Shark Research

Giant Whale Shark

Research team of bangladesh is going to concentrate on Shark research with chief scientist Md. Muzammel Hossain. He reported to Sharklab Banladesh and posted on his facebook well that The whale shark inhabits all tropical and warm-temperate seas. The fish is primarily pelagic, living in the open sea but not in the greater depths of the ocean. The dead Whale Shark discarded at the mouth of town’s main canal. Fishermen castoff a giant Whale Shark in the coastal Patharghata town on 16 November 2016 after it was throttled to death in fishing net off-shore Barguna. The shark was caught about 18 kilometers off-shore and dragged back to the fish landing center. It is weight about 300kg. Whale sharks are the largest fish on the planet. These gentle giants are filter-feeders and are harmless to humans. The enormous whale shark, which can reach lengths of 40 feet or more, feeds on the tiniest of ocean organisms, plankton. The globally endangered migratory fish oftentimes get caught in the fishing net in marine areas of Bangladesh in the Bay of Bengal. IUCN Status is Vulnerable and this shark population day by day is decreasing. This shark species is highly limited by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to which Bangladesh is a party. Threats to the whale shark include habitat loss which results in loss of prey species, coastal development resulting in marine pollution, collision with boats, and disturbance or harassment by fishing net, boats and divers engaged in irresponsible tourism activities.

Discovered New Species (Danio annulosus)

Dr. Sven Oscar Kullander and Dr. Michael Noren had came from Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm University to research on freshwater fishes of Bangladesh during December 2014. Sven Oscar Kullander is a big scientist in ichthyology. During the study period Md. Muzammel Hossain was assist in the field trip and discovered Danio annulosus, new species, is discribed from a small pool below the Shuvolong Falls in the Kaptai Lake system in Bangladesh.

The species is named and described jointly by Sven O Kullander, M.D Mizanur Rahman, Michael Noren and Abdur Rob Mollah in 2015 in association with the Department of Zoology, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Sweden and the Department of Zoology, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. The study and paper on Danio annulosus was published in ZooTaxa both online and in print in the same year 2015.It was collected from a small pool at the bottom of the Shuvolong Falls in the Kaptai Lake system in Rangamati district in the Chittagong division, Bangladesh. Danio annulosus is so for known only from a small pool below the shuvolong waterfalls during the summer when the water was stand still in the pool. There is a good chance of finding them in Kaptai lake system formed by the damming of Karnafuli River, as a small stream drains the pool to kapati lake.

(from left Dr. Michael Noren, middle Md. Muzammel Hossain and right Dr. Sven Oscar Kullander with new species)

Sven Oscar Kullander (born in Sollefteå, 30 November 1952) is a Swedish biologist specialised in ichthyology. He primarily researches cichlids – notably the genus Apistogramma and the Cichlasoma-complex – and other tropical fresh water fishes. He also has been working with endangered fish species in Sweden. He studied at the universities of Umeå and Stockholm, and took his Ph.D. in Stockholm in 1984. He is currently senior curator at the Swedish Museum of Natural History in Stockholm, with the responsibility for the ichthyologic and herpetologic collections. Kullander also coordinates the museum's contributions to FishBase.

Kullander has produced more than 100 scientific and popular publications on fishes, and described many groups and new species of cichlids.

The Swedish aquarists' magazine Tidskriften Akvariet gave him "Akvariets Oscar" ("the Aquarium Academy Award") in 1996 for his great contribution to the aquarium hobby. His wife Fang Fang Kullander (1962–2010) was also an ichthyologist at the Swedish Museum. 

Michael Noren. Curator of Fishbase Sweden, Swedish Museum of Natural History

(Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danio_annulosus) 

A new species of fish has been named after President Barack Obama

Etymology: Etheostoma: Greek, etheo = to strain + Greek, stoma = mouth; 

A new species of fish has been named after President Barack Obama by the researchers who discovered it. The freshwater fish has distinctive bright orange and blue colours and is generally found in fast-flowing rivers around America. It is one of five new species of darter - the smallest member of the perch family - to be discovered in recent months. This species is one of five distinct species were named after former U.S. presidents and a vice-president, based on their leadership in conservation. E. obama was named after Barack Obama, for his work "particularly in the areas of clean energy and environmental protection, and because he is one of our first leaders to approach conservation and environmental protection from a more global vision," according to one of the scientists, Steve Layman, who named the new species

