DOCSLIB.ORG

Diversity of Fishes Across Hydrological Basins and Elevational Gradients in Eastern Bhutan: a Preliminary Analysis

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Diversity of Fishes Across Hydrological Basins and Elevational Gradients in Eastern Bhutan: a Preliminary Analysis Bhutan Journal of Animal Science (BJAS) Volume 5, Issue 1, Page 27-36, 2021 DIVERSITY OF FISHES ACROSS HYDROLOGICAL BASINS AND ELEVATIONAL GRADIENTS IN EASTERN BHUTAN: A PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS CHANGLU*, SANGAY NORBU, KARMA WANGCHUK, GOPAL PRASAD KHANAL, SINGYE TSHERING AND PEMA TSHERING National Research and Development Centre for Riverine and Lake Fisheries, Department of Livestock, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Haa, Bhutan. *Author for correspondence: [email protected] Copyright © 2021 Changlu. The original work must be properly cited to permit unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction of this article in any medium. ABSTRACT: Bhutan’s water resources span a tremendous elevational gradient and are home to a diverse ichthyofauna. However, much of the aquatic biodiversity remains understudied and little is known about the ecology of native species. In an effort to strengthen Bhutan’s existing fishery database, the National Research and Development Centre for Riverine and Lake Fisheries, Haa, conducted an ichthyofauna assessment from 2017 to 2019 at 496 sampling stations spread across three hydrological basins namely Aiechhu, Manas and Nyera-Amachhu in eastern Bhutan. A total of 108 fish species, representing 47 genera, 19 families and seven orders were recorded during the study. The highest number of species and endemic fish were found concentrated along the Aiechhu hydrological basin, particularly the Aiechhu proper (Maochhu) and below <500 meters elevation. Based on these findings, the Aiechhu proper appears to be best choice for retaining a free-flowing river in Bhutan and plans for future hydropower developments in elevation <500 meters above sea level should be reconsidered. Keywords: Aiechhu; Eastern Bhutan; elevation; fish diversity; hydrological basin. 1. INTRODUCTION studies was highlighted. Subsequent surveys The aquatic biodiversity in Bhutan is specifically focused on the Royal Manas National inadequately studied and little is known about the Park Dorji and Wangchuk (2014), additional ecology of its lotic systems that span an survey Gurung and Thoni (2015) and focused on elevational gradient from <100 to > 7500 masl basins in western Bhutan (National Research (Tempa et al. 2019; World Bank 2017). The first Centre for Riverine and Lake Fisheries comprehensive assessment of Bhutan's [NRCRLF] 2017). Based on these studies and a ichthyofauna established a baseline at 42 fish series of discoveries of new species (Thoni and species from lotic ecosystems in Bhutan (Dubey Gurung 2014; Thoni et al. 2016), the latest update 1978). Subsequently, Gurung et al. (2013) by National Biodiversity Centre [NBC] (2017) expanded the list to 82 species excluding exotic records 116 fish in lotic systems across Bhutan. species confined to impoundments below 1000 Most recently, discovery of five new species masl in subtropical parts of the country and Thoni and Gurung (2018) extended the number of findings were supplemented with records fish species found in Bhutan to 121 species, with available from the earlier studies (Dubey 1978; eight species considered endemic (i.e., only Dhendup and Boyd 1994; Petr 1999; Bhattarai known from Bhutan). and Thinley 2005). However, Gurung et al. (2013) The lotic water resources of Bhutan are reported that the fish species diversity in Bhutan represented mostly by near-pristine, fast-flowing was grossly underestimated and underscored; rivers and streams. As per the Dorji et al. (2020), thus, the need for additional comprehensive this network of river systems (≈ 9,900 km) is 27 Bhutan Journal of Animal Science (BJAS), Volume 5, Issue 1 Page 27-36, 2021 delineated into five major hydrological basins enhanced by documenting not only species (Amochhu, Wangchhu, Punatshangchhu, richness, but also exclusive occurrences to Mangdechhu and Drangmechhu) and five smaller appropriately prioritize and implement hydrological basins (Jaldakha, Aiechhu, Nyera- conservation and management plans (Bhatt et al. Amachhu, Jomochhu and Sektengchhu) for the 2012). Hydropower projects are mainly implementation of the integrated water resources concentrated along western Bhutan, particularly in management plan (National Environment the Punatshangchhu and Wangchhu basins, and Commission [NEC] 2016). Traditionally, water are more fragmented as compared with rivers resources in Bhutan were restricted to household across eastern Bhutan. Therefore, the main consumption, running of prayer wheels and objective of this study was to (i) determine the watermills. In recent years, the immense techno- ichthyofauna richness along an elevational economic feasibility