Food and Feeding Habits
Food and
Feeding Habits
FOOD AND FEEDING HABITS
The present study dealt with a qualitative examination of the food habits of
the two native species, Tor khtrdree and Hyp.selobirrbir.~ kttrali and two
introduced species, Cyprini~s carpio comrnur~is and Orcochromis
rnossarnbica. It was aimed at studying the overlap of food habits if any,
among these four species of fishes which may create competition for food
An attempt has been made to compare the food habits of Tor khudree
(Mahseer) in the river with that of the lake to see whether there is any
difference in their food habits in the lentic and lotic habitats.
6.1 Tor khudree (Sykes) (Black Mahseer or Deccan
Mahseer)
A comparison of food habits of Mahseer collected from Periyar Lakc and
the Periyar River has shown that the species in both the areas took algae,
plant parts, animal parts and sand particles (Tables 18,19, 20,21,22 & 23).
6.1.1 ALGAE
Specimens from both areas had algae of 3 groups namely Chlorophyceae,
Cyanophyceae and Racillnriophyceae in their gut
I . Chlorophyceae
Riverine Mahseer had only seven genera in their stomach, viz ,
Closferiirm, Stmwastrum, Ne!rium, Spirol~ym, (70s~narii~m, Zygiierna and
Food and Feeding Habits
Ped~a.~trrim, while the species from the lake had tive more genera viz,
Chaetophora, Hyalotheca, Oed(~go~~ittrn, Oocy,~/ri and Peridirrirtm. Of
these, the Closteritrm and ('o.~mrrrcm were found every month in the
riverine specimens While the lake fish had only ('losferr~tm every month
Co.~martum was found in the lake specimens in January, February, March,
September, October and December. Sta~trastrttm was recorded on
January, February, May, August and October in the river specimens hut in
the lake fish it was found in every month except in June, July and
November. Nefritim was found only in May in both the Mahseer.
Spirogyra was observed in May and June in river specimens and in lake
specimens it was observed only in May. Zyptema was found in May and
November in river specimens while in lake specimens it was found in May
and June. In river fish Pediastrum was recorded in January, February,
October, November and December and in lake Mahseer it was found in
January, August, October, November and December. In lake specimens
Chaetophora was noted in November and Hyalolheca in Jaunary,
February, April, July, October, November and December. Oedogor~ium
was present in July and August and Oocy.vris in May and November only
in the lake specimens. Peridiniztm which was present only in lake lor was
observed in February, March, August, and December.
In Mahseer fishes of both the habitats C'ynnophycene was represented by
.\41croc):vris, i.yngbya and Sl~rrulrrm ... M~croc:,srr.s was present i n all months F I S ~ E R Y MANAGEMENT IN PERIYAR'LME 121
Food and Feeding Habits
in the river fish but in the lake fish it was not found in I:ebruary, March,
April, May, November and December. LytlRbya was present in May and :
November in river specimens while in the lake specimens it was present in
April and May. In both categories, Syir~tlina was observed in November.
3. Bacillariophyceae
In river Mahseer, this group was represented by Achnatl/he.s, Asrerior~ella
and Synedra and in the lake specimens, one more genus was present viz.,
Pinnularia and it was noticed in February, March, April and September.
In river specimens the Aciit~al~thes was observed only in May while in the
lake specimens it was observed in May, June and July. Asreriot~ellr was
present in January, February, May and December, in river 1br but in the
lake 7b it was present in January, May, September, October and
December. Synedra was seen only in May in the river specimens while in
the lake specimens it was seen in May and December.
4 . Unidentified algae
In both the specimens some algae which could not be identified, were
present.
6.1.2 PLANTS
There were noticeable differences between Mahseer in the river and in the
lake in the intake of plant food There were a lot of plant parts in the gut
of specimens collected from the river. These were represented by flowers
fruits, leaves and seeds, of different types of trees. There were some
FISHERY MANAGEMENT IN P E R I Y A ~ C A K E 125
Food and Feeding Habtts
unidentified plant parts also The fruits identified froin the gut contents of
river specimens were those of Mesrra ferrea, k'alena ind~ca. firlrcrurn
Solanzrrn nipurn, Bridelia sp., Glochidion tornenlo.c.rml, Ri.\-chr!fia
javanica, iJolygonrrn chinensis, Ncns arn~~lz.ssma, I~'ic~cs talhoti and an
unidentified Ficus species. Leafy particles noticed in the river Mahseer
were those of lshemirrn q~. (Grass), Rassia malabarica, Rischofia
javanica, Dendrophthoe falcata and an unidentified I*'icrrc. species.
