First report and morpho-meristic characterization of Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch,1794) from the river Kabul at its Pakistani gateway: shelman valley, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55627/zoobotanica.003.03.1665Keywords:
Fish, Heteropneustes fossilis, river kabul, identification, morpho-meristic, shalman valley, length-weight relationshipAbstract
This study is the first comprehensive Morpho-meristic study of Heteropneustes fossilis from two distinct locations along the length of river Kabul; Shalman valley and Michini. For this purpose, a total of 20 fish specimens were collected from April to July 2025. Various fishing equipment were employed for catching the fish. The collected fish specimens were identified their meristic characters and morphometric measurements were recorded and finally preserved in ethanol. Fin rays were observed using a magnifying glass and stereo microscope. Body weight (BW) and morphometric measurements were recorded with a digital balance and caliper, with an accuracy of 0.01 g and 0.01 cm, respectively. The specimens showed a moderate variation in total length (15.0-18.2 cm) and body weight (37.3-42.0 g). Statistical analysis of the observed characters, including assessment of length-weight relationships (LWRs) and length-length relationships (LLRs) were done utilizing the software Prism. The fin formula observed for H. fossilis was: D. 5-7, P. 1/6-7, V. 6, A. 64-69, C. 18-22. LWRs between BW and most length parameters were significant (p < 0.001; r² = 0.94), except for Post dorsal length (p > 0.05). The growth pattern exhibited a negative allometric growth (b < 3) potentially due to restricted food supply, environmental stress and reproductive activity. LLRs were statistically significant (p < 0.001; r² = 0.98). These findings report the species for the first time from Shalman valley and provide key baseline data for species identification, which might be helpful in the conservation of H. fossilis within the River Kabul ecosystem
References
A Abro, N., Waryani, B., T Narejo, N., Ferrando, S., A Abro, S., R Abbasi, A., ... &Ul-Hassan, H. (2020). Diversity of freshwater fish in the lower reach of Indus River, Sindh province section, Pakistan. Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, 24(6), 243-265. https://journals.ekb.eg/article_111114.html
Altaf, M., Javid, A., Khan, A. M., Hussain, A., Umair, M., & Ali, Z. (2015). The status of fish diversity of river Chenab, Pakistan. The Journal of Animal & Plant Sciences, 25(3), 564-569. https://www.academia.edu/download/39028484/Te_status_of_fish_diversity_of_river_Chenab__Pakistan.pdf
Bagenal, T. B. (1978). Methods for assessment of fish production in fresh waters. IBP Handbook No. 3. https://bibliotecadigital.ciren.cl/handle/20.500.13082/18372
Samad, M. A., & Bhuiyan, A. S. (2017). Stocking density of threatened cat fish Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch, 1792) in seasonal ponds of Rajshahi, Bangladesh. Bangladesh journal of scientific and industrial research, 52(4), 253-262. 10.3329/bjsir.v52i4.34766
Berra, T. M. (2001). Freshwater fish distribution. Academic press.
Coad, B. W. (1996). Exotic fish species in the Tigris-Euphrates basin. Zoology in the Middle East, 13(1), 71-84. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09397140.1996.10637707
Devi, K. R., & Raghunathan, M. B. (1999). Heteropneustes longipectoralis (Siluriforms: Heteropneustidae) a new species from the Anamalai Hills, in the Western Ghats. Records of the Zoological Survey of India, 109-115.
