Fishes from Tamiraparani river system, Tamil Nadu

H S MOGALEKAR

doi:10.56093/ijans.v89i3.88104

Authors

H S MOGALEKAR Assistant Professor, College of Fisheries, Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Muzaffarpur, Bihar

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijans.v89i3.88104

Keywords:

Conservation status, Diversity indices, Fish Fauna, Tamiraparani river system

Abstract

Streams and rivers originating from Western Ghats have been conferred with diverse fish fauna. Owing to the diverse ichthyofauna, the present investigation was designed to study species diversity, distribution, diversity indices, human use pattern and conservation status of fishes in four fragments of Tamiraparani river system. Altogether, 125 fish species belonging to 13 orders, 44 families and 73 genera were identified from upstream, midstream and lower estuary of Tamiraparani river. In total, 66 fish species were recorded from Vannarapettai, 63 species from Manimuthar, 58 species from Srivaikundam and 53 species from Punnakayal estuary. Cypriniformes (43 species) was the order with diverse species composition and Cyprinidae was the most dominated group represented by 39 species. The river supports 64% food fish, 25.6% ornamental fish and 10.4% ornamental as well as food fish. Out of 125 species, six species were endangered and four vulnerable. Calculated values for various diversity indices were observed on higher side. Our study indicated that the Tamiraparani river system supports highly diverse fish fauna.

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