World Journal of Fish and Marine Sciences 4 (4): 382-385, 2012ISSN 2078-4589© IDOSI Publications, 2012DOI: 10.5829/idosi.wjfms.2012.04.04.62118

Corresponding Author: Binod Bihari Sahu, Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (ICAR), Kausalyaganga, Bhubaneswar-751002, Odisha, India.

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Record of Skeletal System and Pin Bones in Table SizeIndian Major Carps: Rohu (Labeo rohita Hamilton 1822), Catla

(Catla catla Hamilton 1822) and Mrigal (Cirrhinus mrigala Hamilton 1822)

B.B. Sahu, R.P. Samal, M.R. Raghunath, S. Mohanty, S. Adhikari, A.K. Sahu and P. Jayashankar

Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (ICAR), Kausalyaganga, Bhubaneswar 751002, Odisha, India

Abstract: The number, shape and sizes of intermuscular bones have been studied in table size (around 1200g).rohu, catla and mrigal after microwave cooking and dissection. Carp intermuscular bones have varied shape andsize. These bones are of two types, Y pin bones and straight pin bones. Total number of pin bones are highestin mrigal (110 nos.) followed by catla (108 nos.) and rohu (104 nos.). Y pin bone number in rohu (60) was thelowest followed by catla (68) and mrigal (70). Straight pin bones in rohu were 44 numbers, catla and mrigal eachhas 40 straight pin bones. Some of the Y and straight pin bones are brushy at single end. Branched pin boneswere located on the dorsal broad muscle and unbranched pin bones are located in the tail region. Mrigal boneswere longer and stouter. Rohu pin bones were found to be bold and straight; however catla pin bones wereshorter, curved and thinner.

Key words: Indian major carps % Inter muscular bones % Pin bones

INTRODUCTION to the back bones. Patterson and Johnson [7] reported

Carp is the most consumed freshwater fish species in are not free but attached to the vertebrae by the ligamentthe world. Due to its high nutritive value it plays an from their simple (non-brushy) branches. Researchimportant role in human diet. Large quantities of carps are indicates that anchoring of branched intermuscular bonesconsumed fresh as whole fish or cut–up-parts. The carps is stronger than their tensile strengths, which equalshave however, has less market value due to presence of 2.90±1.33 N [8].intermuscular bones, which reduces their consumer Carp intermuscular bones have varied shape andacceptability [1]. sizes and number of them is an individual characteristics.

Carp are teleost fish which means literally “bony The pin bone number varies from 99 to 104 in Cyprinusskeleton” and carps are one of the boniest freshwater carpio [9]. Bones other than ribs found in a fish fillet, forfishes. Fish bones are thin and light weight with no bone example the Y bones in Northern Pike are called pin bones.marrow in the center [2, 3]. Fish has muscle cells running These are floating bones, can be taken out duringin parallel and connected to sheaths of connective tissue deboning [10].myocommata which are anchored to skeleton and the skin. Pre-rigor processing of Atlantic salmon fillets neededA light weight skeleton is advantageous to an animal that a system for pin bone removal. Method for detecting theneed to be buoyant to live in a water environment [4]. epaxial septum on the surface of the fillets in order to

Intermuscular bones referred as pin bones are spike estimate the pin bone tendon attachment position near thelike formation that occurs when ligaments calcify. They lie skin side of the fillet. The pin bone tendon attachmentson the intermuscular border of both sides of fish, over and are cut before the pin bones are removed. The presencesunder the back bone [5]. of bones in salmon fillets are undesirable and stimulate

There is disagreement among ichthyologists the development of automatic methods for detecting them.regarding connection of these bones with the back bone. The accurate detection of bones using a planar X rayAccording to Knorr, [6] the pin bones are not connected imaging system has been developed [11].

that the single unbranched ends of intermuscular bones

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Milk fish (Chanos chanos) has major problems of pinbones. Fish is shot through with about 180 thin spines.These are part of the fish’s sensory systems, allowing itto detect tiny changes in the water column. Milk fishspines are in bundles and can be removed duringdeboning and filleting.

Being vertebrates, fish have a vertebral column, acranium covering the brain. The back bone run fromhead to the tail fin and is composed of vertebrae.These vertebrae are extended dorsally to form neuralspines. In the trunk region they have lateral processesthat bear ribs. The ribs are bony structures in theconnective tissue between the muscle segments.There are also a corresponding number of false ribs or“pin bones” extending more or less horizontally into themuscle tissue. These bones cause a great deal of troublewhen the fish are being filleted or otherwise prepared forfood.

Due to their stiffness and branched shape, theintermuscular bones of Cyprinids pose a health hazard toconsumers and can even be fatal, especially in children.According to Vagolkar [12], fish bones are among thecommonest foreign bodies found in the upperaerodigestive tract.