Flowers of trees ike Vaterja indica, Eleocarprrs trrbercrtlal~r.~, Bassia
rnalaharica and Eiczrs ljakela and seed of trees like Olec~ dioica and I.'icus
tjakela were also observed in the river Mahseer.
Lake Mahseer didn't have any of the above mentioned items in their gut
instead they had digested plant parts, unidentified fruits and leaves in
them, that too only for a few months. Digested plant parts were found in
March, June, September and November. Unidentified fruits were present
in October and November and leaf fragments were observed only in
October.
6.1.3 ANIMALS AND ANIMAL PARTS
I. Nematodes
Live nematodes were taken out in the months of January, February, March,
October, November and December from the gut of river Tor and in
Food and Feeding Habits
March, June, July, August, September, November and December from the
lake Tor which are considered as parasites. /
2. Crabs
Parts of crabs were identified from the gut of Mahseer fishes of both the
river and the lake. It was observed in river specimens in January,
February, March, April, May, August, October and December and in the
lake specimens in April, May, June, September and October.
3. Insect (Order : Dermaptera)
This was observed in specimens of both the habitats. In river specimens it
was noted in November and December and in the lake form in June and
July.
4. Stonefly larva
This was present only in the river Mahseer, in October.
5. Larva of water beetle
This was found only in the river specimens, in December.
6. Water beetle
This beetle was observed in the river Mahseer, in May, September and
October.
7. Chironomus larva
This larva was observed in May, November and December in river
Mahseer and in June and November in lake specimens.
Food and Feeding Habits
8. Unidentified larva
These were observed in the lake specimens, in July.
9. Unidentified insect paris
In the river Mahseer in May, October and December and in the lake
specimens in January, May, June, September and November certain insect
parts were observed which could not be identified.
10. Mollusca and Glochidion lan~a
Molluscan specimens were identified in May, and November in the gut of
river Mahseer and in January and May in lake specimens. Glochidion
larva was found only in the river specimens, in December.
11. Fishes
Fishes observed in the gut of river Mahseer consisted of
Nemacheilus denisoni (in December), Parlriciosoma daniconitrs (in
December), Barili~rs baker; (in February and September), Garra
mullya (in February, March, April, and September), L,epidopygop.si.s [yprrs
(in May), and Mastacembellis armatus (in August). Unidentified fish parts
were present in June and November . The prey fishes identified in the gut
of lake specimens consisted of Nernacheilus denisor~i (in November) orlly
and Parluciosoma daniconius (in July and November). Unidentified fish
parts were seen in it in all the months except April, May, June and
September.
Food and Feeding Hablls
6.1.4 SAND PARTICLES
Sand particles were seen in the gut of the river Mahseer in January,
February, March, May , October, November and December and in all
months except August and October in lake specimens
FISHERY MANAGEMENT IN PERIYAR LAKE 129
TABLE 18
Algae in the gut of Tor khudree (Sykes) of Periyar Lake
Name I Jan 1 Feb 1 M a r CHLOROPHYCEAE I I I I Chaefophora Closteen unr CosmarIunt I[valorheca .Vetrium Oedogoni urn oocystis Peaiasrrum Peridinium Spirogyra Slaurasmm %.perno CYANOPHYCEAE Lyngbya AfIcrocystis Spirulino BACILLAFUOPHYCEAE A chnan thes .4sterianella PinnularIa Synedra U~deIIMled algae
FISHERY MANAGEMENT IN PERIYAR LAKE
TABLE 19
Plant food in the gut o f Tor khudree (Sykes) of Periyar Lake
Sl.No, Kame Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Julj- Aug Sept Oct NOT D e e : I Digested plant p i s . . . 1 7 Unidentfied fruits . . ; Unidentified leaves .
