scholarly journals Freshwater fish fauna of Hiranyakeshi River, the northern Western Ghats, India

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 10178
Author(s):  
Pradeep Kumkar ◽  
Sanjay S. Kharat ◽  
Nitin S. Sawant ◽  
Unmesh Katwate ◽  
Neelesh Dahanukar

The freshwater fish fauna of Hiranyakeshi River, a tributary of the Krishna River System, originating in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, was studied for a period of three years from 2013–2016.  We reported 57 species belonging to seven orders, 17 families and 42 genera.  Cypriniformes was the most species rich order followed by Siluriformes, while Cyprinidae was the most predominant family.  At least 21 freshwater fish species found in Hiranyakeshi River are endemic to river systems originating from the Western Ghats, while nine species are endemic to the Krishna River system.  The true diversity of freshwater fishes in this region, however, is still obscure because of lack of detailed taxonomic studies in this region.  Of the total species, at least 11 are in the threatened and near threatened categories of the IUCN Red List and Hiranyakeshi River holds a good population of most of these species.  The fish fauna in this region, however, is threatened by several stressors including invasive fishing practices, water impediment due to upcoming dams, invasive introduced species and water pollution due to agricultural runoffs and industrial effluents.

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 1735-1752 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anbu Aravazhi Arunkumar ◽  
Arunachalam Manimekalan

Abstract. The Western Ghats of India is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the eight “hotspots” of biological diversity in the world. It is also referred to as the “Great Escarpment of India”. This paper provides information on the diversity of freshwater fish fauna of six river systems of the southern Western Ghats. The study area has been identified geographically using a GPS, and the respective topographic map has been digitized using ArcGIS software. The fish fauna were collected from various streams and rivers using cast nets, dip nets, gill nets and drag nets. Among the 31 georeferenced sites sampled from the rivers of the southern Western Ghats, a total of 64 species, belonging to 6 orders, 14 families and 31 genera, were recorded. Among them, the order Cypriniformes was dominant, with 3 families, 18 genera and 49 species (76.6 %). Principal component analysis and cluster analysis were performed to express the contribution of the variables and their influence on the species diversity. Interestingly, of the 31 sites, Thunakadavu stream, Gulithuraipatti, Athirapally, Naduthotam, Nadathittu, Mullaithodu, Thonanthikla, Noolpuzha and Sinnaru exhibited high variation in species diversity. Nearly 15 species were found to be threatened in the Western Ghats. Garra periyarensis and Cirrhinus cirrhosus are known to be vulnerable and Hemibagrus punctatus is critically endangered because of various anthropogenic activities. The study clearly indicates that certain timely measures have to be taken immediately to protect the fish fauna in the southern Western Ghats (https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.882214).


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 17651-17669
Author(s):  
Dencin Rons Thampy ◽  
M.R. Sethu ◽  
M. Bibin Paul ◽  
C.P. Shaji

We present here a detailed account of the diversity, distribution, threats, and conservation of freshwater fishes in the upper-catchment of the Kabini River in the Wayanad part of the Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot.  A total of 136 fish species belonging to 13 orders, 29 families, and 69 genera were recorded.  Order Cypriniformes dominated with five families, 36 genera, and 84 species, and Cyprinidae was the dominant family represented by 51 species within 21 genera.  The true diversity of ichthyofauna in this catchment, is still unclear and requires further exploration and taxonomic studies.  At least 44 species recorded during the study are endemic to the Western Ghats, of which 16 are endemic to the Cauvery River System and two species endemic to the Kabini Catchment.  A total of 20 non-native fish species were recorded from the study area, of which six species were inter-basin (within India) transplants and 14 species were exotic.  Among the native species with confirmed identity, four are Critically Endangered (CR) and nine Endangered (EN) as per the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.  As a part of the study, we also extend the distribution ranges of Opsarius malabaricus, Laubuka trevori, Opsarius bendelisis, Puntius cauveriensis, Oreichthys coorgensis, Mesonoemacheilus pambarensis, Hypselobarbus curmuca, and Pseudosphromenus cupanus to the Kabini Catchment.  The presence of four species, which were earlier considered to be endemic to the west flowing rivers of the Western Ghats, viz, Laubuka fasciata, Hypselobarbus kurali, Sahyadria denisonii, and Puntius mahecola, in an east flowing stream is reported and discussed.  Deforestation and removal of riparian vegetation, pollution, stream channel modification, sand mining, destructive fishing practices, dams and other impoundments, monsoon fishing, and non-native species are the major threats to freshwater fishes in the region.  Strategies for the conservation of aquatic ecosystems in the Kabini Catchment are discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 19093-19101
Author(s):  
Suresh M. Kumbar ◽  
Shrikant S. Jadhav ◽  
Swapnali B. Lad ◽  
Abhijit Ghadage ◽  
Satyawan S. Patil ◽  
...  