of hydroelectricity (23,760 gradient, and (ii) compare hydrological basin- MW) offers an important avenue for economic specific diversity of the ichthyofauna across development in Bhutan (Norwegian Agency for basins located in eastern Bhutan, particularly in Development Cooperation [NORAD] 2017). the Aiechhu, Manas and Nyera-Amachhu However, the World Bank (2017) identified hydrological basins. hydropower as major concern for the inadequately studied aquatic biodiversity of Bhutan, requiring 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS priority attention during hydropower development In recent years, minimizing impacts of 2.1. Study Site and Sampling Design hydropower on aquatic biodiversity has become Fishes were sampled along an elevational an integral part of hydropower development and gradient ranging from 140-2880 masl from three regulation. However, most studies were focused hydrological basins (HBs): Aiechhu, Manas and on generating a descriptive list of the species Nyera-Amachhu (Figure 1). The Manas across Bhutan. This information needs to be hydrological basin includes four subbasins: Figure 1: Major hydrological basins in Bhutan. Panel (a) shows all nine river basins in Bhutan (Drangmechhu and Mangdechhu considered as Manas), whereas (b) shows the three basins in eastern Bhutan assessed in this study (2017-2019). The three basins in western Bhutan were previously surveyed (2013-2016) including the partially shown Punatsangchhu hydrological basin and unsurveyed hydrological basin (Jomochhu and Sektengchhu) Changlu et al. (2021) 28 Bhutan Journal of Animal Science (BJAS), Volume 5, Issue 1 Page 27-36, 2021 Mangdechhu, Chamkharchhu, Kurichhu, and live specimens were taken using a photarium and Drangmechhu. The Aiechhu Proper (Maochhu) DSLR camera (Nikon D3400). To retain voucher, was considered as a separate subbasin within the specimens were initially fixed with 10 % Aiechhu hydrological basin. Two additional formalin following Jayaram (1981) and hydrological basins in far eastern Bhutan maintained upside down in a container to prevent (Jomochhu and Sektengchhu) were not surveyed damage to the caudal fin (Mandal and Jha 2013). in this study. For proper preservation of larger specimens (fish To identify sampling sites, hydrological >150 mm total length), formalin was injected into maps were developed using Google Earth and the abdominal cavity to ensure proper fixation of rivers were stratified into zones and sampling the internal organs. Specimens were segregated by stations (FAO 1983). Zones were identified at five sampling site and stored in a designated container kilometres intervals along rivers and streams in labelled with site data recorded for each sampling each hydrological basin. Within each zone, a 300 site (e.g., site name, GPS coordinates, collectors' m stretch of multiple habitats (i.e., pools, riffles, names, date of collection, gear type, and habitat and runs) was designated as sampling site. To be characteristics). The collected samples were considered for sampling, the site had to be transported to the laboratory at the National accessible by road or on foot. In total, 124 zones Research and Development Centre for Riverine and 496 sampling sites across three HBs were and Lake Fisheries (NRDCRLF) for identification identified. Regardless of hydrological basins, and accession into the Fish Repository in Haa. these sites were allocated to six elevational After fixation, specimens were thoroughly washed ranges, i.e., <500 m, 500−1000 m, 1000−1500 m, in flowing water for 24 hours and stored in 70- 1500−2000 m, 2000–2500 m, and 2500−3000 m 75% ethanol for long-term preservation. a.s.l. Exclusive species are those with occurrences within a particular hydrological basin or subbasin 2.5. Fish Identification or elevational range. While tentative identifications were conducted in the field, taxonomic verifications 2.2. Fish Sampling were confirmed at the NRDCRLF laboratory. Sampling was conducted from 2017-2019 Fishes were identified on the basis of and performed diurnally (07:00-17:00) following morphometric and meristic characters. protocols adopted from (FAO 2006). To target all Morphological measurements and counts were potential species, a variety of fishing gear was made following (Ng and Kottelat 2007). All used (e.g., cast net, seine net, dragnet, hand net, measurements were taken on the left side of the minnow trap, fishing rod and line, and electro- specimen using digital callipers (to nearest 0.1 fisher). To account for temporal variability of mm). Identifications and taxonomic review were species assemblages, sampling was conducted performed using available references and during two seasons, pre-monsoon and post- published literature (Vishwanath et al. 2007; monsoon. The approval for sampling was Talwar and Jhingran, 1991; Gurung and Thoni obtained from Department of Forests and Park 2017; Dorji and Wangchuk 2014; NRCRLF Services (DoFPS). Sampling was avoided
