Proc.Zool.Soc.India. 15 (1) : 87 - 93 : (2016) ISSN 0972-6683 : INDEXED AND ABSTRACTED 18 COMPARATIVE MORPHOLOGY OF ALIMENTARY CANAL IN RELATION TO FEEDING HABIT OF INDIAN RASBORINE FISHES SEEMA JAIN, NISHA RANA AND MANU VARMA Department of Zoology, R G P G College, Meerut (India), 250001, e-mail : seema61@gmail.com Received - 20.03.2016 Accepted - 29.05.2016 ABSTRACT The fishes of subfamily Rasborinae of family Cyprinidae are small sized individuals with a streamlined body and have been adjusted as a group of great economic importance from aesthetic, medical, fisheries and game points of view. In the present study, the structure and morphometrics of alimentary canal of Rasborine fishes (11 species belonging to 8 genera) are described in relation to their food and feeding habits. The general pattern of alimentary canal was found to be similar but according to their feeding habit some morphological features was showing dissimilarity. The pattern and length of alimentary canal indicated inter and intraspecific variations. The stomach content analysis revealed that Amblypharyngodon mola , Aspidoparia morar, Barilius bendelisis, Esomus danricus mainly depended on vegetable matter whereas Barilius barila Hamilton, Barilius barna Hamilton, Barilius vagra Hamilton, Branchydanio rerio , Danio devario Hamilton, Raiamas bola, Rasbora (Rasbora ) daniconius daniconius depended on animal matter. It has been observed that the rasborine fishes are predominantly larvivorous i.e. feeding on insect larvae except for Raiamas which is a carnivore. Keywords: Alimentary Canal, Morphological features, Rasborinae, Food and Feeding, Stomach content INTRODUCTION The fishes of the subfamily Rasborinae of family Cyprinidae are small sized individuals with a streamlined body and have been adjudged as a group of great economic importance from, aesthetic, medical, fishery and game points of view (Jain and Tilak, 2010). These fishes are all small, surface - feeding forms with a symphysial knob in lower jaw which fits into the emargination in the upper jaw and mouth opening directed obliquely upwards. The special characteristics render these fishes most efficient and useful as larvivorous fishes (Jain, 1987). The adaptations of the alimentary canal of fishes to their food are particularly evident in the form of mouth, size, shape and structure of the oropharynx, dentition, gill rakers, structure of the oesophagus, presence or absence and shape of stomach and the intestine and relative length of the gut (Dasgupta, 2000). All these structures are subject to diverse and significant variations and modifications in accordance with the feeding habits of different fishes. The diversity in feeding habits that the fishes exhibit is particularly the result of evolution leading to structural adaptation for getting food from the equally great diversity of situations that have evolved in the environment. Conversely, the importance of food in the daily life of a fish is “reflected” in the form of mouth and jaws and length and pattern of alimentary canal etc., therefore, the difference in their feeding habits. MATERIALS AND METHODS The material for the present study has been collected from different places in Uttar Pradesh. Immediately after collection the specimens were transferred in ice box, brought to laboratory and were (87)