Contributors

Prof. K.Srinivasa Rao carried out detailed studies on fish catches on the Andhra coast, East coast of India. One of his major investigations is on the taxonomic considerations in relation to the growth and migratory movements of Scomberomorus spp. - a commercially important species complex along the East coast. Analytical studies were made from literature of putative Clades and their hybrid derivatives (triads) in different intrageneric species groups. It gave rise to the "law of triad" enunciating the hybridisation process in nature. The law is: "In a complex of triad of populations of putative clades and their hybrid derivatives, the intermediate third form restricted to a NHZ (Narrow Hybrid Zone) is predictably of hybrid origin, though passing under the name of a species." The NHZ model formed the framework of a hypothesis that could be put to test.

After a long research career with the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Government of India. Prof. Rao joined the teaching staff of the Zoology Department of Andhra University, Visakhapatnam. He initiated studies on the haematology of fish species exposed to cultural and polluted conditions in the diagnosis of fish health. Some fish diseases were reported - particularly calcium carbonate excrescences on different body parts of catfish belonging to Arius tenuispinis hitherto considered as osteoma. Professor Rao discussed these in about thirty publications in International Journals. Under his guidance thirteen students received their Ph.D.