SOFAA

🌿🐟 Ceylonese Combtail – Belontia signata 🇱🇰

Endemic to Sri Lanka, the beautiful Belontia signata thrives in the clear, slow-flowing streams of the Mahaweli, Kelani, and Kalu river basins, especially in the southwest and mid-hill regions.

✨ Special Behaviours:

Possesses a labyrinth organ, allowing it to breathe air and survive in low-oxygen water or even briefly out of water! 🌬

Males build bubble nests under leaves or rocks, and both parents care for the eggs and larvae-a rare trait among fish parents.

Feeds mainly on invertebrates, insects, and detritus in the wild, but enjoys a variety of foods in aquariums, from worms to pellets.

⚠ Conservation Alert:

Belontia signata is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List due to habitat loss, overfishing, and pollution. Populations-especially the brightly colored ones-have declined significantly in the last decade. Let’s protect our unique aquatic heritage! 🌱🐠

Post by : Tharuka Fernando
Caption by : Viduranga Sathsarana

📣 SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF EXPENDITUS'25 CAREER FAIR! 📣

The Society of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences & Technology, University of Ruhuna successfully organized Expenditus'25 on February 22nd, 2025!

This career fair brought together 14 leading companies and organizations from various sectors related to fisheries, aquaculture, marine sciences, and limnology.

Over 200 undergraduates participated, gaining valuable insights into career opportunities and industry trends. The event featured an inauguration ceremony with the Dean of the Faculty, Head of Department,Fisheries and Aquaculture and other distinguished guests.

The event provided students with networking opportunities and enhanced their understanding of diverse career paths available in their fields of study. The fair strengthened the relationship between academia and industry stakeholders.

A key highlight was the emphasis on volunteering opportunities in marine conservation! Students learned about the importance of volunteering work and the valuable experience gained through such initiatives that can significantly enhance their professional development.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this event a tremendous success!