Channa marulius (Murrels )
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Bullseye snakehead | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Bullseye snakehead protecting young | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Channidae |
| Genus: | Channa |
| Species: | C. marulius |
| Binomial name | |
| Channa marulius (F. Hamilton, 1822) | |
The bullseye snakehead or great snakehead (Channa marulius) is a large species of snakehead native to South and Southeast Asia, as well as southern China.[1] It has been introduced to the United States, where considered invasive.[2]
In South India, it is commonly found in reservoirs. It is found in Pechpparai, Chittar, Manimuthar, Bhvani and Mettur dams of Tamil Nadu and Thenmalai, Neyyar and Idukki dams of Kerala. It can also be found in the reservoirs of Himachal Pradesh such as the Pong Dam (Maharana Pratap Sagar), where it is known locally as soal. C. marlius is commonly known as giant murrel. In Assam, it is locally known as xaal. It is a faster-growing fish than most of the other species of the genus. It is a carnivorous species. It is marketed live and fetches high prices in the market. The flesh has high nutritive value and its flesh is said to have wound-healing effect and recuperative attributes. It is highly suitable for intensive culture due to its air-breathing habit.
In Manipur, India, it is called as Porom. It is a popular local cuisine item. It is found in canals, rivers and lakes of the region. In Loktak lake, Bishnupur district, Manipur, it has become one of the top predatory fish due to acute decline of other predatory fish, Usually it is found in wild, but it is now farmed to meet the increasing demand in local market. In Telangana, India, it is called as Bomma chepa, and is quite common in lakes, reservoirs.
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International Journal of Fisheries and
Aquatic Studies 2014; 1(5): 22-31
ISSN: 2347-5129 IJFAS 2014; 1(5): 22-31 © 2013 IJFAS www.fisheriesjournal.com Received: 11-03-2014 Accepted: 15-04-2014
B. Laxmappa Fisheries Development Officer,
Department of Fisheries, Mahabubnagar – 509 001, Andhra Pradesh, India. Email:
laxmappaboini@gmail.com
G. Vijay Babu Lecture in Zoology, Govt.
Degree College (Men), Wanaparthy - 509103, Mahabubnagar District, A.P. India.
Email: gvijay961@yahoo.in
Correspondence: B. Laxmappa Fisheries Development Officer, Department of
Fisheries, Mahabubnagar – 509 001, Andhra Pradesh, India. Email:
laxmappaboini@gmail.com
Present status and prospects of Murrels
Farming in Andhra Pradesh, India
B. Laxmappa, G. Vijay Babu
ABSTRACT This short review summarizes the
current status of the Murrells fisheries in inland waters. Murrels are perhaps
the most important indigenous fishes occurring in almost all wild inland water
bodies in Andhra Pradesh including India. Murrels can be recognized by the
shapes of head, which resembles that of a snake. They are air-breathing and carnivorous in
nature. They can live for many hours out of water. Murrels are highly esteemed as food in Andhra
Pradesh. Murrels are known for their medicinal and recuperative values. As consumers
prefer murrels over carps, most of the catches belonging to this group are
disposed off alive. The expansion of murrel supplies to maintain food security
is a priority concern in the state. Therefore, it is imperative to make murrel
culture, popular among fish farmers and unemployed youths for income
generation.
Keywords: Andhra Pradesh, Murrels, Culture
practices, EUS infection, NFDB.
1.
Introduction
Andhra Pradesh (A.P) state is one of the important states in India. It has 23
districts with the Hyderabad Capital and an area of the state is 2, 75,068
sq.km. The state is endowed with more than 0.8 million hectares of inland water
bodies with good potential for fish production. The present inland fish
production of the state is 1.24 million tons and occupies second position in
the country. Murrels and Catfishes are the second most important group of
freshwater fishes of commercial importance in A.P. Murrels belonging to the family Channidae
(Ophiocephalidae) constitute the most common and dominant group of air
breathing freshwater fishes and are highly regarded as a food fish in the
Andhra Pradesh. There are several species of murrels belonging to the genus
Channa (syn. Ophiocephalus),
but only four types of murrel species are available in A.P. viz Channa
striatus, C. punctatus, C. marulius and C. gatchua (Table: 1) [1]. Among these,
one species, namely Channa striatus also called striped murrel, enjoys a good
deal of popularity as food fish in many parts of A.P. along with India. Besides
the high quality of their flesh in terms of taste and texture, they also have
good market value due to the low fat, fewer intramuscular spines, medicinal
qualities and available in live condition. Murrels are also known as
“Snake-heads” from the shape and appearance of the head, which resembles that
of a snake. Body elongated, anteriorly cylindrical, posteriorly compressed.
Dorsal and anal fins are single and long, caudal fin round. They are also noted
for their air- breathing habit. On the roof of its pharynx, the fish has a pair
of cavities which have folded linings, richly supplied with blood vessels for
taking in air. These accessory respiratory organs enable these fishes to
survive out of water for a few hours or migrate from one pool to another. They are
therefore called “live fishes”.
