera to keep in line with modern nomenclature synonymizing species where necessary. A major study on the water mites of India by Cook (1067) has necessitated considerable changes in the naming of Ceylonese species. Besides the Rotifera and Hydracarina the Ilemiptera-Heteroptera have received attention as regards the Corixidae and new generic and specific records from published and unpublished material has been included. A major difficulty in studying freshwater animals (for that matter any animals) is the lack of suitable illustrations of local forms. An attempt has been made to fill this gap for the Rotifera and Turbellaria, It is hoped that in future supplements other groups can be similarly dealt with.

Results of the Austrian-Ceylonese hydrobiological mission 1970 of the 1st Zoological Institute of the University of Vienna (Austria) and the Department of Zoology of the University of Ceylon Vidyalankara Campus, Kelaniya. Pt. 13. Some remarkable ripicol insects of the Ceylonese fauna

New Ceylonese records namely, Euscelimena gavialis (Sauss.), Paranemobius pictus Sauss. and semiaquatic cockroaches of the genus Rhabdoblatta were found in the collection of Saltatorid and Dictyopterid insects.

A fauna acompanhante de camarāo no Banco de Sofala: análise preliminar

An estimation of the total industrial catch of the shallow water shrimp by-catch for the period 1986-1990 is presented. By-catch species compositions based on landings and onboard samples at ex-Emopesca/Beira (Marbeira) and Pescamar are also presented. The by-catch is essentially composed by 2nd and 3rd commercial fish categories, other crustaceans and cephalopods appearing in varying proportions in the catch. The total catch of shrimp by-catch estimated for the period is approximately 17 to 25 thousand tons per year.

Relatório do cruzeiro realizado no Banco de Sofala pelo navio "Pantikapey" de 7-23/Junho/1981: peixes demersais e fauna acompanhante de camarāo

Catch composition and bathymetric distribution of demersal fish caught along the coast of Mozambique between parallels 16 degree 20' and 19 degree 30' S at depths of 11 to 180 metres are given. The shrimp by-catch was also studied.

Relatório do cruzeiro realizado no Banco de Sofala pelo navio "Pantikapey" de 7-23/Junho/1981: peixes pelágicos e fauna acompanhante de Carapau e Cavala

This report of the research cruise (7 to 23 June 1981) surveying pelagic marine resources of the Sofala Bank (Mozambique) describes the size composition, distribution, length-weight relationships and sex-ratio of the fish captured. Decapterus russellii, D. macrosoma, Selar crumenophthalmus and Rastrelliger kanagurta represented 21.7% of the total catch. The by-catch was also studied.

Relatório do cruzeiro realizado no Banco de Sofala pelo navio "Pantikapey" de 21 de Julho a 7 de Agosto de 1981: peixes pelágicos e fauna acompanhante de Carapau e Cavala

This report of the research cruise (21 July to 7 August, 1981) surveying pelagic marine resources of the Sofala Bank (Mozambique) describes size composition distribution, length-weight relationships and sex-ratio of the fish captured. Decapterus russellii, D. macrosoma, Selar crumenophthalmus and Rastrelliger kanagurta represented 21.7% of the total catch. The by-catch was also studied.

Relatório do cruzeiro realizado no Banco de Sofala no barco "Meleia" em Agosto de 1981: fauna acompanhante de camarāo

This cruise report describes the Sofala Bank (Mozambique) crustacean stocks and the fish by-catch. A survey was made of the stock assessment of demersal fish with commercial interest, fishing grounds, biology and distribution of the most abundant demersal fishes and the specific composition of trawl catch areas.

Guide to the freshwater fauna of Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Supplement 4

In the present supplement, where records in the past have been few in a group, new records are given of localities both as regards species previously recorded from Sri Lanka and especially for new records. This gives the new records more standing and may enable others to collect these species. Over 50 species are recorded for the first time in Sri Lanka. A general survey of the freshwater fauna is attempted. This is intended to give an indication of the groups as regards their numerical status in species and the extent to which different groups have been investigated. Using this data on the invertebrate fauna, the prospects for introduction of invertebrates is discussed.

Fish fauna of a coastal lagoon in Sri Lanka: distribution and seasonal variation

In this paper results of investigations carried out over the period of September 1977 to August 1978 are presented. These data were collected in the course of a detailed investigation into the biology and the eco-physiology of the young grey mullet and the grey mullet fishery of the Negombo Lagoon. In this paper the distribution and seasonal variation of fin fish species within the Negombo Lagoon are presented.

Post impoundment changes in the fish fauna of Kaptai reservoir, Bangladesh

Based on the present investigation and reviewing the published and unpublished documents critically, this communication considers the post impoundment changes in the fish fauna of Kaptai reservoir. Investigation reveals that a total of 73 species of fish belongs to 47 genera, 25 families and 2 species of prawn are present in the reservoir. Of them, 31 are commercially important, 6 and 9 species are newly identified.