Taxonomic Check List of Ichthyofaunal Diversity in Gosthani River at Tagarapuvalasa, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

The study was designed to examine the taxonomy and assortment of fish species in the Gosthani River in Andhra Pradesh from April 2023 to March 2024. A total of 47 fish species were documented at the two landing sites of Gosthani River. The fish samples were carefully cleansed, and photos were taken on location. These fish were fixed in glass jars and kept in a 10% formalin solution. Following that, the samples were identified up to the species level using classical taxonomic techniques. Order Cypriniformes was observed to have the highest contribution to the species diversity: 15.78% families, 38.23% genera, and 40.42% species, followed by Siluriformes (26.31% families, 17.64% genera, and 21.73% species); Beloiniformes (10.52% family, 5.88% genera, and 4.25% species); Cichliformes (1 family, 3 genera and 3 species); Perciformes and Synbranchiformes (1 family, 2 genera and 2 species); Anguilliformes (1 family, 1 genera and 2 species); Channiformes (5.26% family, 8.82% genera, and 6.38% species); Cyprinodontiformes, Gobiiformies, Osteoglossiformes, and Anabantiformes (5.26% family, 2.94% genera, and 2.12% species). The taxonomic trophic levels were found to have the largest percentage of omnivores have 46.81%, followed by carnivorous 34.04% and herbivorous 19.14%. The composition of taxa, population status, trophic levels, and IUCN status were reported in this research paper.