TABLE 20 Animals /animal parts in the gut of Tor khudree (Sykes) o f Periyar Lake
' SI.No. Name Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun July Aug Sept Od Kov Dec Nematode . . . . . . . . . . . .
' 3. Insect of Order Dermaprera . . 4. Chironomus lama • . 5. Unidentified larva •
6. Unidentified ~nsect parls . • . . ' 7. Mollusc . . FISHES
8 . .Venrocheilus denlsoni . 9. Parluciosoma daniconius . . 10. Unidentified fish p t s . . . . . . . 1 1 . . . . . . . . . . . - Sand particles
FISHERY MANAGEMENT IN PERIYAR LAKE
TABLE 21
Algae in the gut of Tor k h u h (Sykes) of Periyar River
FISHERY MANAGEMENT IN PERIYAR lAKE
Sl.ho
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10
11 12 13 14
Name I J a n
CHLOROPBYCEAE Closlenunl Cosman urn Nenrum P e d a s m : S p ~ r o g ~ o Sraurasmrm Zygnema CYANOPHYCEAE Lvngbya 16crocyshs Sprmlrna BACILLARIOPHYCEAJC Achnanthes Astenonella Swedra UmdenMied algae
Feb
•
.
Mar Apr ' M a Jun Jul I
Aug
; I
•
-
Sep
: -
Der Oct
: .
No1
; ;
TABLE 22
Plant food in the gut of Tor khudree (Sykes) of Periyar River
SLNo / Name 1 Jan Feb ! Mar 1 Aor 1 Ma
,ifesuaferrea Iblen'a indica EIeocarpus fuberculatus Filicium decjprens Democarpus longana Svzigiurn cumini Bassia molabarica
Oleo dioica Solanurn nigrum Bndelia sp. Glochiaion tomenlosum Bischofia javanica Poilvgonurn chinensis Dendrophrhoe falcatu Ficus ornplissma Ficus talboti Ficus g&ia
Ficus sp. I Unidentified pm.
Symbols Denotes : * -Fruit, fT - Leaf, * - Flower, # - Seed, O - Unidentified
Jun / Jui A
I
FISHERY MANAGEMENT IN PERIYAR LAKE
*
Nov - fl
*
# * * 8
* *
TABLE 23
FISHERY MANAGEMENT IN PERIYAR LAKE
Animals /Animal parts in the gut of Tor khudree (SYKES) of Periyar River
Dee . . . . . . •
.
Oct • . •
. FISHES ,bremacheilus denisoni Porluciosoma daniconi us BariBus hakeri
14. G m mullya Leprdomopsis gpus
16. Masracembelus onnorus UnidentLfied fish parts
19. Sand prhcles
SI.No NOY . . . .
Name Nematode Crab Insect of Order Dermaplero Stonefly lan2 Lama of water beetle Water beetle Chironomus l ana Unidenified insect parts Mollusc Glochidion larva (MoUusca)
Jan Feb Mar . . .
I
.
.
. .
•
.
Apr
.
. . .
Ma . . . . • .
Aug
. Sep
.
•
Jun 1 1 Jul
Food and Feeding Habits
6.2 Hypselobarbrrs kurali Menon & Rema Devi
The gut contents of Hypseloharbus kitrali composed of mostly algae, plant
parts, animal parts and sand particles (Tables 24,25 & 26)
6.2.1 ALGAE
A large number of algae were present in the gut of Hyj~.~eloharbrrs lntrali
represented by Chlorophyceae, C>anophyceae, Hacillario]~hycetw and
Euglenirrae
1. C'hlorophyceae
This consisted of Ankistrode.smu.v, Cludophora, l o t e r i i m , (.'osmariitm,
Hyalotheca, Oedogoniilm, Oocysiis, Pediasirrtm, li.ochiscia, V artraslrum
and I'eridinirtm. Of these (?losterirtm was observed every month and
Sta~rraslrttm in all months except August and June. Ankistrodesmiis, and
Oocyslis were present only in June and July respectively and I'eridirrittm in
October.
2. Cyanophyceae
This was represented by Lyngbya, Microcysfis, Nostoc and Oscillatoria.
