Some Aberrant Specimens of Puntius sarana sarana (Ham.-Buch.) from Fresh-Water Bodies of Jammu District of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (India)

Abstract

Six deformed specimens of Puntius sarana sarana (Ham.-Buch.) were observed, over a period of ten years, among fish collections by fishermen Pargwal wetland, Akhnoor, and Ranbir Singh Pura area (R.S. Pura) of Jammu district and have been elaborated. Deformities observed include dorsal fin injury and naked eye count of six dorsal fin rays (4/2) in one specimen, slightly truncated one specimen and highly truncated and much shortened body along antero-posterior axis (stumpbody) and fins displacement in four specimens. X ray analysis has revealed six well developed and five rudimentary skin embedded fin rays and dorsal fin injury in one specimen and antero posterior irregular compressed vertebrae in five specimens. Dorsal fin deformity in one specimen is caused by a biological predator and Myxobolus infection. A possible cause of deformities in other five fish specimens is pesticides and herbicides spray in agricultural fields causing water contamination.