Mrigal carp (Cirrhinus cirrhosus) fish species and information / pictures of Mrigal carp - Cirrhinus cirrhosus

Mrigal carp (Cirrhinus cirrhosus) fish species information

Scientific Name
Cirrhinus cirrhosus

Common Name
Mrigal carp

Biology
Inhabits fast flowing streams and rivers (Ref. 41236). Can tolerate high levels of salinity. Juveniles are omnivorous to about 5 cm TL, adults are almost entirely herbivorous. Feeds on plankton, but also grazes on algae. Spawning occurs in marginal areas of the water body with a depth of 50-100 cm over a sand or clay substrate. A 6 kg female can lay a million eggs (of 1 mm diameter) (Ref. 6028). Widely cultured in India but fails to breed naturally in ponds, thus induced breeding is done. Fishery harvests 40 cm fish weighing 1000 g and of about 3 years. A very active fish that thrives in ponds but spawns in swift rivers. Fingerlings are in great demand for stocking ponds between July and November

Classification

Classified By

Bloch, 1795

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Carps (Cypriniformes)

Family

Minnows or carps (Cyprinidae)

Distribution

Region

Asia

Distribution

Asia: native to large rivers in the Indian subcontinent (Ref. 12693). Has been so widely transported in connection to aquaculture that its natural distribution can no longer be determined (Ref. 33488).

Range

28°N - 7°N

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

5 m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic; potamodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 5 - ? m (Ref. 4832)

Trophic Level

2.4 s.e. 0.17 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

False

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

100.0 cm

Common Length

40.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5010 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: highly commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

High to very high vulnerability (67 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.12-0.29)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Vulnerable (VU) (D2)