Current status of fish diversity of Subarnarekha river in Paschim Medinipur district, West Bengal

Abstract

The river is one of the major sources of the wide variety of fish species. Fishes are an important source of human protein. Fish plays a crucial role in the economic development of different countries. The current investigation deals with the fish diversity of the Subarnarekha river of Paschim Medinipur district, West Bengal from November 2020 to January 2022. Total of 50 fish species under 13 orders, 21 families, and 35 genera have been recorded during the investigation period. The order Cypriniformes (46.40%) was dominant followed by Anabantiformes (20.92%), Siluriformes (16.47%) and Perciformes (5.49%). The Cyprinidae family represented the highest number of fish species (46.40%), followed by the family Channidae (10.98%) and Siluridae (4.44%). Out of 50 fish species, 43 species Least Concern, 4 species Near Threatened, and 3 species vulnerable category.