Fowler, H. W. (1937). Zoological results of the third de Schauensee Siamese expedition. Part VIII: Fishes Obtained in 1936. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 89, 125-264. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4064263
Froese, R. (2006). Cube law, condition factor and weight–length relationships: history, meta‐analysis and recommendations. Journal of Applied Ichthyology, 22(4), 241-253. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0426.2006.00805.x
Hossain, M. Y., Ahmed, Z. F., Leunda, P. M., Jasmine, S., Oscoz, J., Miranda, R., & Ohtomi, J. (2006). Condition, length–weight and length–length relationships of the Asian striped catfish Mystus vittatus (Bloch, 1794) (Siluriformes: Bagridae) in the Mathabhanga River, southwestern Bangladesh. Journal of Applied Ichthyology, 22(4), 304-307. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0426.2006.00803.x
Hossain, M. Y., Naser, S. M., Bahkali, A. H., Yahya, K., Hossen, M. A., Elgorban, A. M., ... & Rahman, M. M. (2016). Life History Traits of the Flying Barb Esomus danricus (Hamilton, 1822) (Cyprinidae) in the Ganges River, Northwestern Bangladesh. Pakistan Journal of Zoology, 48(2). http://www.zsp.com.pk/pdf48/399-408%20(13)%20QPJZ-0213-2015%2023-11-15%20(Corrected%20Proof).pdf
Hossain, M. Y., Rahman, M. M., Abdallah, E. M., & Ohtomi, J. (2013). Biometric relationships of the pool barb Puntius sophore (Hamilton 1822) (Cyprinidae) from three major rivers of Bangladesh. Sains Malaysiana, 22(42), 1571-1580. http://ukm.my/jsm/pdf_files/SM-PDF-42-11-2013/05%20Md.%20Yeamin.pdf
HumpHries, A. T., DimArcHopoulou, D., Stergiou, K. I., Tsikliras, A. C., Palomares, M. L. D., Bailly, N., ... & Pauly, D. (2023). Measuring the scientific impact of FishBase after three decades. Cybium, 47(3), 213-224. http://austinhumphries.com/s/HumphriesetalCybuium2023.pdf
Jayaram, K. C. (1999). The freshwater fishes of the Indian region.
Khan, M. A., Khan, S., & Miyan, K. (2012). Length–weight relationship of giant snakehead, Channa marulius and stinging catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis from the River Ganga, India. Journal of applied Ichthyology, 28(1), 154-155. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0426.2011.01901.x
Khatun, D., Hossain, M. Y., Rahman, M. A., Islam, M. A., Rahman, O., Kalam Azad, M. A., ... & Hossain, M. A. (2019). Life-History Traits of the Climbing perch Anabas testudineus (Bloch, 1792) in a Wetland Ecosystem. Jordan Journal of Biological Sciences, 12(2). http://jjbs.hu.edu.jo/files/vol12/n2/Paper%20number%208.pdf
Lindsey, C. C. (1988). 3 factors controlling meristic variation. In Fish physiology (Vol. 11, pp. 197-274). Academic Press.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1546509808602150
Muhammad, H., Iqbal, Z., & Saleemi, S. (2017). Diversity and distribution of fish fauna of Indus River at Taunsa Barrage in Punjab, Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Zoology, 49(1).
Narejo, N. T., Jalbani, S., Khan, P., & Memon, F. (2016). Food and feeding habits of sting catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch) from Manchar lake district Jamshoro Sindh Pakistan. Sindh University Research Journal-SURJ (Science Series), 48(3). https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Naeem_Narejo/publication/355395961_Food_and_Feeding_Habits_of_Sting_Catfish_Heteropneustes_Fossilis_Bloch_From_Manchar_Lake_District/links/616ea3fb25467d2f005b6e04/Food-and-Feeding-Habits-of-Sting-Catfish-Heteropneustes-Fossilis-Bloch-From-Manchar-Lake-District.pdf
Parvin, M. F., Hossain, M. Y., Sarmin, M. S., Khatun, D., Rahman, M. A., Rahman, O., ... & Sabbir, W. (2018). Morphometric and meristic characteristics of Salmostoma bacaila (Hamilton, 1822) (Cyprinidae) from the Ganges River in northwestern Bangladesh. Jordan Journal of Biological Sciences, 11(5), 533-536. http://jjbs.hu.edu.jo/files/vol11n5/Paper%20Number%209.pdf
Plamoottil, M. (2022). Heteropneustes fuscus (Siluriformes: Heteropneustidae), a new catfish species from Kerala, India: NIL. Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity, 23(1). https://www.academia.edu/download/90404344/5417.pdf
Rahman, A. A. (1989). Freshwater fishes of Bangladesh. Zoological society of Bangladesh.