Etheostoma obama  Mayden & Layman, 2012

Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Perciformes (Perch-likes) > Percidae (Perches) > Etheostomatinae

Rafinesque said "various mouths", but Jordan and Evermann suggest the name might have been intended as "Heterostoma;  obama: Named for President Barack Obama, United States of America, for his environmental leadership, particularly in the areas of clean energy and environmental protection, and also for being one of the first leaders to approach conservation and environmental protection from a more global vision; noun in apposition.

Dorsal spines (total): 10 - 14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-13; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 8 - 11. This breeding male of this species (under the subgenus Doration) is distinguished by the following characters: a spinous dorsal fin with blue marginal and submedial bands, orange medial band, basal band with bright orange pigment; the soft dorsal, caudal, and pectoral fins have distinct bright orange spots on rays; soft dorsal and anal fins with blue in base of fin; anal fin sometimes with orange spots or streaks on rays; the face and lower head tangerine orange with blue on operculum, preoperculum, cheek, and suborbital bar (but not on lips and mid-gular region); quadrate lateral blue blotches extending ventrad from lateral line scale row; the basicaudal blue bar extending from dorsal to ventral margin of caudal fin; no frenum; incomplete lateral line, unpored scales modally >10 (12); cheek partially scaled; palatine teeth usually absent; present in 29% of specimens; modal counts for D XII-XIII,12, A 9, pectoral fin 15, principal caudal 15, caudal peduncle scales 16, preoperculomandibular canal pores 10; allozyme products of sIdh-A locus are characterized by relative mobilities b, e, and g. 

Distribution: North America: United States of America (Tennessee). 

Burrowing Goby fish recorded from coastal area of Bangladesh

Gobiids are poorly explored in the freshwater's of Bangladesh. Gobies of the genus are also known as eel gobies which belong to the family Gobiidae, which alludes to their attenuated body shape. These species inhabits estuaries (Talwer and Jhingran, 1991), shallow coastal water and rivers (Allen, 1991). This group is morphologically unique among Gobiidae, having an elongate body, small eyes covered with skin and numerous distinct dermal folds, lobes, or barbels on the head. Fourteen nominal species were recognized in the genus  Taenioidess. str. (Murdy and Randall, 2002). Measurements were made from Gobiidae specimens preserved in 70% ethanol for taxonomic study. Some of these are mentioned following the comprehensive systematic accounts of the Inland Fishes of the Indian Region and Adjacent countries (Talwar and Jhingran, 1991) and Freshwater Fishes of the World (Sterba, G. 1962).

Scientific Name : Trypauchen vagina (Bloch and Schneider, 1801); Local name: Sada Chewa; English name: Burrowing Goby
During the study a total of 6 specimens of Trypauchen vagina (Bloch and Schneider, 1801) species have counted individually and comparatively described below with distribution and taken original photograph.

Trypauchen vagina (Bloch and Schneider, 1801)  © Md.Muzammel Hossain

Taxonomic position: Phylum: Chordata-chordates; Class: Actinopterygii-ray finned fishes, spiny rayed fishes; Order: Perciformes- perch like fishes; Family: Gobiidae –true gobies, gobies, Genus: Trypauchen Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1837; Species: Trypauchen vagina (Bloch and Schneider, 1801).

Distribution: Trypauchen vagina (Bloch and Schneider, 1801) species were found inhabits holes beneath tide pools and mud habitats in the near shore areas of Hatiya and Nijhum Island area of junction between Meghna River and Sea and GPS location 22̊ 02 ́ 30.6 ̋ N, 90̊  58 ́ 24.5 ̋ E. Also it was recorded in Pasur River is near the Sundarbans in Bagerhat, Mongla 22.4833°N, 89.6083°E; Bhola and Cox’s bazaar estuaries area.

