A Review on Feeding and Reproductive Biology of Ompok pabda with an Emphasis on its Conservation

Abstract

Ompok pabda commonly known as pabda or butter catfish is a freshwater species which is widely distributed in India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar. In India and Bangladesh, this fish species has high preference as a table fish due to its delicious taste and high nutritional value. Its acceptability as an ornamental fish has recently been reported. Due to number of reasons, its population has been declined abruptly and due to reduced abundance in nature it has already been enlisted as an endangered species both in India and Bangladesh. It has been placed under near threatened category as per IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Earlier little research has been conducted on feeding and reproductive biology of this fish species; but so far no such consolidated report is available on these aspects. The present report thus aims to consolidate the earlier documented information with pointing out the knowledge gaps on these aspects along with suggesting some strategies which can be considered for the conservation of this fish species in near future.