According to a study by the Hyderabad-based Laboratory for Conservation of Endangered Species (LaCONES), the infamous sailfin catfish, sometimes known as the devilfish, has returned to the Eastern Ghats of telangana and andhra pradesh in 65% of the waterways. In the area of the krishna river in Vijayawada, the devilfish's existence was first noted in 2016. But the most recent sightings have shocked the nearby fishing community.

The devilfish's body is covered in prickly spines that are easily able to rip through fishing nets. They have no economic purpose and are South American in origin. Additionally, there have been unsettling occasions where these fish species caused injuries to fishermen. Additionally, devil fish, often referred to as pterygophlichthys, are hardy omnivores that can endure in environments with low oxygen levels. With the assistance of their powerful fins, they can even walk on land.

According to a study by LaCONES, a division of the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), the devil fish can also prey on local fish species, making it essential to manage their population since 152 distinct freshwater species are found in both the states of ap and Telangana. On august 27, the study's findings were published on the bioRXIV website.

Using a non-invasive method utilising DNA, it was able to determine the devilfish's presence in several bodies of water in the Eastern Ghats. Additionally, the enigmatic species was observed in the godavari river in a number of locations, but it only joined the krishna once they were connected to stabilise the krishna delta. The fish eventually travelled to Vijayawada's prakasam barrage and then upstream to the krishna and Musi rivers.

The study demonstrated how the ecosystem may be threatened by devilfish and stressed the significance of early identification of these invasive species. Six of the 14 species that India's National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has identified as invasive were only imported for the ornamental fish trade, it was stated. Pterygoplichthys is one of the most invasive fish genera since four of the six species on the list are members of it.

The use of DNA-based technologies is being pushed as a powerful substitute for established detection techniques like visual surveys and nets by researchers. "This non-invasive, vulnerable, and user-friendly technique offers the advantage of detecting invasive species even in areas where direct observation is difficult, thus addressing the shortcomings of traditional techniques and improving overall accuracy in estimating distribution," the study's authors write.
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Telangana Andhra Pradesh

SIBY JEYYA

03/09/2023 08:06 AM