Mirocystis was found more frequently than the others. Nostoc was
observed only in December. Lyngbya was seen in March, October and
November and Oscillntoria in August, October and December.
Food and Feeding Habits
3. Bacillariophyceae
This consisted of Asterionella, Navic~rla and l'innrrlaria. I'ir~rrtilaria was
present more frequently than the other two. Navickltr was seen in January
and October.
4. Eugleninae
This consisted of E~dglena and Trachelomonas. Both were present twice in
the year, Euglena in February and March and 'I'racile1omoilu.s in February
and October.
5. Unidentified algae
There were some algae which could not be identified.
6.2.2 PLANTS
This consisted of seed, fruit and some digested plant parts.
1. Seedy
Seeds of unidentified grass were seen in January, August, September,
October and November.
2. Fruits
Some unidentified fruits were seen in November and December.
3, Digestedplant parts
These were observed in January and October.
6.2.3 ANIMALS AND ANIMAL PARTS
1. Rotifers
Rotifers were noticed in March, April, June, July, October and November
Food and Feeding Habits
2. Nematodes
Live nematodes were seen in the specimens collected in March, August,
September, October and November which could be parasites.
3. Daphnia (Subclass:Branchiopoda, Order : Cladocera)
It was observed in April
4. Cypris (Subclass:Ostrucoda)
This was found in April and September
5. Mosquito larva
This was seen in August, September, October and December
6. Unidentified zooplankton
There were some zooplanktonic forms which could not be identified
7. Unidentified lan~a
Unidentified larvae were seen in April, June, August and September
8. Insectparts
Digested insect'parts which could not be identified were seen in March,
October and November.
9. Fish parts
This was noticed in January, August and November
6.2.4 SAND PARTICLES
This was found every month.
FISHERY MANAGEMENT IN PERIYAR LAKE 137
Food and Feeding Hatits
. TABLE 24
Algae in the gut of Hypselobarbus kurali of Periyar Lake
FISHERY MANAGEMENT IN PERIYAR LAKE
.
.
. .
. .
.
.
px
.
. .
.
. .
.
.
. .
S ~ P
.
.
.
.
. .
act
i . . . . . • . . . .
. .
JuI Aug -Mar
.
.
. .
.
. .
Feb
I . .
. •
. • . .
I $ j m
C=OROPHYCEAE Aniasirodesnius
3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.
12. 13. 14. I S .
16. 17. 18.
19. 20. 21. 22.
. •
. .
a
. .
J w
• . .
.
. .
Apr
I
.
. •
.
• . P
.
.
. .
. •
.
Cladophora Clostenum Cosmanum Hyalotheca Oedogonium Oocystis Pedinsmm Peridinium Staurastrum Trochisda CYANOPHYCEAE Lyngbya .\jlcraqstis Xostoc Oscillatoria BACILLARIOPHYCEAE Asterionella ,liavicula Pinnulano EUGLEhI?NAE Euglena Trachelomonas Unidemfied algae Sand
1 May
•
•
. .
.
. .
.
.
. . .
.
TABLE 25
Plant food in the gut of Hypselobarbus kurali of Periyar Lake
Sl.Ko / Name 1 Jan I Feb Seeds of grass
IFmts , 2 I
TABLE 26
3. I Digested plant parts
Animals /Animal parts in the gut of Hypselobarbus kurali of Periyar Lake
Mar
.
Jan
Apr
. I/
SI.No Feb I M a r Name
FISHERY MANAGEMENT IN PERIYAR LAKE
M&) / Jun
Rotlfer Nematode
Mosqu~to lan-a Unidentified zooplanldon Unidentified larva Insect p-6 Fish parts
Ma) Jun / Jul
Jul
Oct - . . . . -
Dec I . i
Aug . Sep / Oct No1
I *
Food and Feedlng Habits
6.3 Cyprinus carpio var. communis Linnaeus
The gut contents of ('yprimi.5 carpio var, commrirlrs in Periyar Lake
comprised the algae, plant parts, animal parts and sand grains (Tables 27,
28 gL 29).
