Revision of the Genus Labeo Cuvier from the Indian Region with a Discussion on Its Phylogeny and Zoogeography: Pisces: Cypriniforms, Cyprinidae, Cyprininae

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Language: English

From the introduction:

"Catla, Mrigal and Rohu constitute the major carps of Indian waters. These are of high economic value and because of their quick growing nature and rich flesh content, they are extensively cultivated and preferred by the Indian masses. Especially in West Bengal, Bihar, U.P., Assam and also in Bangladesh these are the favourites of the common man. Of the three, Rohu (Labeo rohita) is a prime fish associated with religious festivals; marriages etc. Because of their high fecundity, newly married couples are presented with a pair of Rohu fish at the time of the wedding in Bengal.

Despite such popularity and preferences, the taxonomy of the group has remained in confusion. Because of their varied habitats and also extensive cultivation, interbreeding has taken place giving rise to several colour forms, varieties etc. Even inter-specific and intergeneric crosses are known. In our field survey of the Krishna river system we have come across several specimens of black variety of Labeo rohita and a red variety of Labeo calbasu which fishermen considered as different species. Chaudhuri (1912), Zugmayer (1912), Fowler (1924, 1934 & 1935), Tilak (1968) and Datta & Majumdar (1970) have described new species of Labeo. Some species are known only by their holotype and subsequently they have not been recorded.

It is thus seen that the entire gamut of the species of the Indian subcontinent is in need of a thorough taxonomic revision and hence this study was undertaken."

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