High Alert as Deadly Predator Fish Usually Found in North America Caught in Pune Dam
Tuesday, December 4, 2018 IST
"Upon being alerted about the catch last week by local fishermen, we took the view of fish experts who confirmed that it was the alligator gar. It is carnivorous and kills other fish in the water body it inhabits," said A M Gadwal, a section engineer at Pavana Dam.
Pune: The netting of a dead carnivorous fish native to North America in Pavana Dam near Pune has put the state Fisheries department on alert mode as its presence could adversely affect the bio-diversity of the water body.
Officials identified the fish caught in Pavana Dam, about 17 cm in length and weighing 2.5 kg, as the 'alligator gar', which is called so due to its resemblance to the American alligator, particularly the broad snout and long, sharp teeth.
"Upon being alerted about the catch last week by local fishermen, we took the view of fish experts who confirmed that it was the alligator gar. It is carnivorous and kills other fish in the water body it inhabits," said A M Gadwal, a section engineer at Pavana Dam.
"The experts told us that it is an exotic fish found exclusively in North America," Gadwal added.
Fisheries Development Officer Janak Bhosale confirmed the find and said the 'alligator gar' can adversely affect the bio-diversity of the water body as it tends to kill other fish for survival.
He said fishermen have been apprised of the issue and have been told to alert the Fisheries department if they come across these fish again.
Speaking on how the exotic fish might have found its way into Pavana Dam, Bhosale said, "It is possible someone may have brought this fish to keep in an aquarium. He may have later released it into Pavana Dam."
The fish, according to experts, can adapt to water bodies with different levels of salinity and is an ambush predator using stealth and strategy rather than speed to kill
other fish.
Related Topics
Related News & Articles
Climate change is affecting wildlife everywhere. The loss of oxygen from the ocean because of climate change can have ‘dire effects’ on sea life, fish...
Recently posted . 617 views . 2 min read
In more than 14 years of roaming Mars, NASA’s Opportunity rover took more than 210,000 pictures. Through the images, mission scientists were able to deciphe...
Recently posted . 762 views . 2 min read
These predators, known as 'rauisuchians' preyed on early herbivore dinosaurs and their mammal relatives living at the time, according to Rick Tolchard fro...
Recently posted . 546 views . 2 min read
Every year the US issues nearly 1.1 million green cards, which gives foreign nationals life-time permission to live and work in the US and a path to citizenship i...
Recently posted . 680 views . 2 min read
SEOUL: North Korea said Saturday it has suspended nuclear and long-range missile tests and plans to close its nuclear test site.
Recently posted . 622 views . 1 min read
Trending News & Articles
ALMATY: Hour upon hour, day upon day, Omir Bekali and other detainees in far western China's new indoctrination camps had to disavow the...
Recently posted . 199K views . 1 min read
If you have payed attention to the belly buttons of people on the beach or the members of your family, you have probably noticed that they have different shapes and...
Recently posted . 8K views . 2 min read
In this age of terror, there might be nothing more terrifying than the thought of an attack carried out with chemical weapons. We’ve all heard the horrific ...
Recently posted . 3K views . 4 min read
Body fitness is one thing that everyone wants to maintain irrespective of age. Going to the gym and doing some great exercise always helps to maintain your body fit...
Recently posted . 3K views . 2 min read
More in Global
"Large mountains heat up so much that – like a pump – they suck moisture from the ocean. That is what we know as the monsoons."
Recently posted. 772 views . 1 min read
You should not be hesitant in filing your income tax returns yourself. There are several websites which can also help you file your returns effortlessly following c...
Recently posted. 634 views . 1 min read
A major computing breakthrough has allowed researchers to develop ultra-low power devices capable of operating at the same voltage level as a brain.
...
Recently posted. 924 views . 1 min read
Recently posted . 609 views
Recently posted . 283 views
Recently posted . 1K views
Recently posted . 1K views
Recently posted . 1K views . 140 min read
Recently posted . 1K views . 67 min read
The year's most spectacular meteor shower is back. The Geminid meteor shower is set to dazzle the nighttime sky on December 13 and will continue until the early...
Recently posted. 726 views . 2 min read
While you are busy looking at the sky, a Virgo woman will be coding and decoding the colours of it! Analytical and the lover of perfection, a Virgo woman will nev...
Recently posted. 745 views . 2 min read