Description: Morphometric  measurements  are as follows, Number of Fin Rays/Spines: Total dorsal fin rays 50-57; Pectoral Fin Rays 17;  Pelvic Fin Rays 12; Anal Fin Rays 44-50; Caudal Fin Rays 14; Mouth position Superior; Branchiostegal Rays 5; Body measurement: Maximum Total Length 14.4 cm and standard length 12.3 cm ; Pre-Dorsal length 2.51 cm;  Body Depth 1.34 cm; Head measurement: Eye diameter 2.0 mm; Pre Orbital Length 5.4 mm; Post Orbital Length 14.0 mm; Inter Orbital Length 3.6 mm; Fin base length: 1^st Dorsal Fin Base length 96 mm; Pectoral Fin Base Length 4.2 mm and Pectoral Fin length 7.2 mm; Pelvic Fin base length 2.9 mm and Pelvic Fin length 8.2 mm; Anal fin Base length 58 mm; Scales Above Lateral Line 75–85; Scales Below Lateral Line 6⅟2; Scales along lateral line 6⅟2. Body is pinky-white, compressed elongate and eyes blackish; barbell absent on head; Cycloid scales; Teeth in both jaws and caninoid; gill opening moderate; Pectoral short conical. Dorsal and anal fins grey; dorsal and anal connected with caudal fin; the species is not listed endangered in the Red List of IUCN Bangladesh (2000).

Meristic measurements are as follows: SL/TL= 0.854; HL/SL = 0.203; Pelvic Fin length (PEL)/SL = 0.066; PEL/HL = 0.328;   Pectoral Fin length (PEC)/SL= 0.058; PEC/HL = 0.288; PEC/PEL = 0.878; Body Depth (BD)/SL = 0.108; Pre-Dorsal length (PDL)/SL = 0.204; Inter Orbital Length (IOL)/SL = 0.029.

References:  1. STERBA, G. 1962. Freshwater Fishes of the World. Vista Books, London. 847 pp. 2. TALWAR, P.K. and JHINGRAN, A.G. 1991. Inland Fishes of India and Adjacent Countries. Vol. 1 & 2. Oxford & IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, India. 1158 pp. 3. MURDY EO and RANDALL JE 2002. Taenioides kentalleni, a new species of eel goby from Saudi Arabia (Gobiidae: Amblyopinae). Zootaxa 93: 1–6. 4. IUCN Bangladesh. 2000. Red Book of Threatened Fishes of Bangladesh. IUCN-The World Conservation Union. Xii+116pp.

Author information : Md. Muzammel Hossain, Department of Zoology, Jagannath University, Bangladesh (Corresponding email: muzammel3@gmail.com)

Queen angelfish

The queen angelfish (Holacanthus ciliaris) is an angelfish commonly found near reefs in the warmer sections of the western Atlantic Ocean. Other common names include blue angelfish, golden angelfish, queen angel, and yellow angelfish.^[1] Holocanthus ciliaris should not be confused with Holocanthus bermudensis, or the (Bermuda) blue angelfish, despite very similar appearances. They are two separate species.The adult queen angelfish overall body color can be described as blue to blue-green with yellow rims on its scales. Their pectoral and ventral fins are also yellow but their lips and the edges of their dorsal fins and anal fins are dark blue. Queen angelfish are also known to have blue markings around each gill cover. Juveniles have dark blue bodies with yellow lips, gills, and tail and vertical bars ranging in color from light blue to white. The colors of the juvenile fish help them to blend in with the reefs. The queen angelfish may live up to 15 years in the wild and reach up to 45 centimeters (17 inches) in length. The queen angelfish is considered to be moderate in difficulty to keep in captivity and is ill-suited for the inexperienced aquarist. They are a moderately aggressive species that require a large aquarium. Most aquarists recommend a minimum tank size anywhere from 150 on up to 180 gallons. The queen angelfish may harass other fish, particularly similar sized angelfishes. It should be the last fish added to any system. It is not a reef safe fish, and larger specimens may nip at corals, particularly stony or soft ones, and ornamental invertebrates.

Holacanthus ciliaris (LC)
(Linnaeus, 1758)

Diet: The queen angelfish feeds primarily on sponges, but also feeds on tunicates, jellyfish, and corals as well as plankton and algae. Juveniles serve as "cleaners" and feed on the parasites of larger fish at cleaning stations. Although in home aquariums, aquarists have been successful in providing the queen angelfish a diet of meaty and algae based foods. 

