Freshwater Air-Breathing Fishes of North-West Bangladesh

Air-breathing fishes have become of great interest in recent years for several reasons in different countries over the world. These include the many adaptations of their respiratory and cardiovascular systems for obtaining oxygen from air and water, adaptation in their food and feeding habits, reproduction and behavior. Also, they are important source of animal protein especially in drought and flood prone areas. At present, air-breathing fishes are gradually introducing in different aquaculture practices like cage culture, waste fed aquaculture etc. Unfortunately, there is no systematic record of air-breathing fishes in Bangladesh. Species profile of air-breathing fishes with special emphasis on their air-breathing organs are described in this document. So, we strongly believe that this document would be helpful to many scientists, students and teaching staff in Bangladesh and other countries.