Labeo calbasu (Hamilton, 1822)

Synonyms: Cyprinus calbasu Hamilton, 1822, Fishes of the Ganges, p. 279; Cirrhinus belangeri Valenciennes, 1842.

Labeo calbasu (Hamilton, 1822)

Common names:  Black Rohu

Local name: Kalibaus, Baus, Kalia

Length : Observed Total length :  31cm and Standard Length : 23 cm. This fish attains a length of 90 cm. 

Fin formula

D.16; P1.18; P2.9;  A.7 (Observed)

D. 17-18 (3/14-15);   P₁. 16-18; P_2. 9 (1/8);   A. 7(2/5). (Rahman, 2005)

Taxonomy position:
Phylum  : Chordata
Class      : Oesteichthyes
Order     : Cypriniformes
Family   : Cyprinidae
Genus    : Labeo
Species  : Labeo calbasu (Hamilton, 1822)

 

Morphology:  Dorsal profile is more convex than of abdomen. Lips thick, fringed. 2 pairs of barbells, rostal pair longer than maxillary pair. No pores on snout. Eye situated a bit anterior from the half of the head. Caudal peduncle is short. Lateral line well marked, scales moderate in size. There are 20 rows of scales before dorsal fin and 22 rows round the caudal peduncle. Mouth is moderately wide and inferor. Gill openings wide snd gill rakers are villiform, short and feeble. Colour dark-black but the ventral part light dark. Ventral portion of the opercular region is white iris coppery (Talwar and Jhingran 1991).

Habit and Habitat:  Generally it is a bottom feeder. It feeds on vegetable matter, crustaceans, insect larvae etc. Labeo calbasu feeds on algae 10%, higher plants 48%, protozoa 12%, crustacean 10%, mollusca 5%, mud and sand 15% (Bhuiyan, 1964). It does inhabit rivers and tributaries. They are also seen in deep pools clear sluggish streams, creeks. It can be reared in ponds and tanks (Bhuiyan, 1964 and Rahman, 1989).

References:

Bhuiyan, A. L. 1964. Fishes of Dacca. Asiatic Society of Pakistan, Dacca. 148 pp.

Rahman, A.K.A. 1989. Freshwater Fishes of Bangladesh. The Zoological Society of Bangladesh, Department of Zoology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000. p 115.

Rahman, A.K.A. 2005. Freshwater Fishes of Bangladesh (Second edition). The Zoological Society of Bangladesh, Department of Zoology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000. 394 pp.

Talwar, P. K. and Jhingran, A. G., 1991. Inland Fishes of India and Adjacent Countries. Volume 1. Oxford & IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi, Calcutta. p 203.


Citation : Hossain, M.M. 2020. Labeo calbasu, Freshwater Fish of Bangladesh. Biodiversity Conservation Fisheries Research Center, Dhaka, Nature World.