Distribution: Queen angelfish inhabit reefs and are common near Florida, especially the Florida Keys, and also the Bahamas and the Gulf of Mexico. It is rarely seen in the Bermuda Triangle and ranges as far south as Brazil and as North as Long Island.  

Reproduction : The adults are found in pairs year round, perhaps suggesting a long-term monogamous bond. The pairs reproduce by rising up in the water, bringing their bellies close together, and release clouds of sperm and eggs. The female can release anywhere from 25 to 75 thousand eggs each evening and as many as ten million eggs during each spawning cycle. The eggs are transparent, buoyant, and pelagic, floating in the water column. They hatch after 15 to 20 hours into larvae that lack effective eyes, fins, or even a gut. The large yolk sac is absorbed after 48 hours, during which time the larvae develop normal characteristics of free swimming fish. Larvae are found in the water column and feed on plankton. The larvae grow rapidly and about 3–4 weeks after hatching the 15–20 millimetres (0.6–0.8 in) long juvenile settles on the bottom.  

References:   1. Pyle, R., et al. 2010. Holacanthus ciliaris. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. Downloaded on 03 June 2013.

 

World Fish Migration Day 2016 Bangladesh

The event World fish migration day 2016 Bangladesh was celebrated successfully on 24 May, 2016 at the Department of Zoology, Jagannath University, Bangladesh. During the event, about 250 up audiences joined to celebrate this special vent of World Fish Migration Day 2016 in Bangladesh. The event started with the inauguration of art exhibition on the theme of the event by the students of schools and colleges who submitted the drawings on the suggestive templates on fish, river and people.

Inaugural Session

Opening of the Art Exhibition

Professor Dr. Gulshan Ara Latifa inaugurated the art exhibition on 10: 30 am as a special guest of the event on behalf of Chief Guest of the occasion, the Vice-Chancellor of Jagannath University, Bangladesh Professor Dr. Mijanur Rahman. She enjoyed drawing and coloring exhibitions. She also delivered speech on migratory fish, river and people. Professor Dr. Md. Saiful Islam, Chairman of the Department of Zoology, Jagannath University, Bangladesh supported the occasion all through to make it a success. He was always encouraging to the students to raise awareness in the local community.

Dr. Mohammad Abdul Baki, Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology, Jagannath University, Bangladesh delivered welcome speech on the context and importance of migratory fish, open rivers and the event. Also In his speech, he said that Bangladesh is a land of rivers in the world map. Once all the rivers of Bangladesh was navigable but the Padma, the Meghna and many rivers have become unusable for navigable for much of the time of the year due to the different development activities, specially the construction of the Farakka Barrage. As a result, water levels are going lower in many rivers of Bangladesh causing disruption of the natural flow of rivers and preventing fish migration such as our national fish Hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha). As a result, these fishes are decreasing day by day in Bangladesh. Many migratory fish species are severely threatened locally as well as globally and the fish migration route is a key to conserve these species and their habitats. Many fish need to migrate to reproduce, feed and complete their life cycles. Migratory fish make up a crucial link in the food chain and plays an important role in healthy and productive river systems. Furthermore, they provide an important food supply and livelihood for millions of people around the world. Hilsa stocks have been hit hard by habitat degradation and have suffered from over-fishing.


