Africa Journal of Advanced Agricultural Research Vol. 2(2) p 19-23 July, 2014 Available online: www.worldscholarsjournals.org ©2013 World Scholars Journals (AJAAR ISSN: 2354-3817) Date published June, 2014 NEW RECORD OF A THREATENED ORNAMENTAL FRESHWATER PIPEFISH, DORYICHTHYS MARTENSII (PETERS, 1868) OR MICROPHIS IGNORATUS (VAILLANT 1902) FROM INDIAN SUB-CONTINENT: ARUNACHAL PRADESH, INDIA Full length research paper. Keshav Kumar Jha and Kumar Chetri Fish Germplasm Explorations Research Laboratory,Department of Zoology Jawaharlal Nehru College, Pasighat Arunachal Pradesh -791 103, India. Corresponding Author Email: [email protected], [email protected]. ABSTRACT Arunachal Pradesh once described as the “Hidden Land” by virtue of its geographical position, climatic conditions and altitudinal variations is a biodiversity rich region in the top of the North-Eastern part of India. The entire state is almost wholly a rugged mountainous terrain, with beautiful green valleys drained by innumerable streams, rivulets descending down from high elevation to the plains of Assam to meet the mighty river Brahmputra. There are 28 different identified fish species of Microphis (pipefish and sea horses) under family Sygnathidae, both freshwater and marine which are reported from various geographical corners of the world. Out of which five species are reported in freshwater system in Asian continent and only one species Microphis deocatus was reported previously from India. The finding of Doryichthys Martensii or Microphis ignoratus from Arunachal Pradesh, India is a new record not only from India but also from Indian sub-continent. Key Words: Threatened Pipefish, Doryichthys Martensii or Microphis ignoratus, Indian sub-continent INTRODUCTION continent (Talwar and Jhingran, 1991; Jayaram, 1999; Menon, 1999: Vishwanath et al. 2007). There are 28 different identified fish species of Microphis Available research document suggests that Microphis (pipefish and sea horses) under family Sygnathidae, both ignoratus (Vaillant 1902) has not been reported earlier freshwater and marine which are reported from various from the freshwater habitat of Indian sub-continent. geographical corners of the world. Out of which five Presence of this freshwater pipefish in India is a new species are reported in freshwater system in Asian record and was never observed by any other researchers continent (Fishbase, 2013). Among these species of even before in the Fresh Water System of Indian sub- pipefish, M. ignoratus (Vaillant, 1902) was reported from continent. Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia (Kalimantan and It is recorded for the first time at one of the tributaries of Sumatera, Kottelant et al., 1993), Malaysia (Peninsular mighty river Siang near Sigar village under Mebo C-D Malaysia, Ng and Tan, 1999), Sabah and Sarawak Block of East Siang District of Arunachal Pradesh in India (Parenti and Lin, 2005) and in Thailand (Monkolprasit et at an elevation of 574 ft. from sea level and its GPS al., 1997). Till date only one species of freshwater position is pipefish, M. deocatus has been reported from Indian sub- Afr. J. Adv. Agric. Res., 19 280 04.819’ N, 0950 25.861’ E. The status of fish Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Jawaharlal Microphis ignoratus species is threatened (IUCN, 2012). Nehru College, In India, North-eastern states are considered as the Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh, India. The identification mega diversity hotspot (Myer et al., (2000) and Arunachal has been made with the help of meristic and Pradesh is the largest state in area wise among North- morphometric characteristics and identified by following Eastern states. The state is the 18th biodiversity hot spot keys for identification of family Syngnathidae given by of the world (Baishya et al., 2001). Jayaram (1991, 1994 & 1999), Sen (1985), Talwar and As regards the information of ornamental fish Microphis Jhingran (1991), Menon (1999) and further confirmed as ignoratus from all over the world, works of Breder and Microphis ignoratus as Rosen (1966), Dawson (1985), Baensch and Riehl descriptions are available on Fish Base website (1991), Schliewen (1992), Kottelat et al. (1993), Bleher (www.fishbase.org), IUCN (www.iucn.org) and also fish (1996), Monkolprasit et al. (1997), Vidthayanon et al. pictures are available on Google.com/fish image. (1997), Anonymous (1999), Lourie et al. (1999), Wu et al. (1999), Carl (2003), Chinese Academy of Fishery Size Sciences (2003), Kottelat and Widjanarti (2005) and Parenti and Lim (2005) are worth mentioning. As regards It attains about 17 cm in length the information of fishfauna of Arunachal Pradesh, works of Jayaram (1963), Jayaram and Sen (1977), Dutta Colouration pattern Choudhary and Sen (1977), Dutta Choudhary (1978, 1980, 1981 and 1994), Jhingran and Sehgal (1978), Fairly grayish or brown in colour. Females with V-shaped Sinha (1994), Nath and Dey (1985 and 2000),Sarkar and black and yellow bands arranged laterally between the Ponniah (2000), Sen (2000), Sen (2006), Tamang et al. operculum to the anal portion on both side of body (Fig. 2 (2006), Nebeswar et al. (2007) and Jha et al., (2008, & 3). 