2.
3.
Cultivable
species Murrels are predatory inhabit and feed on variety of fauna present in
the water. However, the high demand and high market value and their capacity to
withstand in adverse weather conditions make them suitable candidate species
for aquaculture. Out of the eight different species of murrels found in India
Channa marulius (Hamilton), C. striatus (Bloch) and C. punctatus (Bloch) are
important from the cultural and economic point of view. These are also cultured
by most of the farmers along with major carps in the state including
India.
International Journal of Fisheries and
Aquatic Studies
2.1
Channa maulius: This is about the largest of murrels in India, the average size
being about 45 cm but may attain over a meter and grows above 4 kg weight. The
body is sub- cylindrical, tapering from the head to tail; maxilla extending
beyond the eye. Colouration varies with environment. Generally grayish green on
the back, pale white below; adult
with 5-6 faint bands/streaks below the
lateral line in irregularly shaped, roughly parallel. And also conspicuous
white dots on the body and fins. Found in all large rivers, as they prefer deep
clean stretches of water with a sandy or rocky bottom, unlike several of its
related species. It is cultured in tanks, ponds and irrigation canals in
A.P.
Fig 1: Channa marulius
Fig 2: Channa maulius harvested stock
2.2 Channa striatus: These fishes are
medium-sized and are distributed widely from the Indo-Gangetic plain to
peninsular India. Body dark brown or black above, yellowish or orange below.
Prefer stagnant, muddy waters. Feed on worms, insects, tadpoles and frogs.
Today C. striatus is widely cultivated in tanks of Andhra Pradesh and attains a
size of 90 cm and grows above 2 kg weight.
2.3 Channa punctatus: A widely disturbed
species smaller in size and prefers stagnant waters. Variable in colors,
usually greenish brown above, yellow below, but may take a purplish to black
hue. The average length of an adult fish is about 20 cm. prolific breeder and
grows up to 0.25 kg weight.
Table 1: Types of murrels cultured in Andhra
Pradesh
S. No.
Common Name
Scientific Name
Local Name
1 Giant Murrel
Channa marulius
Poomeenu
2 Striped Murrel channa striatus Korrameenu
3 Spotted Murrel
Channa punctatus
Matta
4 Mud
Murrel Channa gatchua Buradamatta
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International Journal of Fisheries and
Aquatic Studies
Fig 3: Channa striatus
Fig 4: C. striatus harvested stock
Fig 5: Fisherman with well grown C.
striatus
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International Journal of Fisheries and
Aquatic Studies
Fig 6: Channa punctatus
Fig 7: Murrel seed in early stage
Fig 8: Murrel seed advanced stage
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International Journal of Fisheries and
Aquatic Studies
3. Cultural practices 3.1 Seed Collection:
The murrel breeds all around the year from rain-fed ditches and shallow water
bodies with rich aquatic weed vegetation. Seed of these species, under parental
care can move in shoals in search of food along the marginal areas of the
breeding environment. While moving they make characteristic ripples on the
water surface which can be easily noticed from a distance. The entire shoal can
be collected easily when it is moving till the marginal weed-free areas using a
fine meshed net. The fingerlings of the murrels are available in rivers,
reservoirs, perennial tanks and other derelict water bodies [2]. The present
demand for murrel seed is, by and large, met from wild collections. Maximum
seed availability is from May to August. The commercial culture of
murrels is still not common due to inadequate
seed availability.
3.2 Seed Stocking: Murrels permit high
stocking density, as they are hardly fishes and tolerate overcrowding due to
the additional support of air breathing organs. The stocking density is 20,000
to 30,000 fingerlings/ha. Fishermen usually collect the murrel seed from the
available natural sources and sells to the culturists. Fish farmers stock these
murrel seed along with carp seed in their culture tanks and allows them to grow
for 6-9 months or even more. In exclusive carps culture ponds, formers stock
300-500 murrel fingerlings per hectare to control the weed fishes particularly
tilapia fish. This gives additional income to the farmers in the state.
Fig 9: Murrel fingerlings
Fig 10: Healthy murrel fingerlings
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International Journal of Fisheries and
Aquatic Studies
Fig 11: Murrel seed collection
3.3 Harvesting: Although murrels are caught
in gill nets, drag nets and cast nets, the gear mainly intended to catch
murrels are long line and various types of traps. It is also a common practice
to bale out water from pools and ditches where murrels are known to live, for
hand picking them.
Fig 12: Murrel hand picking by fishermen
3.4 Market demand: Murrels fetch a high price
ranging from Rs. 300- 400 (US $ 5-7) per kg in different markets. In general
the prices of murrels are much more than those of carps and cat fishes. Heavy
demand exists for murrels in entire Andhra Pradesh state including India. Some
like them for their delicious taste, while others prefer them because of their
nutritional and medicinal value. The demand also arises because they are sold
alive in the market, and can be purchased in a fresh condition.
