Studies on fresh water ichthyofauna of river Satluj at syphon Mailsi, Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

The present study was conducted to determine the fish fauna of Satluj River at Mailsi Syphon, situated in South Punjab Pakistan. The survey was conducted from 2012 to 2013 at selected sampling sites (both upstream and downstream) to discover fish diversity and their distribution pattern. The ichthyofauna observed during the study; 18 fish species that were categorized into seven families and six orders. In terms of fish species, Cyprinidae was the dominant family which includes the following eight species: Gibelion catla, Cirrhinus mrigala, Ctenopharyngodon idella, Cyprinus carpio, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Labeo calbasu, Labeo rohita and Macrotepis putitora. The present study was useful in providing the baseline information on species distribution and diversity. The work was initiated to make the checklist of fish fauna of River Satluj at Mailsi Syphon; one of the neglected site by researchers. If prompt and relevant mitigation measures will not adopted, the biodiversity of the area be severely affected.