International Research Journal of Biological Sciences ___________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202Vol. 2(2), 21-24, February (2013) Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 21 Study of Ichthyofaunal Biodiversity of Rajnandgaon town, CG, IndiaChoubey K. and Qureshi Y.Deptt. of Zoology, G.V.Y.T. College, Durg, CG, INDIA Deptt. of Zoology, Govt. College, Khertha, Distt. Balod, CG, INDIAAvailable online at: www.isca.in Received 8th November 2012, revised 19th November 2012, accepted 2nd December 2012Abstract Freshwater fish biodiversity is poorly studied. There is no proper documentation on freshwater fish resources of Rajnandgaon. This study aims to prepare database of fishes found in Rajnandgaon town. Fishes are the unique creature of animal world. It is one of the good food source and is able to combat problem of malnutrition. Rajnandgaon district is basically a tribal district. This is the first study to catalogue species of fishes found in Rajnandgaon town. Rajnandgaon is centrally situated in Chhattisgarh state. Sheonath river is major river of Chhattisgarh having its origin in Rajnandgaon district. Total 45 species from different sampling station were recorded. Recorded fish species were classified in 6 order, 15 families and 32 Genera. Order Cyprniformes comprised of 5 families Cyprinidae, Siluridae, Bagridae, Saccobranchidae and Clariidae were found as a dominant group. The main fishes found are Catla catla, Cirrhinus mrigala, Labeo rohita, Cyprinus carpio, Clarius batrachus and Oreochromis mossambicus Keywords: Biodiversity, sheonathriver, malnutrition, freshwater. IntroductionBiodiversity is the degree of variation of life form within a given ecosystem. Biodiversity is essential for stabilization of ecosystem, protection of overall environmental quality for understanding intrinsic worth of all species on the earth. India is very rich in Biodiversity India supports about 10 % of the world’s biological diversity with just 2% of world land area. Fishes are the important group of animals world contributing to the biodiversity of animals. Primarily fishes are used as a food source. Many vital vitamins and fatty acids are found in fishes so sometimes it is referred by doctors as a good food source. Rajnandgaon district is situated between 20.07'' North to 22.2''9 North latitude and 80.2 East to 81.2''4 East longitude. Sheonath river which is major river of Chhattisgarh is originated from Panabaras hills of Mohla tehsil of Rajnandgaon district. Major part of Rajnandgaon district is connected with Mahanadi river system flowing towards east to bay of Bengal. Sheonath river is major tributary of Mahanadi river. It is longest river of Chhattisgarh, total length is 290 K.M. It confluences with Mahanadi river at sonlaharsi of Distt Janjgir Champa. Material and MethodsThe fishes were collected from Sheonath river at mohara station and from local fisherman and also from local cooperative societies operating in different ponds of Rajnandgaon town. Fisherman generally use many types of nets like gill nets, cast net, drag net etc. Fishes were preserved in 10 % formalin solution and identified with the help of standard keys and books2-4. Study period: This study was conducted between Oct. 2011 to Sep. 2012. Results and Discussion As per the available records no scientific study on the Fish fauna availability has been conducted here so far. In India, few studies have been initiated to document the fish diversity and assemblageMuch has been stated about declining fish biodiversity and its conservation issues in Indian River systems6-9. Fish fauna of Chhattisgarh is scarcely studied and needed to be thoroughly studied10-13. During the entire study period, total of 45 fish species belonging to 15 families and 32 Genera were recorded, Cyprinidae was the largest dominant family contributing 20 species (44.44%); Bagridae formed the subdominant family contributing 5 species (11.11%) and the rest of the families followed order of abundance (table-1 and table-2). As far as IUCN conservation status14 is concerned 34 species (75.5 %) comes under least concern (LC) category, 6 species (13.33 %) are nearly threatened (NT), 2 species (4.44 %) are vulnerable (VU) and 2 species are (4.44 %) not evaluated (NE). ConclusionThe result of this study shows that Rajnandgaon town is