Food and Feeding Habits of Aborichthys kempi (Chaudhuri, 1913) from Arunachal Pradesh, India

The feeding habits of Aborichthys kempi was carried out from the different streams of Papumpare district, Arunachal Pradesh during April, 2016 to March, 2017. A total of 72 fish samples were examined and total body weight ranged from 0.69 to 4.47g and body length ranged from 40.18 to 149.40mm. The mouth is small, inferior with thick, fleshy and papillae lips and upper lip is continuous but lower lip is interrupted in the middle and not fringed. The alimentary canal starts from a short oesophagus followed by a prominent stomach and a relatively shorter uncoiled intestine. The number of gill rakers ranged from 10 to 12 and they are short and widely spaced. Highest Relative length of the gut (RLG) (0.68±0.05) was recorded in 0-50 mm and lowest (0.47±0.07) in 100 mm-above. It reveals that the fish falls in the category of carni-omnivorous fishes. Highest Gastro Somatic Index (GaSI) (3.42±1.73) was recorded in February and lowest (2.52 ±1.17) in August. Fullness of gut reveals that the overall feeding intensity of highest percentage of full gut was recorded as 15.28%; ¾ full gut as 25.0%; ½ full gut as 33.33%; ¼ full gut as 26.39%. It depicts the good feeding activity was observed in the seasons. The feeding index was also observed as highest (66.67) in February and that of lowest (52.08) in June. Percentage of occurrence method shows that insect larvae and insect parts were found as the most abundant group with an average 25.23% and followed semi-digested parts (24.71%); debris (23.85%); phytoplankton (17.20%); unidentified species (5.61%) and zooplankton (2.97%) of the total food content. The volumetric method revealed that insect larva and insect parts occupied the highest average percentage with 40.58% followed by unidentified species (0.54%), debris (10.33%), phytoplankton (20.96%) and semi-digested parts (27.3%). Indices of preponderance revealed the most preferred food items as insect larvae and insect parts which constitute 44.33% followed by semi-digested (29.21%), phytoplankton (15.62%), debris (10.67%), unidentified species (0.14%) and zooplankton (0.03%).