The fish specimens are collected, preserved in 10% formaldehyde and brought to the laboratory for further studies. The identification of fishes is done by using morphometric and meristic characters. Morphometric characters are those which are measured i.e., total length, standard length while meristic are those which can be counted i.e., scales, fin rays. By studing these characters fin formula is written which is species-specific. The role of hard parts in fish i.e., scales, vertebrae, otolith and opercular bones is very important in determining the age of the fish. The age is calculated from the number of annulus formed on the hard parts. Most of the fishes feed very less during winter season due to low metabolism resulting in little salt intake during that period. This result in the reduced spacing of the circuli, which is visible in the hard parts as the dark circular ring, called as annulus. The fishes also feed less during the breeding season, floods and disease. These also add up to the formation of false annulus.
The interaction session of students of Zoology Department was organized with Dr. Y.K Rawal, Assistant Professor, Panjab University, Chandigarh in the laboratory of Zoology department. Dr. Rawal cleared several doubts of the students in the field of fisheries. He also motivated the students for higher studies in Zoology and also discussed about various job opportunities