prosperous in biodiversity of fishes. Fish culture is mainly carried out by the cooperative fisheries societies. Carps are the major group which is cultivated, practice of composite culture of Labeo rohita, Cirrhinus mrigala and Catla catla is generally followed. Fish culture is only source of income generation for International Research Journal of Biological Sciences ________________________________________________ Vol. 2(2), 21-24, February (2013) International Science Congress Association the local fisherman. They lack scientific knowledge of fish culture. if proper scientific knowledge is implemented problem S. No. Order Family 1. Clupeiformes Clupeidae Notopteridae 2. Cypriniformes Cyprinidae Siluridae Bagridae Saccobranchidae Clariidae 3. Beloniformes Belonidae 4. Ophiocephaliformes Ophiocephalidae 5. Perciformes Centropomidae Nandidae Anabantidae Gobiidae Cichlidae 6. Mastacembeleformes Mastacembelidae Family wise species diversity and abundance of fishes International Research Journal of Biological Sciences ________________________________________________ International Science Congress Association the local fisherman. They lack scientific knowledge of fish culture. if proper scientific knowledge is implemented problem of unemploymen t and malnutrition will be eradicated from this area. Table – 1 Family wise species composition Family No. of Fish Species Species Composition % Clupeidae Notopteridae 1 2 Cyprinidae Siluridae Bagridae Saccobranchidae Clariidae 20 2 5 1 1 Belonidae 1 Ophiocephalidae 4 Centropomidae Nandidae Anabantidae Gobiidae Cichlidae 2 1 1 1 1 Mastacembelidae 2 Figure-1 Family wise species diversity and abundance of fishes International Research Journal of Biological Sciences ________________________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202 Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. 22 t and malnutrition will be eradicated from this Species Composition % 2.22 4.44 44.44 4.44 11.11 2.22 2.22 2.22 8.88 4.44 2.22 2.22 2.22 2.22 4.44 International Research Journal of Biological Sciences ________________________________________________ Vol. 2(2), 21-24, February (2013) International Science Congress Association Ecological Conservation Status of Fishes Acknowledgement We are thankful to local fisherman community of Rajnandgaon town who provided us there tradition knowledge of fish identification and especially Local names of fishes. References1.Ehrlich P.R. and Wilson E.O., Biodiversity studies science and policy, Science, 253, 758-762 (1991) 2. Day F., Fishes of India, Willium Dawson’s, London U. K. reprint edition, Today and Tomorrow Book agency, Delhi, 1(2) (1878)3. Shrivastava G.J., Fishes of Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Vishwavidyalaya Prakashan, Varanasi (1968) 4.Talwar P. K. and Jhingran K.C., Inland fishes of India and adjacent countries, 3 (1 and 2) Oxford and IBH Co. Pvt. Ltd, New Delhi (1991)5.Bhat A., Diversity and composition of freshwater fishes in the river systems of Central Western Ghats, India, Environmental Biology of Fishes, 68, 25 – 6. Menon A.G.K., Conservation of Ichthyofauna of India, In: Conservation and Management of Inland Capture Fisheries Resources of India (Editors: Jhingran AG, Sugunan VV eds.) The Inland Fisheries Society of India, 25 International Research Journal of Biological Sciences ________________________________________________ International Science Congress Association Figure-2 Ecological Conservation Status of Fishes We are thankful to local fisherman community of Rajnandgaon town who provided us there tradition knowledge of fish identification and especially Local names of fishes. Biodiversity studies science (1991) Day F., Fishes of India, Willium Dawson’s, London U. K. reprint edition, Today and Tomorrow Book agency, Delhi, Shrivastava G.J., Fishes of Eastern Uttar Pradesh, (1968) K. and Jhingran K.C., Inland fishes of India and Oxford and IBH Co. Pvt. Diversity and composition of freshwater fishes in the river systems of Central Western Ghats, India, 25 –38 (2003) Menon A.G.K., Conservation of Ichthyofauna of India, In: Conservation and Management of Inland Capture Fisheries Resources of India (Editors: Jhingran AG, Sugunan VV eds.) The Inland Fisheries Society of India, 25 -33 (1989) 7. Dubey G.P., Endangered, Vulnerable and Rare Fishes of West Coast River Systems of