Fish fauna diversity of Karamana River, Kerala, India: A study

Abstract

This study on Fish diversity of Karamana river was carried out from October 2015 and September 2016. The
fish diversity is correlated with biological and various physio-chemical parameters that regulate the
productivity and distribution of different species of fishes. The fish population is abundant and majority of
the fishes are exploited for human consumption. For the purpose of the study, attempts were made to
collect, classify and identify fish of river Karamana in three zones. The major fish abundance was noticed in
the family Cyprinidae; several species of fish belonging to the different order were present. They were
Anguliformes, Belonifoemes, Cypriniformes, Cryprinodontiformes, Peraciformes, Siluriformes,
Synbranchiformes. The fish species diversity was found decreasing in March and was the highest in October
in the year 2015-2016. Among the families of fishes collected Cyprinidae was the most dominant (41.55%),
followed by Cichlidae (25.98%), Mugilidae (14.66%) Bagridae (3.33%), Channidae (3.13%), Siluridae (2.31%),
Nandidae (1.79%), Godiidae (1.71%), Clariidae (1.41%), Ambassidae (0.91%), Aploecheilidae (0.80),
Heteropneustidae (0.61%), Mastacembelidae (0.61%), Balitoridae (0.60%). The least were observed in
Anguillidae (0.30%), Belonidae (0.20%) and Cobitidae (0.10%). The data shows the rivers are dominated by
Cyprinidae with more ornamental fishes than cultivable and food fish. The Cichliddae family that dominates
second has three species that are cultivable and food fish. The main reasons behind the decline of species
are habitat destruction, introduction of exotic species, pollution and over fishing. Proper conservation
methods and prevention of pollution can increase the number of food fish and cultivable fishes in the river.
Information about the demography of the important threatened fishes points to the lack of conservation
efforts. The result of the present study provides an insight on fish diversity of Karamana river, its proper
management and the importance to conserve the fish diversity.