Securicula facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Securicula |
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Securicula
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| Species: |
gora
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The Securicula gora is a special type of fish that belongs to the cyprinid family. This family includes fish like carp and minnows. You can find this fish in countries like Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and maybe even Nepal. It's the only species in its group, called a genus, which makes it quite unique!
Contents
What Does the Securicula Gora Look Like?
The Securicula gora is a shiny, silver-colored fish. It has a mouth that points upwards, which helps it catch food near the water's surface. On its lower jaw, it has a firm, cartilage-like bump.
Body Features
This fish has a special ridge, like a small keel on a boat, running along its belly. This keel goes from just below its pectoral fin (the fins on its sides, like arms) all the way to its anal fin (the fin near its tail on the bottom).
Its dorsal fin (the fin on its back) starts a bit further forward than its anal fin. The caudal fin (its tail fin) is interesting because the bottom part is longer than the top part. Also, its pelvic fins (fins on its belly, like legs) have special scales near them called axillary scales.
Scales and Size
The Securicula gora has a lateral line that helps it sense movement in the water. This line has about 140 to 160 scales and curves downwards along its body. This fish can grow up to 24.5 centimeters long, which is about the length of a standard ruler.
Where Does the Securicula Gora Live?
The Securicula gora is found in the large river systems of the Ganges and Brahmaputra. These rivers flow through India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Scientists are still trying to confirm if this fish also lives in the Punjab region of India and Pakistan.
Securicula Gora's Home and Habits
This fish loves freshwater and lives in the open water (this is called pelagic). You can find it in rivers, small lakes called beels, and canals.
What Does It Eat?
The Securicula gora is a predator, meaning it hunts for its food. It mainly eats insects, insect larvae (baby insects), and small crustaceans (like tiny shrimp). It usually catches its meals at or near the water's surface.
Natural Neighbors
In 1988, a new type of tiny parasite was found on the Securicula gora near Lucknow, India. This parasite is called Heteromazocraes mamaevi. Before this discovery, scientists thought this kind of parasite only lived on a different group of fish called Clupeids.
Protecting the Securicula Gora
The Securicula gora is a common fish and can be found in many places. Because of this, the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) lists it as a species of "Least Concern." This means it's not currently in danger of disappearing.
However, its home can be affected by things like silt (mud and dirt) building up in the water. This often happens when trees are cut down (logging) and forests are removed (deforestation) near the rivers where the fish live. When there are no trees, soil can easily wash into the water.
Securicula Gora and People
People in Bangladesh and other parts of its range eat the Securicula gora. While it's usually not a main target for big fishing businesses, it is sometimes fished commercially in certain areas of India.
