Catla catla, commonly known as Catla, is a freshwater fish species native to the Indian subcontinent. It is one of the primary freshwater food fish in India, Bangladesh, and surrounding regions. Catla are typically found in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs with slow to moderate water flow. They are herbivorous fish, feeding mainly on phytoplankton, aquatic plants, and detritus. Catla are important economically and culturally, often used in religious ceremonies and festivals in South Asia. They are also farmed extensively due to their high demand for consumption. With their rapid growth rate and ability to thrive in a variety of water conditions, Catla play a crucial role in the aquaculture industry in the region.
2. TOPIC: CATLA FISH
Department of Zoology
Presented by: Sahibzadi Iqra Farhat
Roll # UOC-BSZOL-F2020/017
Session: 2020-24
Instructor Name: Dr. Syeda Nadia Ahmad
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5. INTRODUCTION TO CATLA FISH
• Catla commonly known as Thaila
• It is important part of polyculture system
• Habit- a surface-feeder, usually feeds on phytoplankton,
zooplankton, small insects, and crustacean.
• Spawning period- April to late July .
• Catla catla is known as a protein major source from
Pakistani aquatic bodies. [6]
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6. TAXONOMY
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The taxonomy of Catla catla fish is as follows:
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Actinopterygii
• Order: Cypriniformes
• Family: Cyprinidae
• Genus: Catla
• Species: Catla catla [4]
7. DISTRIBUTION
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Basically present in freshwater habitats of South Asia,
including:
• Pakistan: Indus River system
• India: Ganges, Yamuna, Brahmaputra river systems
• Bangladesh: Major river systems like the Ganges,
Brahmaputra, Meghna
• Nepal: Terai floodplains [5]
8. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
1. Traditional practice in the eastern Indian states.
2. Due to high growth rate its demand increased in India,
Bangladesh, Myanmar, Laos, Pakistan and Thailand.
3. The collection of riverine seed was the only source for culture
until the 1950s.
4. In 1957 this form of polyculture was revolutionized in Pakistan
and other south-east Asian countries.[2]
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9. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND CONT.
5. The species has also been introduced elsewhere,
including Sri Lanka, Israel, Japan, and Mauritius.
6. At present, catla forms an integral component species, both
in three-species polyculture with rohu and mrigal, and six-
species composite carp culture, which adds common carp ,
grass carp and silver carp to the species mix.[2]
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Fig. 1: Main producer countries of Catla catla (FAO Fishery statistics, 2006)
11. IMPORTANCE
• Food and Nutrition: Catla catla is a highly
preferred food fish due to its:
• Large size: They can grow up to 1-1.2 meters
and weigh over 40 kgs.
• Flavor: Their flesh is considered delicious and
a delicacy in South Asian cuisine.
• Nutritional Value: They are a good source of
protein, essential fatty acids, and minerals.[6]
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Fig. 2: Catla fish as food
(kolkatafish.com)
12. • Aquaculture: Catla catla plays a
significant role in aquaculture for several
reasons:
• Fast Growth: They are the fastest growing
among the three major carps
• Polyculture: They are ideal for polyculture
systems, effectively utilizing the upper
water layers while other carp species
occupy different zones.[6]
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Fig.3: Catla fish in polyculture system
(agrifarming.in)
13. • Ecological Role: Catla catla contributes
to maintaining a healthy ecosystem by:
• Diet: As herbivores, they regulate algae
and plankton populations, preventing
excessive growth and improving water
quality.[6]
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Fig. 4: Catla fish eat lagae
(farm2.staticflickr.com)
14. MORPHOLOGY
• Body- short and laterally
compressed,
• Head- very large,
• Scales- large cycloid ,
• Head- devoid of scales;
• Snout- bluntly rounded;
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• Eyes- large and visible from
underside of the head;
• Mouth- wide and upturned with
prominent protruding lower jaw;
• Upper lip- absent,
• Lower lip- very thick;[2]
15. MORPHOLOGY CONT.
• Barbels - absent
• Lower jaw with a movable articulation
at symphysis
• Gill rakers long and fine; pharyngeal
teeth in three row;
• Greyish on back and flanks, silvery-
white below; fins dusky
• Anal fin short;
• Pectoral fins long extending to
pelvic fins;
• Caudal fin forked;
• Dorsal fin inserted slightly
in advance of pelvic fns, with 14
to 16 branched rays; [2]
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17. UNIQUE FACTS ABOUT CATLA FISH
• BREEDING
• Catla is a eurythermal species. It grows best at water
temperatures between 25-32 °C.
• Catla is the most difficult to breed as it requires precise
environmental conditions for spawning.
• Under normal conditions catla grows to 1-1.2 kg in the
first year, compared to rohu and mrigal, respectively.
