Fish fauna of Nandur-Madhmeshwar wetland, Maharashtra, India

Abstract

Freshwater fish fauna of Nandur-Madhmeshwar wetland was studied during the period 2010–2012. A total of 39 species of freshwater fish belonging to 14 families and 30 genera were recorded. Out of the 39 species, 21 species are reported for the first time from this wetland, which includes Mystus malabaricus, an endemic species of the Western Ghats. The fish fauna of the wetland is threatened due to invasive alien species as well as anthropogenic activities such as overfishing, sand mining, siltation, and organic and inorganic pollution. As a result, urgent implementations of stringent conservation measures are essential.

Keywords

• ichthyofauna
• freshwater fish
• relative abundance
• species diversity
• threat status
• wetland.