6.3.1 ALGAE
This consisted of ('hlorophyccae. Bacillariophycc,ac~ and l<rc~lc~irinuc
1. Chlorophyceae
This was represented by Clostcrizrm, (lladq~hora, Ankistrode.smzrs,
Hyalothcca, Pediastrum, Stmrrashrm and fi~chiscia. Of these,
Closterirrm was found every month. Hyalotheca was observed every
month except January while At~ktstrode.smus was reported only in May.
2. Bacillariophyceae
This group was represented by Achnarllhcs and Pir~~ttlaria. Of these,
Achnanthes was found only in December.
3. Eugleninae
This was represented by only one group i.e., ?i~ache~omor~m which was
observed only in January
4. Unidentified algae
There were cefiain groups which could not be identified
Food and Feeding Habits
6.3.2 PLANTS
Seed, fruit, and digested plant parts which could not be identified were
observed in the gut of C'yprinits carpio.
1. Seed
Seeds of certain grasses which could not be identified were found in July,
October and November.
2. Fruit
Fruits which could not be identified were observed in July and October
3. Digested plant parts
Digested plant materials were recognised in the specimens collected in
August, September, October and December Partially digested
unidentified grasses were found in October
6.3.3. ANIMALS AND ANLMAL PARTS
1. Rotifers
Rotifers were seen in March, April, May, June, October and Novembel
2. Nematodes
Live nematodes were taken out from the specimens in March, June,
August, October and December which were possibly parasites.
FISHERY MANAGEMENT IN PERIYAR ~AKE 141
Food and Feeding Habits
3. Cyclops (Sub class : Copepoda, Order : Cyclupuida)
This was recorded only in November
4. Termites and Ants
Both of these were observed in November
5. Unidentified zooplankton
There were certain zoo planktonic groups which could not be identified
and were observed in March. November and December.
6. Unidentified larva
Certain larvae were found in July, August and December which could not
be identified.
7. Mosquito larva
This was observed in August only.
8. Inseci parts
Digested unidentified insect parts were seen in July.
8. Fish
Digested parts of fishes were seen in July and November.
6.3.4 SAND PARTICLES
Sand particles were present throughout the year
TABLE 27
Algae in the gut of Cyprinus carpi0 var. communis o f Periyar Lake
SI.No 1 Name / Jan I Feb 1 CEUOROPHYCEAE
Closterium Cladophora .4nksb.odesmus @lotheca Pediasmtm Staurasmtm Trochiscia BASILLARIOPHYCEAE .4chnanfhes Pinnularia EUGLENlNAE Trochelornonus Uni&Iltilied algae Sand
FISHERY M A N A G E M N T IN PERIYAR LAKE
Apr
.
. .
I*
May
.
. .
. ! .
Jun
. .
Sep
. a . .
Jul
. .
.
:
Aug
. .
.
:
Oet
.
. . . I
: .
Nov
. I
Dec
.
.
i
Plant food in the gut of Cyprinus carpio var commnis of Periyar Lake
TABLE 29
Animals/animal parts in the gut of Cyprinus carpio var. communis of Periyar Lake
May
May / Jun 1 Jul 1 Aug
Mar SI.No 1. 2. 3.
SI.No
1. 2. 3. 4. 5 . 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Sep Oct Nov
Jun Apr Jan Name Seeds of grass F r u i ~ ngested plant parts
Name
Rotifer Nematode Cyclops Termites Ants Unidentified zooplankon UNdentified larva Mosquito larva Insect parts Fish parts
FISHERY MANAGEMENT IN PERIYAR LAKE
Feb Jul . . Aug Sep
. Oct . . .
Nov . Dec
.
Food and Feeding Habits
6.4 Oreocltromis mossambica (Peters)
The examined gut contents consisted mostly of algae, plant parts, some
animal parts and a lot of detritus (Tables 30,31 & 32).
6.4.1 ALGAE
A major part of the food of Oreochromis mossamhrca consisted of algae
which was represented by ('hloroph~~reae, ( jm~ophyceae,
Baollarrophyceae and Eugleninae.
In this group, (Iladophora. ('lo.~/eriitm, (.'o.sniarir~m, Ankis/rodesm~~s,
Hyalolheca, Oedopnizrrn, Pedia.strrtm, Scetrcde.~rntr.~. S/c~ltraslrtrm,
Troc:hiscia. Zygnema and Peridirii~tm were present. Of these (.'lusterium.
