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Hein Aquarium |
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Myanmar Freshwater Fishes |
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Myanmar Topography
Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) is situated between latitudes 09º 32' North and 28º 31' North and longitudes 92º 10' East 101º 11' East. It is one of the Southeast Asia countries. The total land area of Myanmar is 677,000 square kilometers. It stretches for 936 kilometers from east to west and 2051 kilometers from north to south. The topography of Myanmar can be divided into three regions: Western Hill Region, the Central Valley Region and Eastern Hill Region. In the Western Hill Region, Western Yoma is a continuation of Himalayan Range and runs to south up to the end of Rakhine State. The central region is broadest land area consisting of the Ayeyarwady, Sittaung and Chindwin River basins. The Eastern Hill Region is the Shan Plateau, which is 1000 to 1300 meters above sea level. This region has high mountain ranges and Than Lwin River, which flows through the Shan Plateau to the Northern Taninthayi Costal Strip. Shweli, Myitnge, Zawggi and Pan Laung Rivers empty into the Ayeyarwady River. The climate of Myanmar is mainly divided into three seasons: summer, rainy and winter seasons. Summer season starts from March to mid-May where as the rainy season is from mid May to the end of October, and winter season starts in November to the end of February. Generally, tropical monsoon climate is prominent in Myanmar.
Natural Habitats of Freshwater Fishes in Myanmar
Myanmar has many rivers, natural lakes and streams. These are good habitats of many species of freshwater fishes including ornamental fishes. Among the freshwater lakes, Indawgyi Lake in Kachin State of Northern Myanmar and Inle Lake in Southern Shan State, are two large lakes and considerable importance in the abundance of freshwater fishes.
Indawgyi Lake
Lake Indawgyi, the mouth of the Nant Yen Khan Chaung Photo Sven O. Kullander
It is the largest freshwater lake of Myanmar locating in Myitkyina District of Kachin State in northern parts of Myanmar, between Northern Latitude of 25o.5' and 25o.20'; and Eastern Longitude of 96o.18' and 96o.23'. And it is situated at an altitude of about 150 meters above sea level. The lake is oval shape. In the dry season, the length of the Lake is about 25 km and the width is approximately 10 km. However, during the rainy season, the surface area of the lake is larger due to flooding of the surrounding areas. The water of the Lake is usually crystal clear; but the large mass of microscopic floating algae gives it a distinct greenish color. The soft blackish clay near the shore covers the bottom of the lake while in the deeper regions, on the bottom; there is a large amount of sand mixed with the clay. The pH of the water varies from 7.5 to 7.9, the conductivity was 120 μS. The total dissolved solid was 60 ppm. This data was from the author's observations in December 1999.
Inle Lake
Fisherman on Inle Lake Picture by Ye Hein Htet (Hein Aquarium)
Inle Lake is the place at which, one can see the In-tha, who lived around the lake. They use a very peculiar way of rowing boat in the Lake. Instead of rowing with hands in a dugout slender canoe, the fishermen of the Lake use the leg to propel the boat. Fisherman can be seen standing at the stern of a small slender dugout canoe, rowing with one leg moving against a backdrop of distant, mist shrouded mountains and set in the royal blue Inle Lake. The lake is situated at Nyaung Shwe Township of Southern Shan State. It is about 22 km long and 6 km wide and located at 1000 m above sea level. The lake is surrounded by marshland, composed of dead and living vegetation matted together and floating on the surface of water. The lake has many endemic fish species. Two cyprinid genera: Sawbwa and Inlecypris and 16 of 31 species have been suggested as endemic to the lake and its rich fauna (Prashad & Mukerji 1929, Annandale 1918, Kottelat 1990.)
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