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Fishes of Manipur- A Glance
By Prof. Waikhom Vishwanath
Fishes exhibit enormous diversity in their structure, color, behavior, life history, and in the habitats they occupy. Although they are a heterogeneous
assemblage, they do exhibit phylogenetic community and many of them are closely related to mammals. They are of immense value to human beings. Fishes have long been a staple item in the diet of many people. Today, they occupy an important place in the economy of many nations. They give incalculable recreational and
psychological value to the naturalist, sport enthusiast, and home Aquarist.
Many institutions are now devoted to the study of their biology and propagation. Some of them are used as indicators of population. Thus, fishes are directly or indirectly benefited to human being. They also play an important role in the protection of human life and heritage. We consider it desirable to maintain fish diversity. We recognize the value of these organisms and our dependency upon them. But threats to the integrity of the environment pose a serious threat to our fishes.
Fish has been associated with the life of the people of Manipur from time immemorial. It is an important source of animal protein for the people of the state. Dr. Sunderlal Hora, the eminent ichthyologist visited Manipur in 1920 and wrote, 'Owing to religious tenets, the Manipuris are forbidden any kind of animal food except fish, which thus forms a very important item in the diet'. He also noted them to be very intelligent people, as they do not waste the contents of the belly of fishes, which contain nutritionally rich oil. The Manipuris do not allow all kinds of meat except fish in their kitchens. They eat fresh fishes after cooking. They smoke and dry fishes of all groups, large and small in their traditional style and cooked along with vegetables, especially to add flavor.
Such processed fishes are stored in airtight earthen vats for off-season consumption. Sun-dried low valued fishes are fermented locally and incorporated in preparations of chili, vegetables and even in fish preparations. As it is done in other parts of South East Asia, fermented fishes are essential items consumed in order to enrich the monotonous rice diet.
The Manipuris, both in Manipur and those who are settled in many parts of the other North Eastern States of India and also in many parts of Myanmar and Bangladesh use fish in the performance of their customary rites. On the sixth day of a child's birth, they perform 'Ipan Thaba' with 'Ngamu' an air breathing fish commonly called 'snake-head' or 'murrel' an essential item. On the day of marriage, they perform 'Nga-Thaba' releasing two snakeheads in the pond. When a person is seriously ill, his friends and relatives come and see him with live fish.
The rich fish diversity of the state has been attracting many ichthyologists and entrepreneurs. The diversity is attributed to many reasons, viz., the geomorphology, consisting of the hills, plateaus and valleys, resulting in the occurrence of a variety of torrential hill steams, rivers, lakes and swamps; drainage pattern which include the Barak-Brahmaputra and Chindwin-Irrawady systems; the distinct entity in the tectonic setting in Southeast Asia resulted by an island are type of collision between India and Burmese plates, resulting in the formation of Indo-Burma ranges.
The Barak Drainage System drains the western half of the state and occupies nearly 50 percent of the state's catchment area. The watershed of the system is divided from that of the Chindwin by the range immediately on the western side of the Imphal Valley. The tectonic settings of North East India and Indo-Burman Ranges (IBR) in particular have a distinct entity in tectonic frameworks of Southeast Asia. It is believed that IBR is the product of an island arc type of collision between India and Burma plates while the eastern Himalayas involved as a result of continent-continent collision between Indian-Australian and Eurasian plates.
It is believed that Manipur Central valley was formed as a result of rifting and stretching of the crystal layer (lithosphere) of continental margins and sinking of a former plateau, which initiated sometimes towards the close of the Mesozoic era (about 60 million years back). Thus, the continental plates had distinct fish resources and their meeting resulted in the diversity. Another factor responsible for the diversity is the recent geological history, especially the Himalayan upheaval, which played an important role in the speculation and evolution of groups inhabiting mountain streams.
It was believed that South East Asia was the 'Center of Origin' of Ostariophysi (the freshwater bony fishes), from where they distributed centrifugally. The Yunnan Province of China or the adjoining areas of southern China, northern Myanmar and northeast India was considered to be the origin. It was based on the theory of P.J. Darlington that organisms of greatest diversity and specialty dwell in the Center of Origin and organism of less diversity and less specialty dwell in the periphery. This idea was based on the concept that the continental masses were stable. Now it is well accepted that continents do drift. The creation of the mighty Himalayas is an example.
