Fish diversity of Indus river at Beka Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract

The Present study deals with fish diversity of Indus River at Beka Swabi. The main aim of this study is to know whether this area of Indus river is rich in fish fauna or not. Present study was conducted for four months that was from November 2012 to February 2013. In this duration 14 species were reported, in which, 04 species were reported in November, 02 species were reported in December, 02 species were reported in January and 06 species were reported in February. These 14 species belong to 05 orders, 05 families, and 11 genera. Orders were Cypriniformes, Siluriformes, Beloniformes, Mastecembeliformes and Channiformes. Families were Cyprinidea, Bagridae, Belonidae, Mestacembelidae and Channidae. Genera were Rasbora, Cyprinus, Labeo, Catla, Tor, Channa, Mystus, Ompok, Xenentedon and Mastacembelus. Species were Rasbora daniconius, Cyprinus carpio, Carassius auratus, Labeo rohita, Catla catla, Tor putitora, Channa punctatus, Channa gachua, Mystus vittatus, Mystus bleekeri,Ompok pabda, Xenentedon cancila and Mastacembelus armatus. According to this survey of fish diversity of Indus River at Beka Swabi, the family Cyprinidea was richest family which consists of 07 species, while second richest family was Bagridae which consist of 03 species, third richest family was family Channidae which consist of 02 species and remaining each family consist of single species. It’s also concluded from such study that present area of Indus river is rich in fish fauna.