Freshwater fish fauna of Krishna River, Sangli district was studied from 2013 to 2017. A total of 73 species belonging to 10 orders, 22 families, and 49 genera were recorded, of which, 29 species are endemic to the Western Ghats and 11 species endemic to the Krishna River system. Labeo kontius, an endemic barb of the Cauvery River System was recorded for the first time from the Krishna River, Maharashtra. As per the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 54 species are assessed as ‘Least Concern’, four species as ‘Near Threatened’, three species as ‘Vulnerable’, five as ‘Endangered’, and two as ‘Data Deficient’. The conservation status of two species has not yet been assessed. Fish fauna of the Krishna River within the study area is threatened as a result of alien species, and several anthropogenic stressors such as pollution from industrial as well as agricultural sources, human settlements, and overfishing.  Since, this small study area harbours 28 endemic and eight threatened species, their conservation should be given high priority.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 11973
Author(s):  
Prashant Wagh ◽  
Sudhakar Kurhade ◽  
Shrikant Jadhav ◽  
Deepa Jaiswal

Freshwater fish fauna of Nandur-Madhmeshwar wetland was studied during the period 2010–2012.  A total of 39 species of freshwater fish belonging to 14 families and 30 genera were recorded.  Out of the 39 species, 21 species are reported for the first time from this wetland, which includes Mystus malabaricus, an endemic species of the Western Ghats.  The fish fauna of the wetland is threatened due to invasive alien species as well as anthropogenic activities such as overfishing, sand mining, siltation, and organic and inorganic pollution.  As a result, urgent implementations of stringent conservation measures are essential. 


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anbu Aravazhi Arunkumar ◽  
Arunachalam Manimekalan

Abstract. We studied the freshwater fish fauna of Rivers of Southern Western Ghats for a period of three years from 2010 to 2013. We recorded 64 species belonging to 6 orders, 14 families and 31 genera. Alteration in the micro and macro habitats in the system severely affects the aquatic life especially fishes and also complicates the fish taxonomy. In the present study a total of 31 sites of six river systems of Southern Western Ghats were studied in which a total of 64 species belonging to 6 orders, 14 families and 31 genera were recorded. Among the 64 species Cyprinidae was the dominant family with 3 family 18 genus and 49 species (76.6 %) compared to other order and families, further the data analyses suggested that species belonging to the order Cypriniformes were found to be the dominant species in the locations considered in the present survey. Interestingly, among the 31 sites Thunakadavu stream, Gulithuraipatti, Athirappalli, Naduthotam, Nadathittu, Mullaithodu, Thonanthikla, Noolpuzha and Sinnaru exhibited high variations in species abundance and as well species richness. Fifteen out of the 64 fish species endangered to the Western Ghats. Garra periyarensis and Cirrhinus cirrhosus are known to be vulnerable and Hemibagrus punctatus is Critically Endangered because of various anthropogenic activities. The significances of the study and timely measures needed to protect the species have also been concisely discussed. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.882214


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 17470-17476
Author(s):  
Naren Sreenivasan ◽  
Neethi Mahesh ◽  
Rajeev Raghavan

The ichthyofauna of Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary is comprised of 58 species belonging to 18 families and 44 genera of which close to 25% are endemic to the Western Ghats region, and eight are endemic to the Cauvery River system namely, Dawkinsia arulius, Dawkinsia rubrotinctus, Hypselobarbus dubius, H. micropogon, Kantaka brevidorsalis, Labeo kontius, Tor remadevii and Hemibagrus punctatus.  Eight species found in Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary are threatened, including two (Tor remadevii and Hemibagrus punctatus) listed as ‘Critically Endangered’, four species (Dawkinsia arulius, Hypselobarbus dubius, H. micropogon, and Silonia childreni) as ‘Endangered’ and two (Hyporhamphus xanthopterus and Wallago attu) as ‘Vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List. 


Hydrobiologia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Imanol Miqueleiz ◽  
Rafael Miranda ◽  
Arturo H. Ariño ◽  
Tommaso Cancellario

AbstractIUCN Red List assessments for fish species can quickly become out of date. In recent years molecular techniques have added new ways of obtaining information about species distribution or populations. In this work, we propose the Iberian Peninsula as an example of reassessment needs in its endangered freshwater fish fauna. We compiled the list of freshwater fish species occurring in continental Spain and Portugal and examined their conservation status in global and national Red Lists. We retrieved records for these species in the Iberian Peninsula and calculated several biological indexes (richness and vulnerability indexes). Our results showed a patchy data coverage of fish records in the Iberian Peninsula. Threat levels reported within national Red Lists are higher than their global counterparts, reinforcing the necessity of improving and maintaining up to date national Red Lists. Iberian watersheds have moderate levels of threat and high levels of out of date assessments. The nearly fully completed genetic databases for Iberian fish species, along with the limited distribution of many endangered species and the necessity of update their assessments constitute an excellent opportunity to use data obtained from eDNA to improve species monitoring practices and their conservation status.


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