TAXONOMIC STUDY ON THE SUPPOSED HYBRIDS OF INDIAN MAJOR CARPS AND CHINESE CARPS IN THE LOCAL MARKETS OF KHULNA, JESSORE AND SATKHIRA DISTRICT, BANGLADESH

Abstract

The present study deciphers the extent of the activity of heterospecific mixing of gametes and production of hybrids that are available as food fishes in the markets of Khulna, Jessore and Satkhira districts during March to July, 2009. The taxonomic characters of two putative hybrids from 150 samples namely Catla catla × Labeo rohita and Labeo rohita × Labeo calbasu were studied and compared with their original species and significant differences were found in most of the meristic characters and morphometric proportionsat 5% level of significance. The two hybrids were not found to be intermediate between their original species for most of the characters. Catla catla × Labeo rohita deflected more toward catla; while Labeo rohita × Labeo calbasu toward calbasu, however, the hybrid does not have barbel as with calbasu. The results of the study revealed a grave situation of fishes’ gene pool mixing in the hatcheries.