Rahman, M. A., Hasan, M. R., Hossain, M. Y., Islam, M. A., Khatun, D., Rahman, O., ... & Khatun, H. (2019). Morphometric and meristic characteristics of the Asian stinging catfish Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch, 1794): A key for identification. Jordan Journal of Biological Sciences, 12(4), 467-470.https://www.academia.edu/download/98690800/7._Morphometric_and_Meristic_Characteristics_of_the_Asian_Stinging_JJBS_2019.pdf
Rauf, M., Din, N. U., Hasan, Z., Haseeb, A., Shah, H., & Ullah, S. (2015). Ichthyofaunistic study of River Kabul at Machini, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences, 7(3), 186-194. https://www.academia.edu/download/38967446/Ichthyofaunistic_study_of_river_Kabul_at_Michini.pdf
Shafi, M. Q. M. M. A., & Quddus, M. M. A. (2001). Bangladesher matsho shampad (Fisheries of Bangladesh). Kabir Publication, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 483.
Siddik, M., Chaklader, M., Hanif, M., Islam, M., Sharker, M., & Rahman, M. (2016). Stock identification of critically endangered olive barb, Puntius sarana (Hamilton, 1822) with emphasis on management implications. J. Aquac. Res. Dev, 7(411), 2. http://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/stock-identification-of-critically-endangered-olive-barb-puntius-saranahamilton-1822-with-emphasis-on-management-implications-2155-9546-1000411.php?aid=69611, (2016)
Siddik, M. A. B., Hanif, M. A., Chaklader, M. R., Nahar, A., & Mahmud, S. (2015). Fishery biology of gangetic whiting Sillaginopsis panijus (Hamilton, 1822) endemic to Ganges delta, Bangladesh. Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Research, 41(4), 307-313. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1687428515000795
Siddiqui, K., & Choudhury, S. N. (1996). A manual on pond pisciculture. The national institute of local government, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Subba, A., Limbu, J. H., & Khanal, L. (2024). New distribution record and habitat characteristics of stinging catfish (Heteropneustes nani Hossain, Sarker, Sharifuzzaman and Chowdhury, 2013) from Nepal. Punjab University Journal of Zoology, 39(1), 15-20. https://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.pujz/2024/39.1.15.20
Suleman, M., Yousafzai, A. M., Afridi, A. J., Rehman, H. U., Saeed, K., Usman, K., & Muhammad, W. (2017). Fish fauna of River Kabul Downstraeam Warsak Dam. J Entomol Zool Stud, 5, 546-548.
Satora, L., Kuciel, M., & Gawlikowski, T. (2008). Catfish stings and the venom apparatus of the african catfish" Clarias gariepinus"(Burchell, 1822), and stinging catfish" Heteropneustes fossilis"(Bloch, 1794).https://ruj.uj.edu.pl/entities/publication/b2aa8d8d-c7c1-452e-8bb7-40b4d0f3bca4
Sandhu, A. A. (2017). Freshwater fishes of Pakistan (2nd ed.). Urdu Bazar, Lahore.
Talwar, P. K., & Jhingran, A. G. (1991). Inland fishes of India and adjacent countries (Vol. 2). CRC press.
Urmi, J. F., Shahariar, M. A., Hossain, M. Z., Rakhi, R. F., Lima, R. A., Islam, M. S., ... & Alam, M. S. (2024). Comparative Morpho-Meristic Variations of Asian Stinging Catfish (Heteropneustes fossilis) Collected from Natural and Hatchery Sources in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Journal of Zoology, 52(3), 281-300.https://banglajol.info/index.php/BJZ/article/view/80788
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Khan, Muhammad Adnan, Saeed anwar, Muhammad Ishtiyaq, Tanzeela, Sanaullah khan
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