• It attends sexual maturity in two years. [2]
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Fig. 6: Conditions
for cultivating Catla fish
(Pixnio.com)
18. • AIR GULPING BEHAVIOR
• Unlike most fish, Catla catla can gulp
air from the atmosphere using a
specialized suprabranchial organ.
• This adaptation allows them to survive in
water with low oxygen levels, a common
occurrence in ponds and stagnant waters
during hot summers.[7]
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Fig.7: Air gulping behavior of
Catla fish
(live.staticflickr.com)
19. BEHAVIOR OF CATLA FISH
MIGRATORY BEHAVIOR
Catla catla are considered as potamodromous.
Their movements might be related to:
Feeding: Follow food sources like plankton blooms.
Spawning: Catla perform a spawning migration during
the monsoon season.
The spawning season lasts between May and August in
Bangladesh, and in India and Pakistan from June to
September. [7]
Fig.8: Migration of Catla fish
(www.stillaguamish.com)
20. PARENTAL BEHAVIOR
In the case of Catla catla, there is no parental care
exhibited by the adults. Because of:
Spawning Strategy: Catla catla are known for
practicing broadcast spawning. This means they release
eggs and sperm freely into the water column, leaving the
fertilization and development of the eggs to chance.
No Nesting or Guarding: Unlike some fish species that
build nests or guard their eggs, Catla catla show no such
behavior. The released eggs become part of the plankton
and fend for themselves.[7]
Fig. 9: Broadcast spawning
(Testimgs.s3.amazonaw
s.com)
22. RECENT RESEARCH FINDING
In 2024, the study aimed to determine the amino acid profiles of
• Hilsa (threonine, valine, isoleucine, histidine, and lysine)
• Catla (methionine, leucine, and phenylalanine)[1]
In 2022, the study aimed to determine the concentration of essential and toxic metals
in the tissues of Catla catla in Mangla Lake and to assess the possible risk to the
consumers. Mean levels of Pb, As, Co, Mn, Cd, Cr and Zn in Catla catla muscle
were found to be exceeding the international permissible limits for the safe human
consumption. [1]
23. RECENT RESEARCH FINDING CONT.
In 2021, the study was conducted to determine the relationship of morphometric
parameters with total length of Indian major carp. Result shows that growth of fish is
normal and the aquatic environment of water body is conducive for the fish.[8]
In 2021, the study was conducted to assess the hematological and histopathological
changes in major carp (Catla catla) exposed to different concentrations of copper (Cu)
and cadmium (Cd). The study indicates that exposure to Cu and Cd for longer period of
time causes adverse hematological and histopathological changes in Catla catla fish.[3]
24. REFERENCES
1.Ahmed, E., Jahan, I., & Shaheen, N. (2023). Comparative analysis of amino acid
profile of tenualosa ilisha and catla catla and their potential contribution to
recommended nutrient intake. Bioresearch Communications- (BRC), 10(01), 1371–
1377.
2. FAO. 2009. Catla catla. In Cultured aquatic species fact sheets.
3. Naz, S., Hussain, R., Ullah, Q., Chatha, A. M. M., Shaheen, A., & Khan, R. U.
(2021). Toxic effect of some heavy metals on hematology and histopathology of
major carp (Catla catla). Environmental science and pollution research, 28, 6533-
6539.
4. Pugazhendy, K., Tamizhazhagan, V., Jayanthi, C., Sakthidasan, V., & Sasikala, P.
(2018). Toxicological critical review report of catla catla (hamilton, 1822). Indo
american journal sciences, 5(8), 7397-7402.
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25. REFERENCES CONT.
5. Rahman, A. K. A. (2005). Freshwater Fishes of Bangladesh (2nd ed.).
Dhaka: Bangladesh Fisheries Research Forum
6. Shahzad, M. M., Hussain, S. M., Hussain, M., Tariq, M., Ahmed, N., Furqan,
M., Khalid, F., & Rafique, T. (2020). Improvement in overall performance
of Catla catla fingerlings fed phytase included low cost plant by products- based
diet. Saudi journal of biological sciences, 27(8), 2089–2096
7. Sultana, N., Chowdhury, M. A., & Shahnawaj, M. (2020). Seasonal
movement of fish species of Rajshahi and Khulna division in Bangladesh. Int. J.
Fish. Aquat. Stud, 8(3), 639-645
8. Ujjania, N. C., & Chaudhari, S. H. (2021). Assessment of Growth Pattern in
Relation to Certain Morphometric Parameters of Catla catla (Ham. 1822)
in Vallabhsagar Reservoir (Gujarat). Int. J. Livest. Res, 11(1), 69-74.
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