Formerly, it was believed that fishes originated in the Yunnan province of China and then distributed to different parts of Asia. Now, the concept is just the reverse. The present South America, Africa, Peninsula India and Australia, which once formed a southern super continent called the Gondwana broke up and drifted towards their present destinations. Now, the evidences prove that the freshwater fishes originated in the Gondwana. Thus, a new dimension has been added to the studies of the fishes, their origin and evolution.
The geological history probably caused several changes in the drainage pattern. J.W Gregory in 1925 put forward, a hypothesis that the Tsangpo River of Tibet was in direct connection with the Chindwin of Myanmar, while the present connection between Tsangpo and Brahmaputra established later. Thus, it is quite probable that Gondwanan freshwater fishes might have already reached Myanmar through the Indus (Trans-Himalayan drainage) before reaching Manipur.
The variety of torrential hill streams, rivers and lakes support rich fish diversity. Many rivers and other water bodies have never been visited by an Ichthyologist. The degree of endemism is not fully known, but is expected to be high in the upland streams. By contrast, much of the great lake flood plains are expected to-lack localized endemism, although headwaters of tributary streams may have distinctive isolated species. Most species of fishes are exploited in one-way or another. Small and colorful which are neglected because of least food value could easily be exploited for the international aquarium trade. The threats on the fish germplasm resource have caused concern. Identification, categorization of endangered threatened and vulnerable species and studies on their biology in order to conserve them has become inevitable.
As the state is drained by two river systems, its fauna include both Assamese and Burmese elements. However, though some workers reported on the fishes of the Barak River system, reports on those in the Chindwin basin is lacking. The latest comprehensive report is of Dr. Hora 1940, which is based on the Vernay-Hopwood Chindwin expedition. The present fishes of Manipur might have come via the Manipur River after the formation of the Manipur valley, while those of
the western part might have reached via Barak after the formation of Assam plains. It is probable that the present Imphal River bad a reverse course and it probably joined the origin of the River Barak at Karong resulting in the present distribution of fish species common to both the systems.
As the geological information of this part of this country if scanty, it is difficult to bring a probable origin and evolution of fishes in this area. A concerted effort of the geologists and biologists could come out with new ideas and concepts in the origin and evolution of life in this part of the world.
Status of the Some Freshwater Fishes of Manipur
It is a sad commentary that the theme of the 19991 International Congress of the European ichthyologists was 'The threatened World of fishes'. But it was a valid expression of reality. Dr. A.Q.K. Menon in 1989 pointed out that the threats to fishes are 1. Habitat Destruction, particularly construction of dams, collection of gravel from the bottom of streams (these are breeding sites of many hill stream fishes) and siltation; 2. Over exploitation, 3. Pollution, 4.
Dynamiting and Poisoning and 5. Introduction as of fast breeding exotic species. He observed that due to the 'introduction of Common Carp, population of 'Pengba ' was fast depleting In Loktak Lake. Illegal import and culture of "Thai-catfish /Ngakra Achouba' (Clarias guerripinuis) have also caused concern in the entire Northeast India, including Manipur. It is sad that the Red Data Book of the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Natural and Natural Resources}, 1978 did not list any threatened or endangered fishes of India.
Dr. Hora's report in 1921, listed 56 species of fishes from the state. Many more species were added to the list by subsequent workers. As a result, 167 fish species are known from Manipur. The European Ichthyological Congress held at Trieste, Italy, in 1997 reported 117 species of fishes only from the Chindwin drainage in Manipur. Many more species are likely to be discovered following extensive survey.
Great changes have taken place in the species composition, distribution and availability of fishes in the water bodies. Indian Major Carps and exotic fishes have been introduced in 1960's for culture. Some special have already entered into the natural water. Many species known to be distributed in the past have disappeared or pushed to isolated areas. Unless conservation measures are taken up, there is fear of loss of some of the precious fish germplasm resources.
