Natural History of Zebrafish (Danio rerio) in India

• DOI: 10.1089/zeb.2012.0803
• Publication Date: 2013-04-16T16:07:16Z
• Authors: Muthukumarasamy A...; Manickam Raja; Chinnian Vijayakumar; Punniyam Malaiammal; Richard L. Mayden
• Keywords: Danio

The Zebrafish, Danio rerio, is a well-known vertebrate model species widely used in research associated with biomedical areas and comparative evolutionary biology. Interestingly, despite the importance of this species, little known about natural history, habitats, native distribution. In our study we collected individuals from twenty-one wild populations within species' distribution, ranging streams/rivers Western Ghats Peninsular India to those North-Eastern Himalayas. Habitat types are identified various geographic locations. rerio largely confined most frequently habitats low flow sandy substrate secondary tertiary channels connected main channel stream/river, or adjacent wetlands paddy fields. These connections can be man-made irrigation canals, beels, culture ponds. Among 21 populations, two (one Orissa another Arunachal Pradesh) were much larger size (total length) when compared other populations. general vary small large mountainous lowland streams/rivers, wetlands,