Documentary showed on migratory fish illisha shada and reported that Bhabanipur a riverine village at the downstream of the river Meghan at Doulatkhan Bhola. About 2000 families live here, 95% of the villagers solely depend on hilsa fishing and allied activities. So is the case with 4.5 lakh families of coastal districts, their only livelihood is hilsa fishing and other activities. In Bangladesh, hilsa and aliened activities such as icing, transport, marketing, processing export, boat and net making, repairing additionally involves 2.4-2.5 million people.  Contributes are 13% of our national annual fish production alone. Once hilsa fish was quite common in almost every inland rivers of Bangladesh. Unwarranted reduction in water flow, siltation in most rivers due to various local and regional anthropogenic activities hilsa harvest gradually declined in the inland rivers. At present major hilsa harvesting areas are Padma Rivers, downstream of Meghan River, Tentulia, Arial khan, the coastal areas and Bay of Bengal. Hilsa is a highly migratory and transboundary fish, swims fast against the water current. Hilsa migrates to the upstream inland freshwater rivers in search of food and shelter and migrates back to the sea for attending sexual maturity. Upon sexual maturity in the sea, adults migrate to the coastal areas for spawning. Egg bearing mother-hilsa laid eggs in the brackish water. Immediately the males fertilize the laid eggs by spreading their milts on the eggs. Mother hilsa again migrates back to the sea after laying eggs. Floating fertilized eggs develop in to newly hatched larvae within two days and remains in the coastal areas for few days. Gradually the newly hatched larvae swim to the upstream freshwater rivers in search of food and shelter. Again sub-adult hilsa swims downstream to the sea by their instinct for getting sexual maturity. In 2-3 months’ time they become Jatka (baby hilsa). Upon sexual maturity in the sea adults again migrate to the coastal areas. Hilsa is mainly harvested during their upstream and downstream migration.

Professor Dr. Zakaria Mia also delivered speech on awareness increase of different community, importance of applied research, different types of dam and he is also concern on Padma Bridge project and Padma River as a special guest in the event. 

Professor Dr. Md. Abdul Alim was remember childhood life and gossiped of his school teacher then he delivered speech on fish culture, types of migration, natural fisheries resources, hoar, beel and our national fish Hilsa. He was support to Abdul Al Masud for the slogan “We don’t eat Hilsh fish in the national festival Pohela Boishakh”. He also thought to conserve natural resources because day by day water is polluted and destroy habitat.

         

Technical Session

Concept of fish migration         

During the technical Session Anirban Sarker, Assistant professor, Department of Zoology also delivered speech and presentation on concept of fish migration, reasons of migration, migration time, migration types, migration route of eel and salmon fish migration.

Illisha fish migration in Bangladesh
Hilsa fish Specialist Abdul Al Masud, Associate Professor, Department of Zoology, Jagannath University also delivered speech and presentation on illisha fish migration in Bangladesh, migratory movements such as from river to sea and from sea to river. He also discusses on hilsa types, seasons of Hilsha fish migration and importance of Hilsa fish migration. He has recommended conserving river habitat and maintaining Hilsha marketing and harvesting chain to conserve Hilsha. According to Halder and islam 2008 During entire life, Hilsa lives in the sea for most of its life but migrates at least 1,200 – 1,300 km upstream from estuarine region for spawning purpose  and it also found about 250km distance from coastal region. Five type of hilsa can be found worldwide. Hilsa fish is found in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Thailand, China, Vietnam and Sri-lanka. Hilsa is a oily fish rich in omega 3 fatty acids. Recent experiments have shown its beneficial effects in decreasing cholesterol level in rates etc. 

Quiz and Identification contest

Then Dr. Mohammad Abdul Baki announce to audience to enjoy fish identification and quiz contest in the event. Md. Asaduzzaman, Md. Muzammel Hossain and Sanjay Chakraborty were maintaining quiz and fish identification contest. During the contest Haraj Uddin Hero and Moumita Saha Bristy, Nahida Yesmin got 1st prize in the quiz and fish identification contests respectively. All are undergraduate students of Jagannath University, Bangladesh.

We are acknowledging to Nature Study & Conservation Club, JnU for supporting the event. On the other hand we can’t support from Enhanced Coastal Fisheries in Bangladesh (ECOFISH-BD). Also Thanks to Farzana Islam, Lecturer, Department of Zoology, Jagannath University for her supporting banner design. We would like to thank Muhsana Binte Ferdous, Israt Jahan Biha, Jannati Jasmin Sheba, Sadik Hossain Ornob, Sadia Afrin Sornaly, Iffat Jahan Bristy and Jasrah Jehaan who successfully participated in the drawing and coloring exhibitions. Credit goes to Hasan Al Razi, Ashik Jahan Galib, S M Nadim Parves, Naim Khandakar, Md. Jayedul Islam, Salahuddin Zadid, Soron Ahmed, Nur Islam, Md. Nur Islam, Md. Arafat Rahman Khan, Provakor Sarkar, Nahida Yesmin, Papia, Anik Chandra Mondal and Tanvir Ahmed Shaikot, Md. Hafijur Rohman of the Department of Zoology, Jagannath University for providing all Volunteer support during the event.

