Taxonomic Check List of Ichthyofaunal Diversity at Hiramandalam Reservoir, Srikakulam Dt. Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

The ichthyofaunal investigation revealed that the occurrence of 59 fish species belonging to 11 orders, 23 families, and 39 genera observed Feb 2022 to Jan 2023 at Hiramandalam Reservoir. These fish were transferred to the lab, fixed in glass jars, and then preserved in a 9-10% formalin solution. The fish were identified based on morphometric traits, meristic counts, and descriptive attributes. The fish were identified to the species level using keys for Indian subcontinent fishes. Five of the 59 species are alien. Order cypriniformes was dominant with 24 species which contributed to 40.67% of the total species followed by Siluriformes 12 (20.33%), Anabantiformes 6 (10.16%), Cichliformes with 4 (6.77%), Synbranchiformes 3 (5.08), Anguilliformes. Beloiniformes, Gobiiformes, and Perciformes each with 02 (3.38%), Osteoglossiforme and Cyprinodontiformes each with 1 (1.69%). Recorded families out of 23, Siluriformes 06 (26.08%), Cypriniformes 05 (21.23%), Anabantiformes 3 (13.04%), Beloiniformes 2 (8.69%), Osteoglossiformes, Cyprinodontiformes, Anguilliformes, Gobiiformies, Synbranchiformes, Cichliformes, and Perciformes each 01 (4.34%). The taxonomic trophic levels in the current study were classified as omnivores have a highest percentage of 29 (49.15%), followed by the carnivorous 18 (30.50%), and the herbivorous 11 (19.64%). The population Status is highest with common which contributed to 45.76%, 25.42% were rare, abundant which contributed to 19.64% and moderate which contributed to 10.16% in the total taxa. The composition of trophic levels, IUCN status and Shannon - Wiener Diversity Index and a detailed taxonomic account of these species is documented in this paper