2012 and 2013) are worth mentioning. A perusal of the available literature suggests that Habitat Microphis ignoratus has not been reported earlier from the freshwater habitat of Arunachal Pradesh. Found in upstream rivers with moderate flow and rocky In the present study the fish species Microphis ignoratus substratum and flourishes well in hyper oxygenated water has been collected from tributaries of mighty river Siang with a temperature range of 23 – 300C. Non aggressive, near Sigar village of Mebo C-D Block, East Siang District, sedentary bottom dwellers with restricted distribution. The Arunachal Pradesh, India. On the basis of its different morphometric observations and meristic counts are morphometric characteristics, the fish has been identified described in Table 1 and 2. as M. ignoratus (Vaillant 1902). The specimens were further confirmed as M. ignoratus (Vaillant 1902) with available pictures of Family Syngnathidae on Fish Base DISCUSSION website (Fishbase, 2014), IUCN (2012), Google images and registration no. JNC/ZOO-FM/SR/22.1 of Fish The information of ornamental fish Microphis ignoratus Germplasm Explorations Research Laboratory, from all over the world, works of Breder and Rosen Department of Zoology, Jawaharlal Nehru College, (1966), Dawson (1985), Baensch and Riehl (1991), Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh, India. Schliewen (1992), Kottelat et al. (1993), Bleher (1996), Monkolprasit et al. (1997), Vidthayanon et al. (1997), Anonymous (1999), Lourie et al. (1999), Wu et al. MATERIALS AND METHODS (1999), Carl (2003), Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences (2003), Kottelat and Widjanarti (2005) and Fishes were collected from the tributaries of mighty river Parenti and Lim (2005) were discussed. Siang near Sigar village under Mebo C-D Block of East As regards the information of fishfauna of Arunachal Siang District of Arunachal Pradesh in India at an Pradesh, works of Jayaram (1963), Jayaram and Sen elevation of 574 ft. from sea level with GPS position is (1977), Dutta Choudhary and Sen (1977), Dutta 280 04.819’ N, 0950 25.861’ E. (Map 3). Photographs of Choudhary (1978, 1980, 1981 and 1994), Jhingran and live specimens were taken at the place of collection to Sehgal (1978), Sinha (1994), Nath and Dey (1985 and avoid its discolouration. After that, collected specimens 2000), Sarkar and Ponniah (2000), Sen (2000), Sen were fixed in 6% formalin. In order to avoid damage to (2006), Tamang et al. (2006), Nebeswar et al. (2007) the caudal fin, the fixed specimens were kept in and Jha et al., (2008, 2012, 2013) are worth mentioning. cylindrical transparent containers in an upside down A perusal of the available literature suggests that position. Microphis ignoratus has not been reported earlier from Then the specimens were transported and kept in the the freshwater habitat of Arunachal Pradesh. The Fish Germplasm freshwater river of Keshav and Chetri., 20 Fig. 1: Microphis ignoratus (Vaillant 1902) Fig. 2: Anterior part of Microphis ignoratus (Vaillant 1902) Fig. 3: Middle part of Microphis ignoratus (Vaillant 1902) Table 1. Morphometric observations Sl. No. Characteristics Observed ( Mean± SD) in mm (n=10) 1 Total length 14.8±1.316 2 Standard length 14.4±1.299 3 Snout length 0.94±0.07 4 Postorbital length 0.79±0.12 5 Head length 1.94±0.151 6 Eye diameter 0.17±0.013 7 Width of dorsal fin 1.84±0.151 8 Body depth 0.24±0.01 9 Length of dorsal fin 0.5±0.088 10 Length of Pectoral fin 0.48±0.744 Afr. J. Adv. Agric. Res.., 21 Map 1: Map of India showing the location of Arunachal Pradesh Map 2: Districts map of Arunachal Pradesh showing East Siang District Map 3: Map of Mebo C-D Block in East Siang District The round circle shows the fish collection site near Sigar in Mebo C-D Block RESULTS Systemic Account Order – Sygnathiformes Family – Sygnathidae 1869. Syngnathus Martensi Peters,: 459 (origdescr.: Pulo Matjan, Borneo). Keshav and Chetri., 22 1876. Syngnathus Martensi : Martens: 308 (Misspelling emendation). 1902.MicrophisignoratusVaillant,NotesLeydenMus.XXIV.p.40. 1906. Doryichthys (Microphis) ignoratus Popta, Notes Leyden Mus. XXVII. p. 211. 1915. Doryichthys Martensi Duncker, Mitt. a. d. naturh. Mus. Hamburg XXXII. p. 53 1922. Microphis ignoratus (Vaillant 1902): Weber and Beaufort: 50 (emendation) 1934. Doryichthys brachyrhynchops Fowler: 145, figs. 119-120 (orig descry: Chantaboon, SE Siam). 1937. Doryichthys brevidorsalis Herre and Meyers: 9, 18 (misident.). 1945. Doryichthys Martensi: Smith,: 444 (emendation). 1979. Doryichthys sp. Dawson: 469 (ref. only). 1981. Doryichthys Genus. Dawson: Japan. J. Ichthyol. 28(1): 10 Diagnostic characters D.34-36, C.9-10, Tail Rings 32-34. Longitudinal worm-like body, pipe-like slender snout, opercular ridge complete and distinct, dorsal fin with 1.86 cm length, pectoral fin fan-like distinct, short whip-like small caudal fin, thin and long caudal portion with 32-34tail rings, adult female with distinct V-shaped black and yellow colour bands on lower half of the body, males without colour bands and possesses egg pouch at ventral portion of the body, anus with transverse fleshy septum (Fig.