Ichthyofaunal diversity status in Kelageri Lake, Dharwad, Karnataka state

Abstract

In the present study, we determined the fish faunal diversity status in the Kelageri lake of Dharwad. The study reveals presence of 22 species of fish belonging to six orders spread over 13 families. Cypriniformes was dominant with ten species followed by Siluriformes with five species, Perciformes with four species, Synbranchiformes, Clupeiformes and Osteoglossiformes with one species each. Siluriformes and Perciformes consisted of four families each followed by Cypriniformes with two families, whereas Synbranchiformes, Clupeiformes and Osteoglossiformes consisted of one family each. Species such as, Puntius sarana, Balantiocheilos melanopterus, Wallago attu, Ompok pabda, Parambassis ranga, and Notopterus notopterus were infrequently seen during the study period. These observations suggest the need for proper control measures on overfishing and human interference to conserve and promote the fish faunal diversity in this lake.