Bangladesh being a huge delta formed by the Giant rivers – Padma (Ganges, Jamuna, Brahmaputra) and the Meghna and their innumerable tributaries, has one of the richest inland fishery resources of the world. The ecological characteristics of the county are ideally suited for development of aquatic life and as such the fish fauna of the country is varied and rich in terms of biodiversity.
The present book dealing with freshwater bony fishes only includes 265 species under 154 genera and 55 families. A key to the major groups of freshwater fishes as to orders or sub-orders. A brief description of each order or sub-order is given and keys separating the families, genera and species have been provided. The second edition provides more updated description, identification keys and illustrations of all the species including their current status and availability. This edition incorporates pictures and figures of all the recorded species including colored photographs of most of the species.
Supplemented by a comprehensive reference list and index for scientific work of reference for every one involved in the study of ichthyology and fishery. Apart from the above features Freshwater Fishes of Bangladesh provides a review of literature on the subject, short accounts on physical features of the land, climate, fish habitat, leading features of the fauna, vernacular names and historical perspective of the exotic species introduced in the country.
A. K. Ataur Rahman, formaer Director General of the Department of Fisheries, Bangladesh has wide experience in the field of aquaculture, fishery biology, fishery management and particularly in the field of taxonomy and ichthyology. He actively participated in International fishery advisory committee meetings and workshops in India, Thailand, Philippines, China, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Maldives, Seychelles, Italy, U.K., France, Canada and USA . He received Kazi Mahbubullah Trust award and gold medal for his contribution in the field of agricultural research. For his contribution in the field of ichthyology he received award from the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh in 1989.
Born on 30th June 1938, Mr. Rahman received his B. Sc. (Hons.) Degree in Zoology from Dhaka University in 1959 and M. S. (Fisheries) degree from the University of Michigan , USA in 1969. He has more than 50 research publications to his credit, in addition to the authorship of the book on Freshwater Fishes of Bangladesh. He has been a consultant to several agencies including FAO, World Bank and DFID. Currently he is working as the Editor of the Encyclopedia of Flora and Fauna of Bangladesh of the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.