First Record of Skeletal Deformities in the Indian Catfish <i>Heteropneustes fossilis</i> (Bloch, 1794) Obtained from Natural Population in Ganges River, India

Abstract

The Indian catfish, H. fossilis , is found throughout south and Southeast Asian countries including Bangladesh, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Abnormal calcification and other minor deformities were noticed in a specimen of Heteropneustes fossilis . Neural spines deformities are reported in Indian catfish Heteropneustes fossilis collected from Ganges River, India. The neural spines of both abdominal and haemal vertebrae were involved in these abnormalities. In addition, a minor anomaly was also noticed in the neural and haemal spines of the 36 th – 44 th caudal vertebrae. Possible causes such as genetic and epigenetic factors may be implicated in this anomaly.