Mrigal carp

The mrigal carp (Cirrhinus cirrhosus), (Bengali: মৃগেল, romanized: mrigél) also known as the white carp, is a species of ray-finned fish in the carp family. Native to streams and rivers in India, the only surviving wild population is in the Cauvery River, leading to its IUCN rating as vulnerable.[1] It is widely aquafarmed and introduced populations exist outside its native range.[1][2] It reaches a maximum length of 1 m (3.3 ft).[3] This species and Cirrhinus mrigala are considered distinct.

Mrigal carp
From the Nandu River
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Subfamily: Labeoninae
Genus: Cirrhinus
Species:
C. cirrhosus
Binomial name
Cirrhinus cirrhosus
(Bloch, 1795)
Synonyms
  • Cirrhina blochii Valenciennes, 1842
  • Cirrhinus blochii Valenciennes, 1842
  • Cirrhinus chaudhryi Srivastava, 1968
  • Cirrhinus cuvierii Jerdon, 1849
  • Cirrhinus horai Lakshmanan, 1966
  • Cyprinus cirrhosus Bloch, 1795
  • Dangila leschenaultii Valenciennes, 1842
  • Mrigala buchanani Bleeker, 1860

Aquaculture

Mrigal is popular as a food fish and an important aquacultured freshwater species throughout South Asia.[4] It is widely farmed as a component of a polyculture system of three Indian major carps, along with roho labeo and the catla. The introduction to aquaculture across India started in the early 1940s and in the 1950s and in the 1960s to other Asian countries. The mrigal carp fails to breed naturally in ponds, thus induced breeding is done.[1]

The Indian carps are considered as a delicacy compared to other exotic carp species also cultured in Asia, and sell for higher prices.[1] Reported annual aquafarming production numbers of mrigal carp since the early 1990s have varied between 250,000 and 550,000 tonnes, with no clear trend. India and Bangladesh are the largest producers.[2] In Pakistan, this fish is known by the name of "Morakhi" or "Moree".

Habitat and ecology

Mrigal is the benthopelagic and potamodromous plankton feeder. It inhabits fast flowing streams and rivers, but can tolerate high levels of salinity. Spawning occurs in marginal areas of the water bodies with a depth of 50 to 100 centimetres (20 to 39 in) over a sand or clay substrate. A 6-kilogram (13 lb) female can lay a million eggs. This fish has a rapid growth rate; by the age of two individuals can reach a length of 60 centimetres (24 in) and can weigh as much as 2 kilograms (4.4 lb).

References
  1. Rema Devi, K.R. & Ali, A. (2011). "Cirrhinus cirrhosus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2011: e.T166531A6230103. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T166531A6230103.en.
  2. FAO (2014). "Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton, 1822)". Cultured Aquatic Species Information Programme. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  3. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2014). "Cirrhinus cirrhosus" in FishBase. May 2014 version.
  4. Development of freshwater fish farming and poverty alleviation - A case study from Bangladesh
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