India, In: Threatened Fishes of India, NATCON, 4, 77-95 (1994) 8. Anon Perspective Plan of NBFGR Agriculture Research (1995)9. Kapoor D., Mahanta P.C., Pande A. India: Status and Conservation: Conserv. Nat. Pub., 47-53 (1998) 10. Hora S.L., Notes on fishes in the Indian Museum. On a collection of fish Bailadila range, Bastar State, Provinces, Record of Indian M (1938)11. Hora S.L., On a collection of fish from the head waters of the Mahanadi River, Raipur district, C.P. Museum, 42(2), 365-375 (1940) 12. Sen T.K., Fauna of Indravati Tiger Reserve, Conservation Area Series, Zoological Survey of India 13. Sharma H.S., Freshwater Fishes, In Fauna of Madhya Pradesh (including Chhattisgarh), State Fauna Series, 15(1), 147-244 (2007) 14. www.fishbase.org, Fish base organization International Research Journal of Biological Sciences ________________________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202 Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. 23 Dubey G.P., Endangered, Vulnerable and Rare Fishes of West Coast River Systems of India, In: Threatened Fishes (1994) Anon Perspective Plan of NBFGR , Indian Council of Kapoor D., Mahanta P.C., Pande A. K., Ichthyodiversity of India: Status and Conservation: In Fish Gen. Biodiversity (1998) Hora S.L., Notes on fishes in the Indian Museum. On a collection of fish Bailadila range, Bastar State, Central Provinces, Record of Indian M useum, 40(3), 237-241 Hora S.L., On a collection of fish from the head waters of the Mahanadi River, Raipur district, C.P. , Record of Indian (1940) Sen T.K., Fauna of Indravati Tiger Reserve, Conservation Zoological Survey of India , 6, 61-70 (1995) Sharma H.S., Freshwater Fishes, In Fauna of Madhya Pradesh (including Chhattisgarh), State Fauna Series, www.fishbase.org, Fish base organization (2004) International Research Journal of Biological Sciences ________________________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202 Vol. 2(2), 21-24, February (2013) Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 24 Table – 2 Abundance of Fishes in Rajnandgaon Town S.No. Family Genus and Species Local Name IUCN Status Order – Clupeiformes 1. Clupeidae Gudusia chapra Chhuria LC 2. Notopteridae Notopterus notopterus Patola LC 3. Notopteridae Notopterus chitala Patola LC Order – Cypriniformes 4. Cyprinidae Aspidoparia morar Baniyal LC 5. Cyprinidae Catla catla Katla LC 6. Cyprinidae Cirrhinus mrigala Mrigal LC 7. Cyprinidae Cirrhinus reba Borai LC 8. Cyprinidae Danio devario Dadhai LC 9. Cyprinidae Garra gotyla Butuwa LC 10. Cyprinidae Labeo bata Bata LC 11. Cyprinidae Labeo calbasu Kamach LC 12. Cyprinidae Labeo rohita Rohu LC 13. Cyprinidae Osteobrama cotio Chilati LC 14. Cyprinidae Oxygaster bacaila Sirangi LC 15. Cyprinidae Puntius sarana Kotra LC 16. Cyprinidae Puntius sophore Jarhi kotri LC 17. Cyprinidae Puntius ticto Jarhi kotri LC 18. Cyprinidae Rasbora daniconius Dadhai LC 19. Cyprinidae Tor tor Khusra NT 20. Cyprinidae Hypophthamicthys molitrix Silver carp NT 21. Cyprinidae Cyprinus carpio Komal carp VU 22. Cyprinidae Cyprinus specularis Machii VU 23. Cyprinidae Ctenopharungodon idella Grass carp NE 24. Siluridae Ompok bimaculatus Botia NT 25. Siluridae Wallago attu Padhan NT 26. Bagridae Mystus cavasius Tengna LC 27. Bagridae Mystus vittatus Tengna LC 28. Bagridae Mystus oar Singi LC 29. Bagridae Rita rita Kotia LC 30. Bagridae Bagarius bagarius Bod NT 31. Saccobranchidae Heteropneustes fossilis Singhi LC 32. Clariidae Clarias batrachus Mongri LC Order – Beloniformes 33. Belonidae Xenentodon cancila Gunda LC Order – Ophiocephaliformes 34. Ophiocephalidae Channa gachua Bijalwa/Bijru LC 35. Ophiocephalidae Channa marulius Sanwal LC 36. Ophiocephalidae Channa punctatus Khoksi LC 37. Ophiocephalidae Channa striatus Bhunda LC Order – Perciformes 38. Centropomidae Chanda nama Chandeni LC 39. Centropomidae Chanda ranga Chandri LC 40. Nandidae Nandus nandus Bhedu LC 41. Anabantidae Anabas testudineus Koi DD 42. Gobiidae Glossogobius giuris Khasadda LC 43. Cichlidae Oreochromis mossambicus Tilapia NT Order – Mastacembeleformes 44. Mastacembelidae Macrognathus aculeatus Jat bami NE 45. Mastacembelidae Mastacembelus pancalus Bami LC Abbreviations: IUCN- International Union for Conservation of Nature, DD- Data Deficient, LC- Least Concern, VU- Vulnerable, NT- Nearly Threatened, NE- Not Evaluated.