                                                        Happy Fish

   

Children drawing and coloring

Teesta river is going to death for Teesta barrage. Jagannath University, Bangladesh research on connecting, fish, rivers and people in Bangladesh science 2014 with World Fish Migration Foundation. They are also working on awareness program in different community to save the open rivers and migratory fish. 

Chair: Professor Dr. Md. Saiful Islam.
Convener: Dr. Mohammad Abdul Baki,
Members : Anirban Sarker and Shayer Mahmood Ibney Alam
Coordinator : Md. Muzammel Hossain
Event link: https://worldfishmigrationblog.wordpress.com/portfolio/bangladesh-2/

World Fish Migration Day 2016 Bangladesh

We are going to celebrate World Fish Migration Day 2016 Bangladesh at Department of Zoology, Jagannath University, Bangladesh. Connecting fish, rivers and people, will be used to connect sites around the world

World Fish Migration Day 2016 Bangladesh.

World Fish Migration Day 2016 is a one day event to create worldwide awareness of the importance of freshwater migratory fish and open rivers for the general public, especially students and their teachers, resource managers and engineers, and commercial and recreational anglers, as well as those individuals who influence public policy that affect rivers. It is a global initiative with activities organized to reach these audiences. At the individual event level, organizations undertake the development of an activity to raise awareness and involve local people and media about fish migration and open rivers. Local events include a range of activities: river rally, fish exhibition, art competition, quiz, presentation, documentary show, the opening of fishways, races, food festivals, etc. 
Nature Study & Conservation Club, JnU have arranged the event World Fish Migration Day 2016 Bangladesh at Jagannath University, Bangladesh to create awareness of the importance of freshwater migratory fish and open rivers.

Biodiversity Conservation & Fisheries Research Center (BCFRC) also support the event to create awareness in the local people.  With the World Fish Migration Day 2016 (21th May, 2016) we want to raise global attention for endangered migratory fish and their migration routes.

World Fish Migration Day 2016

World Fish Migration Day 2016 is a one day event to create worldwide awareness of the importance of freshwater migratory fish and open rivers for the general public, especially students and their teachers, resource managers and engineers, and commercial and recreational anglers, as well as those individuals who influence public policy that affect rivers. It is a global initiative with activities organized to reach these audiences.

Around the world, coordination and promotion is done through local activities inspired, supported and coordinated by a central office of the World Fish Migration Platform in Washington DC (USA).

At the individual event level, organizations undertake the development of an activity to raise awareness and involve local people and media about fish migration and open rivers. Local events include a range of activities: field trips, events at a school or aquaria, the opening of fishways, races, food festivals, etc. At this local level, the logo and central message of the WFMD, Connecting fish, rivers and people, will be used to connect sites around the world. The day will start in New Zealand and will follow the sun around the world, ending in Hawaii.

#‎WFMD2016‬ has now 122 events, in 33 countries!! World Fish Migration Day 2016 Bangladesh also celebrate the event at Jagannath University, Dhaka to create awareness of the importance of freshwater migratory fish and open rivers.

Call for Partners and Sponsors to celebrate the event World Fish Migration Day 2016 Bangladesh.

Contact event coordinator : +8801683739497 and Email: muzammel3@gmail.com 

World Fish Migration Day 2016 Bangladesh

The World Fish Migration Day (WFMD) is a one day global-local event to create worldwide awareness on the importance of open rivers and migratory fish. World Fish Migration Day 2016 Bangladesh will be held in Jagannath University, Dhaka and more student, teacher will be percipient with quiz, speech, rally, fish exhibition, art competition. 

Event Convener: Mohammad Abdul Baki (MSc WUR Netherlands, Ph.D Japan) Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology, Faculty of life and Earth Science, Jagannath University, Bangladesh.

Event Coordinator: Md. Muzammel Hossain, Researcher, Department of Zoology; University of Dhaka, Member, IUCN-SSC/WI Freshwater Fish Specialist Group. Everybody welcome to enjoy the event. 

Go to Link: http://www.worldfishmigrationday.com/events/625/world-fish-migration-day-2016-bangladesh