Abstract
The freshwater fish fauna of Pakistan is briefly discussed. It is predominantly South Asian but High Asian and West Asian elements are also present. The African element is hardly perceptible. Five zoogeographical divisions of Pakistan are proposed on the basis of the composition of their fish fauna: (I) the High Asian Division; (II) the Aba-Sinh Division; (III) the Northwestern Montane Division; (IV) the Indus plain and adjoining hills Division; and (V) the Northwestern Baluchistan Division. South Asia and High Asia are recognized as two subregions within the Oriental Region, while West Asia is treated as a transitional region.
Highlights
No comprehensive report on the freshwater fishes of Pakistan has been published ever since the inception of this country from the partition of the South Asian subcontinent in 1947
In Pakistan, there are 90 species belonging to 29 genera and two families of these fishes, which form more than 57% of the entire freshwater fish fauna of this country
In Pakistan, it is represented by one species which is restricted to the submontane zone surrounding the Indus plain, Noemacheilus botia (Hamilton, 1822)
Summary
No comprehensive report on the freshwater fishes of Pakistan has been published ever since the inception of this country from the partition of the South Asian subcontinent in 1947. The work on the freshwater fishes of Pakistan, which has been published so far, does not include the zoogeographical aspect with the exception of a few cursory remarks by some ichthyologists (Day, 1880; Zugmayer, 1913; Hora, 1937a; Berg, 1940; and Mirza, 1974). The freshwater fishes are closely bound to the land masses and are inescapably confined to their own drainage system Their dispersal from one drainage system to another can only be affected by the hydrographie changes caused by geological and climatic factors (exception made, for human interference). In the present report the emphasis is mainly laid upon the regional distribution, the other aspects are discussed wherever it is found necessary. Since the present report is mainly concerned with the zoogeographical aspect of the freshwater fishes of Pakistan, the origin, evolution and dispersal of the higher taxa are discussed.
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