Hyalotheca and Sta~trasirrtm were found every month, major portion being
Closterium. Peridiniiim was found in January, February. March, July,
August and December. Pediastmm was found every month except
November, while C:lndophora and Zypema were found only in
November.
2. Cyanophyceae
This was represented by I,yt~ghya. Microcystis and O~scilla~oric~.
Oscillaloria was found only in November. Microz).stis was observed in
Food and Feeding Habits
January, February, November and December and 1.yi1~hyu in April , July
and November
This was represented by Achnantheu, AsierioneNu and Nuvic~rlu and
Pini?ulariu. Asterior~ella and Pii~i~t~lariu were found more frequently than
the other two which were present only in one month each viz., Aclii~anihes
in July and Navic~ila in February.
This was represented by Euglena, in November
5. Unidentified algae
Algae which could not be identified were seen in all months except
January, February and November.
6.4.2 PLANT PARTS
One unidentified specimen was observed in November.
6.4.3 ANIMALS AND ANIMAL PARTS
I. Ceratium (Class : Mastigophora, Order : Dinojlagellata)
This was observed in every month except June, July, Aubwst and October.
A number of Ceratium were observed in the gut contents of specimens
collected in February and March and one specimen collected in
FISHERY MANAGEMENT IN PERIYAR LAKE 146
Food and Feeding Habits
September contained a noticeable number of ( 'c .r . tr~i~irn, tllari other
specimens collected in the same month
2. Rutiferrs
Rotifers were observed in every month.
3. Duphniu (Subclnss : Brwrchiopnda, Order :CluuJuceru)
This was noticed in Febnlary, April and May
4. Chironomus lunu
This was observed only in specimens collected in November
5. Unidentified zooplunkion
There were certain unidentifiable groups observed in February, March and
August.
6. Unidentified lm~nfu
Unidentified larval parts were observed in specirrlens collected in January,
February and March.
7. Fishpurts
Microscopic bone fragments of fishes were observed in February, March,
June and July.
6.4.4 SAND GRAINS
A large amount of organic detritus was present in a specimens, every
month
FISHERY MANAGEMENT IN PERIYAR LAKE 147
Food and Feeding Habits
TABLE 30
- SLNo
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6 . 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.
13. 14. 15.
16. 17. 18. 19.
20. 21. 22.
Algae in the gut of Oreochromis mossambica of Periyar Lake
Name CHLOROPHYCEAE Cladophora CIosteriurn Cosmarium Ankistrodesmus Hvalotheca Oedogonium Pediashum Peridinium Scenedesmus Staurarmm Trochiscia Zygnema CYANOPEYCEAE L~ngbya dficroqstis Oscillalona BACILLARIOPHYCEAJ? dchnanthes d stenonella ,Vm.icula Pinnulana EUGLENINAE Euglena Unidenhfied algae
I , Sand
-
Jan
. .
.
. . . .
.
.
-
--
Feb
. . .
.
. . i I . . .
1 -
Mar
. . . .
.
. .
.
. I
Apr
. .
.
. .
.
.
. . -
- Nov
. .
. . .
. . .
. . .
.
.
. -
FISHERY MANAGEMENT IN PERIYAR LAKE
TABLE 31
Plant food in the gut of Oreochromis mossambica of Periyar Lake
SI.No / Name / Jan 1 Feb / Mar / Apr I May 1 Jun 1 Jul I Aug 1 Sep 1 Oct 1 Nov 1 Dec
1. I Digested plant part I j .
TABLE 32
Animals / animal parts in the gut of Oredromis mossambica of Periyar Lake
FISHERY MANAGEMENT IN PERIYAR LAKE
Jun
.
.
SI.No 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Feb . . . .
Name Ceratium Rotifer D a p h Chuonomus lanil Unidentified zooplankton .
Mar
.
. 6.
Jan . . Jul
. Sep . .
' A u g
. Apr . .
s
7. Unidentified larva 1 .
May . • .
Oct
.
Fish parts * / *
Nov Dec . . I