Pi55 Harpadon nehereus (Bombay-duck)

Pi55              Harpadon nehereus  (Bombay-duck)

 

Phylum    : Chordata

Class       : Actinopterygii

Order      : Aulopiformes

Family    : Synodontidae

Genus     : Harpadon

Species    : H.nehereus

 

 

Description

Habitats: Inhabit deep water offshore on sandy mud bottom for most of the year, but also gathers in large shoals in deltas of rivers to feed during monsoons. Spawn 6 batches of broods per year. Primarily caught along Maharashtra with the bag-net, better known as 'dol' net. Operation of this gear is timed to a strong tidal current. Very phosphorescent. Excellent food fish. Marketed fresh and dried or salted; consumed pan-fried

 

 Morphology: Elongated and laterally compressed body. Eyes very small and covered by edipose membrane. Mouth very wide. Maxillaries absent. Lower jaw prominent and gill wide open. Scales deciduous, about 40 in lateral series and lateral line slightly keeled with about 40 fine rectangular membranous pieces covered with similar scales. Three pointed lobes in caudal fin. Body color brownish to grayish with many black dots on back. This fish is of commercial significance. Used as food fish in Bangladesh and both fresh and sun-dried fish are used in this purpose.

 

IUCN status: Near threatened