Catla catla, Hamilton, 1822

Manam, Dr. Vishnu Kiran & Quraishi, Mohammad Asif, 2024, Comprehensive review on Indian major carps: An integrated approach to pond cultivation, nutrition, and health management for sustainable aquaculture, International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies 12 (1), pp. 1-12 : 2

Catla ( Catla catla )

Catla is a major carp in India and is cultured along with column and bottom-feeding fishes as a composite culture { Fig 1 ) [ 8]. They breed in fields that are flooded, and dry bunds by triggering riverine conditions in ponds and grow outs. During the southwest monsoon, they breed in natural habitats where the seeds are available from hatcheries and breeding grounds from May to August. The induced breeding of catla marks its success in stagnant waters of fish ponds [ 9]. The feeding regime of catla varies from fingerlings to adults where the fingerlings feed on zooplankton, supplementary feeding, and commercial feeds, on the other hand, adults feed on meroplankton, vegetable matters, supplementary feeding and commercial feeds available in the market [ 10]. The catla has a black color body with dusky grey fins, tails, and a silvery white belly. The body shape of a catla has a deep and laterally compressed body, which means it is broad from side to side and flattened from top to bottom [ 11]. The mouth of Catla is large and directed upward, indicating its surface-feeding behavior. It is well-adapted for capturing food from the water's surface and the head is relatively large compared to its body size [ 12]. The main characteristic feature of catla is that it has lower jaws that protrude slightly and it can reach a maximum size of up to 63 kg which is known for its fastest growth, However, its size may vary depending on the habitat and growth conditions [ 13, 14]. The greater demand for catla is that it can be cultured via polyculture systems and contributes to 60% of the total production [ 15, 16]. The distribution of catla reserves to India and its subcontinents however countries like Israel and Japan had their cultures way back in 1954 and 1960 respectively. In India, Catla is found in various river systems and water bodies throughout India. It occurs in the Ganges, Brahmaputra, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Cauvery River basins, among others. It is also found in many lakes and reservoirs across the country [ 17]. Catla is present in the rivers and water bodies of Pakistan, particularly in the Indus River system, and is widely distributed in the rivers and water bodies of Bangladesh, making it an essential fish species for the country's fisheries and aquaculture industry [18]. Catla has been widely distributed to various countries like Sri Lanka, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Bhutan, and the Philippines for aquaculture and fisheries purposes.

Figures

Fig 1: Indian Major Carps