Jump to content

Mahseer

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Bolori (talk | contribs) at 22:18, 24 February 2011. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Mahseer
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Teleostomi
Superorder:
Ostariophysi
Order:
Cypriniformes
Suborder:
Cyprinoidei
Family:
Cyprinidae
Subfamily:
Cyprininae
Genus:
Tor
Gray, 1834

Neolissochilus
Rainboth, 1985

Naziritor
Mirza & Javed, 1985
Species

See text for species.

Mahseer is the common name used for the genera Tor, Neolissochilus, and Naziritor in the family Cyprinidae (carps).[1][2][3] The name Mahseer is however more often restricted to members of the genus Tor.[4] The range of this fish is from Malaysia, Indonesia, across southern Asia to Pakistan, including the Indian Peninsula. [5][6] They are commercially important game fish, as well as highly esteemed food fish. Mahseer fetch high market price, and are potential candidate species for aquaculture.[7] Several of the larger species have suffered severe declines, and are now considered threatened due to pollution, habitat loss and overfishing.

The taxonomy of the mahseers is confusing due to the morphological variations they exhibit. In developing strategies for aquaculture and propagation assisted rehabilitation of mahseer species, there is a need to resolve taxonomic ambiguities.[8]

Mahseers inhabit both rivers and lakes, ascending to rapid streams with rocky bottoms for breeding. Like other types of carps, they are omnivorous, eating not only algae, crustaceans, insects, frogs, and other fish, but also fruits that fall from trees overhead.

The first species from this group were scientifically described by Francis Buchanan-Hamilton in 1822, and first mentioned as an angling challenge by the Oriental Sporting Magazine in 1833, soon becoming a favorite quarry of British anglers living in India.[9] The golden mahseer has been known to reach 2.75 m (9 ft) in length and 54 kg (118 lb) in weight, although specimens of this size are rarely seen nowadays.[10][11] In addition to being caught for sport, mahseer are also part of commercial fishing and ornamental or aquarium fish.

Etymology

The Hindi name of mahāsir, mahāser, or mahāsaulā is used for a number of fishes of the group. British anglers in India called them the Indian salmon. Several sources of the common name mahseer have been suggested: It has been said to be derived from Sanskrit, while others claim it is derived from Indo-Persian, mahi- fish and sher- tiger or tiger among fish in Persian.[citation needed] Alternatively, mahā-śalka, meaning large-scaled, as the scales are so large that Buchanan mentions that playing cards were made from them at Dacca. Another theory by Henry Sullivan Thomas suggests mahā-āsya; great mouth.[12] The name Mahasher is commonly used in Urdu, Punjabi and Kashmiri languages in Pakistan for this fish and is said to be made up of two local words: Maha = big and sher = lion as it ascends in the hilly rivers and streams of Himalaya courageously. It is also found in Nepal, where it is called 'SAHAR'.

Species

Advertisement for Mahseer fishing tackle 1897

Sen and Jayaram restrict the term mahseer to members of the genus Tor. However, the few species of genus Neolissochilus and two species of genus Naziritor are also called as mahseer due to their big size scales and some similarities.[4]

Cultural reference

Represents the National fish of Pakistan (unofficial).

Current Problems in Himachal Pradesh

In Himachal Pradesh Golden Mahseer is depleting at a fast rate from the state even though it was categorised as an endangered species by the National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources(NBFGR)as early as in 1992. The factors leading to this situation are mainly :--- 1. Distortion of rivers due to the construction of river valley projects 2. Multipurpose dams 3. Shrinking habitat 4. Poaching 5. Exploitation

Genus Tor

Genus Neolissochilus

Genus Naziritor

References

  1. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Tor". FishBase. April 2008 version.
  2. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Neolissochilus". FishBase. April 2008 version.
  3. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Naziritor". FishBase. April 2008 version.
  4. ^ a b Sen TK, Jayaram KC, 1982. The Mahseer Fish of India - a Review. Rec. Zoological Survey of India. Misc. Publ. Occasional Paper 39, 38p.
  5. ^ Menon AGK, 1992. Taxonomy of mahseer fishes of the genus Tor Gray with description of a new species from the Deccan. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 89 (2):210-228
  6. ^ Roberts TR, 1999. Fishes of the cyprinid genus Tor in the Nam Theun watershed, Mekong Basin of Laos, with description of a new species. Raffles Bulletan Zoology. 47(1), 225-236.
  7. ^ Ogale, S.N. 2002 Mahseer breeding and conservation and possibilities of commercial culture. The Indian experience. In T. Petr and D.B. Swar (eds.) Cold Water Fisheries in the Trans-Himalayan Countries. FAO Fish. Tech. Pap. 431.
  8. ^ a b Mohindra, V., Khare, Praveen., Lal, K. K., Punia, P., Singh, R. K., Barman, A. S., and Lakra, W. S. Lakra. 2007. Molecular discrimination of five Mahseer species from Indian peninsula using RAPD analysis Acta Zoologica Sinica. 53(4): 725-732
  9. ^ Cordington, K. De. B. 1939. Notes on Indian Mahseer. Journal of Bombay Natural History Society. 46: 336-334
  10. ^ Thomas, Henry Sullivan (1897). The Rod in India-Being Hints on how to obtain sport-With Remarks on the Natural History of Fish and Their Culture. London: W. Thacker and Co.
  11. ^ Dhu, Skene. 1923 (1993 reprint). The angler in India or the Mighty Mahseer. Natraj Publishers.
  12. ^ Yule, Henry, Sir. Hobson-Jobson: A glossary of colloquial Anglo-Indian words and phrases, and of kindred terms, etymological, historical, geographical and discursive. New ed. edited by William Crooke, B.A. London: J. Murray, 1903.

Other sources

  • Nautiyal, Prakash, ed. 1994. Mahseer: The Game Fish. Natural History, Status and Conservation Practices in India and Nepal. Rachna.
  • Silas, E. G., Gopalakrishnan, A., John, L., and Shaji, C. P.. 2005. Genetic identity of Tor malabaricus (Jerdon) (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) as revealed by RAPD markers. Indian journal of fish. 52(2): 125-140.
  • Rainboth, W. J. 1985. Neolissochilus, a new group of South Asia Cyprinid fishes. Beaufortia. 35(3): 25-35.
  • Mirza, M. R., and Javed, M. N. 1985. A note on Mahseer of Pakistan with the description of Naziritor, a new subgenus (Pisces: Cyprinidae). Pakistan Journal of Zoology. 17: 225-227.
  • Arunkumar; & Ch. Basudha. 2003. Tor barakae, a new species of mahseer fish (Cyprinidae: Cyprininae) from Manipur, India. Aquacult. 4(2): 271-276.
  • Ambak,M.A., Ashraf,A.H. and Budin,S. 2007. Conservation of the Malaysian Mahseer in Nenggiri Basin through Community Action. In: Mahseer, The Biology, Culture and Conservation. Malaysian Fisheries Society Occasional Publication No.14, Kuala Lumpur 2007:217-228
  • National Agricultural Technology Project, 2004. Germplasm inventory, evaluation and gene banking of freshwater fishes. World Bank funded Project MM, No: 27/28/98/NATP/MM-III, 18-32p. National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Lucknow India.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mahseer&oldid=415763841"