Croatian Journal of Fisheries, 2015, 73, 37 - 39 M. Y. Hossain et al.: Threatened fishes of the world: Pethia ticto CODEN RIBAEG ISSN 1330-061X (print), 1848-0586 (online) http://dx.doi.org/10.14798/73.1.780 THREATENED FISHES OF THE WORLD: Pethia ticto (Hamilton, 1822) (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) Md. Yeamin Hossain1*, Md. Akhtar Hossain1, Rafiqul Islam1, Md. Alomgir Hossen1, Obaidur Rahman1, Md. Mosaddequr Rahman2 1 2 Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh Faculty of Fisheries, Kagoshima University, 4-50-20 Shimoarata, Kagoshima 890-0056, Japan *Corresponding Author E-mail: yeamin.fish@ru.ac.bd ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Received: 24 July 2014 Received in revised form: 12 December 2014 Accepted: 17 December 2014 Available online: 17 December 2014 The threatened Ticto barb Pethia ticto is a small indigenous fish species widely distributed in the natural waters of Asian countries. Previously it was known as Puntius ticto. Natural populations have been reduced seriously to the verge of extinction due to excess exploitation and ecological changes in their natural habitats. This paper suggests the actions for the conservation of the remaining isolated population of P. ticto in Asian countries. Keywords: Pethia ticto Ticto barb Vulnerable Bangladesh Asia How to Cite Hossain, M. Y., Hossain, M. A., Islam, R., Hossen, M. A., Rahman, O., Rahman, M. M. (2015): Threatened fishes of the world: Pethia ticto (Hamilton, 1822) (Cypriformes: Cyprinidae). Croatian Journal of Fisheries, 73, 37-39 DOI: 10.14798/73.1.780 COMMON NAMES Tit punti in Bangladesh (Rahman, 1989), Tetputi and pothia in India (Froese and Pauly, 2014), Poti and Tite pothi in Nepal (Froese and Pauly, 2014), Thith pethiya in Sri Lanka (Pethiyagoda, 1991). CONSERVATION STATUS Vulnerable in Bangladesh (IUCN Bangladesh, 2000); lower risk near threatened in India (Balasundaram et al., 2000; Sarkar et al., 2010); threatened in Sri Lanka (IUCN Sri Lanka, 2000); least concern on the global IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (Dahanukar, 2010). IMPORTANCE A small fish, P. ticto (Fig. 1), is a fresh and brackish-water, subtropical species which is commonly known as “ticto” or “two-spot” barb (Hossain et al., 2012). It is the most popular aquarium fish among barb species in Bangladesh and in other Asian countries (Froese and Pauly, 2014). This fish Fig 1. Pethia ticto sample and photo were taken by the author (Md. Yeamin Hossain) from the Padma River (lower part of the Ganges), northwest, on 9 June 2014 is an important target species for small scale fishers (Rahman, 1989). It is a source of animal protein and micronutrients in the diet of rural small-scale farmers (Roos et al., 2007). IDENTIFICATION D. 11 (3/8); P1. 13-15 ; P2. 9; A. 7-8 (2-3/8) (Rahman, 1989). © The Author(s) 2015. Published by University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture. All rights reserved. 37 Croatian Journal of Fisheries, 2015, 73, 37 - 39 M. Y. Hossain et al.: Threatened fishes of the world: Pethia ticto DISTRIBUTION This fish is widely distributed through the Indian subcontinent, including Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri-Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand (Talwar and Jhingran, 1991). ABUNDANCE P. ticto was previously abundant in the rivers, creeks, canals, reservoirs, lakes, swamplands (beels, haors and baors) and ponds of Bangladesh (IUCN Bangladesh, 2000), India and Sri-Lanka (Froese and Pauly, 2014), but the populations have seriously declined to the verge of extinction (Hossain et al., 2014). HABITAT AND ECOLOGY Ticto barb inhabits still shallow, marginal waters of tanks and rivers, mostly with muddy bottoms. It feeds on crustaceans, insects, plankton, plants and other benthic invertebrates (Bisht and Das, 1981). It grows to a maximum total length of 10 cm (Dahanukar, 2010). It has extended period of breeding which lasts from April to June (Villif and Jorgensen, 1993). Fecundity ranges from 1611 to 4130 (Hossain et al., 2012). THREATS The populations have seriously declined due to over-exploitation and various ecological changes in its natural habitats (Hossain et al., 2014). CONSERVATION ACTION A number of studies have been conducted on P. ticto, including conservational status (IUCN Bangladesh, 2000), population traits (Archarya and Iftekhar, 2000; Chandrashekhariah et al., 2000) and biology (Hossain, 2010; Hossain et al., 2009a; 2012). CONSERVATION RECOMMENDATIONS Studies on the reproductive biology and stock assessment of this fish are needed. Establishment of suitable sanctuaries in selected areas of rivers, streams, canals, reservoirs, lakes and swampland is suggested (Hossain et al., 2008; 2009b; Hossain, 2014). Fishing in a peak-spawning season should be banned. The conservation status of P. ticto should be developed through effective habitat preservation and increasing public consciousness and ranching. $&.12:/('*(0(176 The authors would like to express their gratitude to the Infrastructural Development and Research Strengthening of Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (IDRSBFRI) Project, 38 Shrimp Research Station, Bagerhat 9300, Bangladesh, for financial supports of sampling in the Padma River (lower part of the Ganges River), Bangladesh. 6DÙHWDN 8*52Ú(1( 9567( 5,%$ 8 69,-(78 Pethia ticto (Hamilton, 1822) (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) Ugrožena indijska autohtona vrsta, Pethia ticto, široko je rasprostranjena u prirodnim vodama azijskih zemalja. Ranije je bila poznata kao Puntius ticto. 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