Identification of fish fauna in River Kunhar, Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract

A study was conducted on River Kunhar Mansehra from March, 2013 to February, 2016 to find out fish fauna. Different sampling sites were selected for the collection of the fish fauna. These sites were Jalkhnad, Naran, Kaghan, Balakot and Rara respectively. Fishes were collected and identified from the river and identified by using various keys and literature. Fishes collected and identified belong to 3 Orders, 4 Families, 7 Genera’s and 9 Species. In the present research Cyprinidae was the richest Family which was represented by 4 Species; Nemacheilidae and Salmonidae were represented by only two species each while Sisoridae was consisting only one species respectively. From the present research, it is concluded that River Kunhar are rich in ichthyofauna. Furthermore, the river water was badly affected by the tourism industry, anthropogenic pollution and illegal fishing.