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Small indigenous fish species (SIS) have high nutritional value in terms of protein, vitamins and minerals but due to changed hydro-biological conditions and manmade interventions many SIS have become threatened, endangered and need immediate attention for their conservation. Therefore to sustain their fishery it is important to know the food and feeding habits of SIS, which will be helpful for successful management of these fishes. The present study investigated feeding habit and diet composition of Gonialosa manmina (Ham.), a freshwater clupeid by regular monthly collection from the river Yamuna at Allahabad, India. During the study 295 specimens of G. manmina were examined, length range 4.7 cm to 15.3 cm. Studies have shown that this fish having plant food material 85.6% and animal food material 4.7% is strongly herbivores. The dominating food item was green algae (36.5%) followed by diatom (25.4%), BGA (12.8%) and desmids (11.0%). The contribution of crustaceans, insects, protozoan, rotifers are almost negligible. Hence the fish subsisted mainly on green algae and diatoms. The intensity of feeding (GSI) was found to be maximum during January and June and minimum during March and July. The present findings will help in filling the gap in knowledge about the feeding habit of G. manmina which will help in formulating strategies for proper development of their fishery from the system.
