Diversity of freshwater fish in Narmada River, Madhya Pradesh

Abstract

Freshwater fishes are the most threatened group of vertebrates on earth after amphibians and the global extinction rate of fishes is believed to be more than higher vertebrates. The major forces behind the loss of biodiversity in freshwater are habitat degradation and fragmentation, increased sedimentation, exotic species introduction, water abstraction, over-harvesting, pollution, and global climate change impacts. The diversity of Freshwater fish in the River Narmada and its tributaries in the central state of Madhya Pradesh has been reviewed. A total of 176 species from fresh water habitats out of which 13 orders, 46 families, 107 genera, and 176 species. The order Cypriniformes represented the highest diversity with 79 species followed by Perciformes (35 species), Siluriformes (32 species), Clupeiformes (11 species), etc. This review presents up-to-date information on freshwater fish diversity of the River Narmada. Freshwater fish diversity information could also provide a baseline for future more complex ecological studies, and planning the conservation and sustainable use of inshore inland water resources.