Conservation Assessment and Management Plan (CAMP) workshop conducted at National Bureau of Fish Genetic Research, Lucknow in 1997, assessed 329 species of freshwater fishes of India. The status of a few fishes distributed in Manipur were also assessed and their category of threat according to IUCN Redlist categories are as follows:
Extinct In wild
Manipur Name
Osteobrama belangeri (Valenciennes)
Pengba/Tharak
Critcally Endangered
1. Garra litanensis Vishwanath
Ngamu Sangum
2. G. manipurensis Vishwanath &
do
Sarojnalini
3. Psilorhynchus microphthalmus
Nung-nga
Vishwanath & Manojkumar
Endangered
1. Anguilla bengalensis Gray
Ngaril Laina
2. Barilius dogarsinghi Hora
Ngawa-phuri Thungbi
3. Botia berdmorei (Blyth)
Sareng Khoibi
4. Lepidocephalus berdmorei (Blyth)
Ngakijou
5. Mystus microphthalamus (Day)
Nganan
6. Ompok bimaculatus (Bloch)
Ngaten
7. Puntius clavatus (Mc Clelland) -
8. P. Jayarani, Vishwanath & Tombi
Keikak Nga
9. Raiamas guttatus (Day)
Ngawa Thangong
10: Acanthophthalmus pangial
Nganap
(Hamilton-Buchanan)
11. Schistura sikmaiensis (Hora)
Ngatup/Leingoiphon
12. S. vinciguerrae (Hora)
do
13. Tor putitora (Hamilton-Buchanan)
Ngara/Ngakreng
14. T. tor (Hamilton-Bachanan)
do
Vulnerable
1. Anabas testudineus (Bloch)
Ukabi
2. Bagarius bagarius (Hamilton-Bachanan)
Ngarel
3. Barilius barila (Hamilton-Bachanan)
Ngawa
4. Botia histrionica (Blyth)
Sareng-Khoibi
5. Brachydanio acuticephala (Hora)
Nung-nga
6. Catla catla (Hamilton-Bachanan)
Catla/Bao
7. Channa orientalis Bloch & Schneider
Meitei Ngamu
8. Cirrhinus reba (Hamilton-Buchanan)
Khabak
9. Clarias batrachus (Linnaeus)
Ngakra
10. Crossocheilus burmanicus Hora
Ngaroi
11. Danio naganensis Chaudhuri
Nung-nga
l2. Gara gotyla Gray
Ngamu sangum
13. G. kempi Hora
do
14. G. lissorhynchus (Me Clelland)
do
15. G. naganensis Hora
do
16. G. rupecula (Mc Clelland)
do
17. Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch)
Ngachik
18. Hilsa ilisha (Hamilton-Buchanan)
Ilisha
19.Labeo dero (Hamilton-Buchanan)
Khabak
20. Lepidocephalus irrorata (Hora)
Nganap Nakuppi
21. Mystus bleekeri (Day)
Ngasep
22. Schistura scaturigina (Mc Clelland)
Ngatup/Leingoiphon
23. Osteobrama cunma (Day)
Ngaseksha
24. Psilorhynchus homaloptera(Hora&Mukherji)
--
25. Puntius chola (Hamilton-Buchanan)
Phabou-nga
26. P. conchonius (Hamilton-Buchanan)
do
27. P. sarana (Hamilton-Buchanan)
Nganoi/Ngahou
28. Raiamas bola (Hamilton-Buchanan)
Ngawa
29. Schistura kanjupkhulensis (Hora)
Ngatup/Leingoiphon
30. S. manipurensis (Chaudhuri)
do
31. S. nagaensis (Menon)
do
32. S. prashadi (Hora)
do
33. Schizothorax richardsonii (Gray)
Sana Nga
Exploration, sustainable use, conservation and studied on the biology of these fishes will certainly come out with understanding of the hidden treasure related with human health, aesthetic values and origin and evolution of species in the part of the world. Let us join hand in the discovery, inventory and conservation of the invaluable resources we have before it is too late.
(The author, Professor of Life Sciences, Manipur University, is engaged activity in exploring the indigenous fishes in Manipur)
(Courtesy: The Orient Vision) |
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