Habit and habitats responsible for Adaptive modification of hill stream fishes of Kumaun Himalaya region with special reference to Botia almorhae, Homaloptera brucei and Schizothorax richardsonii

Abstract

The hill stream water has different type of fish species owing to different habitats; as such they have developed and adapted for different types of food and feeding habits. It is well assumed that morphological differences in fishes are due to the action of several abiotic and biotic factors which are related to habit and habitat of fish species. The hill stream fishes viz. Botia almorhae, Homaloptera brucei and Schizothorax richardsonii collected from the Kosi river at Kakrighat, Distt. Nainital, West Ramganga river; at Chaukhutia, and Kosi river at Hawalbag, Distt. Almora, Uttarakhand have been selected for the studies. The body modification with respect to food, feeding and dwelling habits has been explored which is helpful in understanding the trophic level of these fishes. During the studies it has been analyzed that in case of Botia almorhae belong to the category of bottom feeder and surface feeder omnivore fish. Homaloptera brucei adopted for Botom-column-omnivore or carnivore feeding habit whereas Schizolhorax richardsonii is a bottom feeder and predominantly herbivorous.