The number of intermuscular bones has beencounted in many fish species; either by cooking fish fleshand dissecting out intermuscular bones [13]. Freshwatercarp fish normally contain more number of pin bones thanmarine fish. Information about musculoskeletal systemand pin bones in Indian Major Carps (IMCs), minor carpsand exotic carps have been poorly studied.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Samples of farmed carps were collected from earthenlaterite lined composite fish culture ponds of CentralInstitute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA). They werecultivated intensively on isonitrogenous and isocaloricformulated pelleted feed. Five specimens of one yearculture and each of 1200g weight range were collected forthree species of carps viz. Rohu (Labeo rohita), Catla(Catla catla) and Mrigal (Cirrhinus mrigala). All thefishes were taken to post-harvest laboratory, sacrificedand bled. The whole fish was cooked in microwave oven(Sanyo Model BOM 700 T); each side was cooked for twominutes and turned. The whole fish after cooking werechilled and placed on a dissecting tray, the skeleton andpin bones were dissected out using needle and arteryforceps.

Table 1: Comparison of intermuscular bones in rohu, catla and mrigal (n=5)

Parameters Labeo rohita Catla catla Cirrhinus mrigala

Total wt. (g) 1200±12.5 1230±30.8 1235±18.5

Total Length (cm) 48.1±.2.1 42.3±1.8 54.5±2.5

Age of fish (years) 1 1 1

Y pin bones (nos.) 60 68 70

Straight pin bones (nos.) 44 40 40

Total pin bones (nos.) 104 108 110

RESULTS

Musculoskeletal system and pin bones of Labeorohita (Figure 1 and 2), Catla catla (Figure 3 and 4) andCirrhinus mrigala (Figure. 5 and 6) has beenpresented. The information on Y shaped and straightpin bones are presented in Table 1. Cirrhinusmrigala contained highest number of pin bones i.e.110 followed by Catla catla and Labeo rohita having 108and 104 respectively. Same trend was noticed for Y pinbones; however number of straight pin bones in rohu was44 in comparison to catla and mrigal which have 40 innumbers.

Fig. 1: Labeo rohita (1.2 kg size)

YP= Y Pin Bones 30 nos × 2 sides= 60SP= Straight Pin Bones 22nos× 2 sides= 44

Fig. 2: Muscoloskeletal system and pin bones of Labeorohita.

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Fig. 3: Catla catla (1.2 kg size) number of pin bones in Cyprinus carpio which varied

YP= Y Pin Bones 34 nos × 2 sides= 68 however they are short, bold and straight. Due toSP=Straight Pin Bones 20 nos × 2 sides = 40 stiffness and branched shape the intermuscular bones,

Fig. 4: Muscoloskeletal system and pin bones of Catla Researchers indicated that anchoring of branchedcatla. intermuscular bones in cyprinids is stronger than their

Fig. 5: Cirrhinus mrigala (1.2 kg size) CONCLUSION

YP= Y Pin Bones 35 nos × 2 sides= 70 SP= Straight Pin ACKNOWLEDGEMENTBones 20 nos × 2 sides= 40

Fig. 6: Muscoloskeletal system and pin bones of CIFA (ICAR), Kausalyaganga, Bhubaneswar forCirrhinus mrigala. permission to publish this paper.

DISCUSSION

The intermuscular bones of cyprinids are of twotypes, they are either Y type or straight pin bones. Y typepin bones are normally embedded in the dorsalbroad muscle of the carps. The straight pin bonesare normally located in the lateral tail muscle ofthe Cyprinids. According to Lieder [9] reported total

from 99 to 104. Indian major carps, catla, rohu and mrigalcontains more inter muscular bones in comparison tocommon carp.

Patterson and Johnson [7] reported there are threetypes of pin bones; they are single unbranched, branchedand brushy at single end. Unbranched pin bones arelocated mainly in the tail region.

Mrigal has highest number of pin bones followed bycatla and rohu. Mrigal pin bones are longer andstouter while catla pin bones are shorter, curved andthinner. Rohu fish has lowest number of pin bones;

cyprinids pose a health hazard to fish eaters [12].

tensile strengths, which is equal to 2.90±1.33N [8].Intermuscular bones with in Cyprinids family varied inshapes and sizes, the number of them is an individualcharacteristics. Studies on Northern Pike [10], salmon [11]and milk fish skeleton and pin bones have reportedvariation in size and shapes and orientation in differentfish species.

Carp intermuscular (pin) bones have varied shapeand size. Pin bones are of two types’ i.e Y pin bones andstraight pin bones. Total number of pin bones are highestin mrigal (110) followed by catla (108) and rohu (104).Branched pin bones are located on the dorsal broadmuscle of carps and unbranched pin bones are located inthe tail region.

The authors express their sincere thanks to Director,

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