Elemental composition of carnivorous fish Wallago attu (Siluridae, Siluriformes) from River Chenab, Pakistan

Over the decades, riverine ecosystems is suffering from intense human intervention resulting in degradation and habitat loss as a consequence, many fish species become endangered, particularly in rivers where heavy demand is placed on freshwater. Wallago attu is fast growing catfish belongs to the family siluridae has good market demand having high protein content and nutritional value in it's flesh. The data was obtained for metal concentration in wet and dry body weight in wild Wallago attu. All metal was found under permissible limit as recommended by different international organizations. Calcium was found highest, while cadmium in lowest concentration. Fe, Zn, Cu, Ni, Mn, K, Na, Ca and Mg showed highly significant (P<0.001) positive correlation with wet body weight except Co and Cd showed non-significant (P>0.05) correlation. Metals such as Fe, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, K, Ca, Mg and Co shown negative allometric pattern with increasing body weight concentration of Cu, Fe, Zn, Ni, Pb, Mn, Na, Ca and K showed positive relationship (P<0.001) with total length (cm), except for Co and Cd, which indicated non significant correlation (P>0.05). Present Study will helpful to assess toxicity due to presence of heavy metals for researchers and different organizations from River Chenab, Punjab, Pakistan.