Schizothorax plagiostomus

Schizothorax plagiostomus is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Schizothorax.

     Schizothorax plagiostomus locally known as Khont has an elongated sub cylindrical body with short, blunt and slightly prognathous upper jaw. Ventral surface of Head and anterior part of body flattish, short, somewhat cone shaped and blunt. Snout usually smooth covered with warys in male. Interorbital space broad and flat. Mouth inferior, wide and slightly arched; lips fleshy and continuous, marginally sharply attenuated, lower lip papillae and reflected from jaw, margin of lower lip sharp, covered with firm and hard horny cartilage; a strip of papillae labial plate at chin present. Barbless two pairs. Pharyngeal teeth in three rows. Dorsal fin inserted about opposite to pelvic fins, its last undivided ray osseous, strong and serrated posterior, short than head. Caudal fin deeply emarginated. Scales very small and elliptical; lipids irregular.
     Geographically S. plagiostomus spread in different rivers, and tributaries throughout Himalaya extending to confines of China, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkistan, Nepal, Ladkah, Tibet, Bhutan and North east India Day (1958). In India, s. plagiostomus is the most important food fish of Himalaya region including Kashmir, Himanchal pardesh, Utarakhand, Uttar pardesh foot hills, Assam etc. (Day, 1958) and also plays an important role in commercial fish production (Bahuguna, 2002).
     According to Raizada (1985) S. plagiostomus species gains weight up to 2.5 kg and 60.00 cm in length. The female fish spawn in natural as well as in artificial environment in two season’s viz. September – October and second March – April. Sexually matured S.plagiostomus (when they reach 18 – 24 cm length) Spawn naturally in clear water on gravelly / stone ground or on fine pebbles at 10 – 30 cm depth. Water current of 2.8 – 4 m / sec, ph 7.5, dissolved oxygen conc. Of 10 – 15 mg/l and gravel size of 50 – 60 mm are the optimum conditions for spawning. 

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