Habitat Preference of an Endangered Hill Stream Catfish Olyra longicaudata (McClelland) From Arunachal Pradesh, India

Abstract

Habitat predilection of Olyra longicaudata, was studied systematically in a mountain stream of Dengka village of papumpare district Arunachal Pradesh, India. The enumeration of habitat parameters in-situ revealed that this catfish has the specialized and distinguishable habitat fondness in lotic system. This fish is basically bottom dweller and prefers the places with rocky stream beds, devoid of clay and detrital deposits, surrounding areas enriched with larval and aquatic insects, crustaceans, annelids, molluscs etc. The fish prefers shallower and clear running water but cool, soft, slightly alkaline with high level of dissolved oxygen and under a good cover of riparian vegetation. The population properties of the species showed a dismal picture with adult count going remarkably down.