FOOD AND FEEDING HABITS OF FRESHWATER ELASMOBRANCHS

Abstract

Extensive study program has been conducted on the Matamuhuri River System of the Cox’s bazar and the Shibsa River System, Khulna to explore the possibility of occurrence, collect and to identify freshwater clasmobranch from the waterbeds of Bangladesh. Two species of fresh water elasmobranch have been identified during the present study. These are Dasyatis bennetti and Dasyatis zugai. Food and feeding analysis indicated that these fishes are predominantly carnivorous. During the study, ecological aspects of the study area were also studied. Two parasites, viz. Argulus sp. and Ergaslus sp. have been identified. It has been assumed that these clasmobranch Fishes arc not fully of freshwater but they are merely visitors of freshwater ecosystem. The presence of premature specimens indicates that these fishes use freshwater ecosystem as their breeding or feeding or growing ground