3.5 Production trends: Murrels contribute to
the extent of about 5 percent to the total inland fish production from rivers and
reservoirs and from 10 to 15 percent from tanks, ponds etc. Production of
murrels under traditional composite culture system ranges from 50 to 250 kg/ha
in 6-8 months. On an average, marketable sizes of murrels can be obtained in
8-9 months. C. marulius is expected to attain 400-600 g in 6-8 months, C. striatus
(300-400 g) and C. punctatus (150-200 g) giving yields of 300-500 kg/ha under
semi-intensive culture along with carps. Murrels are quite popular among fish
consumers in the state. It has scope for development in the state as alternate
species but non-availability or adequate seed is the main constraint.
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International Journal of Fisheries and
Aquatic Studies
Fig 13: Hand picking after total dewatering
3.6
EUS
infection: Murrels are easily susceptible to the Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome
(EUS).The most severely affected ones are Channa striatus, and C. marulius
rarely sees in C. punctatus and C. gatchua, resulting in large scale
mortalities in every year in the state. Murrels of all sizes are affected.
However, the incidence of infection is more in the younger ones. Affected
murrels with mild lesion may not show any clinical sign, whereas those with
marked ulcerative lesions exhibit distinct abnormal swimming behavior with
frequent surfacing. EUS is characterized by the occurrence of large hemorrhagic
or necrotic ulcerative lesions on the base of fins and other parts of the body,
which later become larger inflamed areas with acute degeneration of epidermal
tissues. Initially, the disease appears as red colored lesions, hemorrhagic in nature.
These red lesions spread and enlarge gradually becoming deeper and assuming the
form of ulcers. With further advancement, the scales fall off; ulcers become
deep necrotizing or lesions. The starts rotting while still alive and
eventually die.
3.7
4. Health and Entertainment Murrels being
typical “live fishes” and having soft flesh devoid of fat are considered to
have medicinal value and provide nutritious food, particularly the sick. Murrel
fingerlings are used for giving medicine every year in the month of June on the
eve of Mrigasira Karthi day for dispensation to asthma patients (Fish Medicine)
that gather from all over the country in Hyderabad City since long back. In
most of the hotels in the state people is mostly prefers murrel fish curry and
fry in their feast. In addition to its food value, they are so significant in
biological control of mosquito’s larvae and aquatic insect’s population in
stagnant water pools which are harmful to human beings. Murrels are well known
food fishes in India including A.P. but it also best known game fishes as it
attracts the lures easily and caught by the fish by anglers. This not only gives entertainment to the
public but also gives income source to the organizing persons.
Fig 14: EUS infection in murrels
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International Journal of Fisheries and
Aquatic Studies
Fig 15: Murrel seed effected with EUS
Fig 16: Local marketing
Fig 17: Murrel fish & seed transport tin
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International Journal of Fisheries and
Aquatic Studies
Fig 18: Inserting medicine in murrel seed
mouth
Fig 19: Putting murrel seed in asthama
patients mouth
Fig 20: Skinless murrel pieces
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International Journal of Fisheries and
Aquatic Studies
Fig
21: Murrel fry
5. Prospects
Against the availability of vast fresh water resources, only a limited
of the area are used for murrel farming in A.P. The Godavari and Krishna are
the major rivers flowing in the A.P. Many reservoirs /Projects constructed on
these rivers and its tributaries in the state leaving many hectares of land
become water logged in the vicinity of the canals of the projects and unfit for
agriculture and the vast water logged area is available for fisheries
development in the command area. As such still there is ample resource for the
growth of inland fisheries activities including murrel farming. The State Government is fully aware of the
potential of murrel farming; the technology is a constraint for breeding and
feeding of murrel farming in a commercial way. There is a good domestic market
available for murrels, as returns by adopting murrels as a variety in their
fish culture practices. With the proper utilization of the available resource
and the technology, the state can augment the murrel production, and the fish farming
community can reap better returns for their products.
6. Conclusions In tropical countries like
India, where available of water logged areas, derelict water bodies in which
dissolved oxygen concentration is low. Air-breathing fishes like murrels may
have a significant advantage for aquaculture as they can very well thrive in
this environment. More studies need to be initiated in murrel breeding and
nutrition to undergo a commercial large scale production in the country due to
its significant food value and demand in many parts of India. The National
Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) established in Hyderabad in the year 2006
for the development of fisheries in the country which is also planning to
provide financial assistance for the development of breeding, feeding and
culture technology of the murrels particularly C. striatus in India. Murrels
are known to tolerate a wide range of water parameters particularly survive in
low dissolved oxygen and derelict waters. Hence, they are more suitable for culture
in derelict/vegetation infested ponds and tanks. It also offers tremendous
potentialities for providing employment opportunities to the vast rural poor
and unemployed youths. Murrels are the alternative species in aquaculture
besides carps and catfishes in India.
7. Reference 1. Laxmappa B. Status of Murrel
farming in Andhra Pradesh. Fishing Chimes 2004; 23(12):60-61. 2. Laxmappa B.
Murrel seed collection: A Potential income generation source. Fishing Chimes
2010; 30(7):23.
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