Ichthyofaunal diversity of Nandurbar District (Northwest Khandesh Region) of Maharashtra (India).

Abstract

Ichthyofaunal diversity is carried out during the study period November 2013 to April 2014 in the rivers, streams, reservoirs or ponds of Nandurbar district lays in the northwest region of Maharashtra state. The district is transverse by the river Tapi and its principal tributaries, viz., the Gomai, the Vir, the Rangavali, the Daheli and the Shivan River etc. The survey was made from nine collection centers spread over the entire district. In present study of 83 specimens observed that the ichthyofauna belongs to6 orders, 11 families, 24 genus and 32 species, were Cypriniformes order is dominant with 19 (59.40%) species followed byPerciformes and Siluriformes with 05 (15.60%) species, Beloniformes, Clupeiformes and Osteoglossiformes contribute01 (3.10%) species each. As no attempt had been made in the past to explore the ichthyofaunal diversity of this region. All the species reported in present investigation are reporting fist time under mopping survey programme. It is concluded that the fish in this area are under threat due to anthropogenic activities such as overfishing and organic and inorganic pollution of the river. Therefore site based conservation action plants are needed for conservation of rare and threatened fish in this area.