Feeding and reproductive biology of Amblypharyngodon mola (Cyrpiniformes: Cyprinidae) from two floodplain lakes of India

Pattern of feeding and reproduction of Amblypharyngodon mola (Hamilton, 1822) was studied in two floodplain lakes of North 24 Parganas districts of West Bengal in India during 2011. Results indicated that the fish exhibited a predominantly herbivorous diet with algae as the main content of gut. A long, thin walled, coiled gut and closely packed filamentous gill racker suited this feeding habit. Feeding intensity of the fish fluctuated throughout the year, males showing maximum intensity in June and females showing maximum intensity in February and November. Females outnumbered males (1.9:1) and were found as highly fecund with a calculated fecundity factor of 1445 ova g-1 of body weight. From the peak of gonado-somatic index and ova diameter it was revealed that A. mola apparently spawned only once during July in these floodplain lakes. It was concluded that improvement of ecosystem health of these two lakes were necessary to ensure spawning of the fish.