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Family-Sisoridae-Overview-PDF.Pdf
    FAMILY Sisoridae Bleeker, 1858 - sisorid catfishes SUBFAMILY Sisorinae Bleeker, 1858 - sisorid catfishes [=Sisorichthyoidei, Bagarina, Nangrina] GENUS Ayarnangra Roberts, 2001 - sisorid catfishes Species Ayarnangra estuarius Roberts, 2001 - Irrawaddy ayarnangra GENUS Bagarius Bleeker, 1853 - sisorid catfishes Species Bagarius bagarius (Hamilton, 1822) - goonch, dwarf goonch [=buchanani, platespogon] Species Bagarius rutilus Ng & Kottelat, 2000 - Red River goonch Species Bagarius suchus Roberts, 1983 - crocodile catfish Species Bagarius yarrelli (Sykes, 1839) - goonch, giant devil catfish [=carnaticus, lica, nieuwenhuisii] GENUS Caelatoglanis Ng & Kottelat, 2005 - sisorid catfishes Species Caelatoglanis zonatus Ng & Kottelat, 2005 - Chon Son catfish GENUS Conta Hora, 1950 - sisorid catfishes Species Conta conta (Hamilton, 1822) - Mahamanda River catfish [=elongata] Species Conta pectinata Ng, 2005 - Dibrugarh catfish GENUS Erethistes Muller & Troschel, 1849 - sisorid catfishes [=Hara, Laguvia] Species Erethistes filamentosus (Blyth, 1860) - Megathat Chaung catfish [=maesotensis] Species Erethistes hara (McClelland, 1843) - Hooghly River catfish [=asperus, buchanani, saharsai, serratus] Species Erethistes horai (Misra, 1976) - Terai catfish Species Erethistes jerdoni (Day, 1870) - Sylhet catfish Species Erethistes koladynensis (Anganthoibi & Vishwanath, 2009) - Koladyne River catfish Species Erethistes longissimus (Ng & Kottelat, 2007) - Mogaung catfish Species Erethistes mesembrinus (Ng & Kottelat, 2007) - Langkatuek catfish Species Erethistes
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Proceedings of the Texas Chapter American Fisheries Society
    ANNUAL PROCEEDINGS of the TEXAS CHAPTER AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY College Station, Texas 25-27 January 2018 Volume 40 TEXAS CHAPTER AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY The Texas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society was organized in 1975. Its objectives are those of the parent Society – conservation, development and wise use of recreational and commercial fisheries, promotion of all branches of fisheries science and practice, and exchange and dissemination of knowledge about fishes, fisheries, and related subjects. A principal goal is to encourage the exchange of information among members of the Society residing within Texas. The Chapter holds at least one meeting annually at a time and place designated by the Executive Committee. MEMBERSHIP Persons interested in the Texas Chapter and its objectives are eligible for membership and should apply to: Texas Chapter, American Fisheries Society Secretary-Treasurer Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 4200 Smith School Road Austin, Texas 78744 Annual membership dues are $12 for Active Members and $5 for Student Members. ANNUAL PROCEEDINGS OF THE TEXAS CHAPTER AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY Annual Meeting 25-27 January 2018 College Station, Texas 2018-2019 Officers Randy Rushin, President Water Monitoring Solutions, Inc. Michael Homer, President-Elect Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Niki Ragan-Harbison, Secretary-Treasurer Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Editorial Committee: Dan Daugherty and Allison Pease, Co-Chairs 2018 Published by: Texas Chapter, American Fisheries Society c/o Texas Parks
    [Show full text]
  • Teleostei: Nemacheilidae)
    21 Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters, Vol. 24, No. 1, pp. 21-30, 7 figs., 1 tab., July 2013 © 2013 by Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil, München, Germany – ISSN 0936-9902 Two new species of Schistura from Myanmar (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae) Jörg Bohlen* and Vendula Šlechtová* Schistura rubrimaculata, new species, is described from two streams on the eastern slope of the Rakhine Range draining in Irrawaddy River. It reaches up to 27.7 mm SL and differs from all other species of Schistura by the presence of a distinct red dot above the midlateral line before the caudal-fin base (not visible in preserved speci- mens), a very slender body and a white ventral side below a broad black midlateral stripe; the dorsal side of the snout dark grey, and the anus located close to the anal-fin origin. Schistura pawensis, new species, shares with S. rubrimaculata the small size, slender body and general pigmentation pattern and is considered as closely re- lated to S. rubrimaculata. Schistura pawensis differs from S. rubrimaculata in having fewer branched rays in caudal and dorsal fins, the anus at mid-distance between pelvic and anal fins, fewer pores in lateral line, the dorsal side of the snout white, and the red dot on the caudal peduncle smaller and less prominent. Introduction Material and methods The loach genus Schistura is widespread across The specimens were either fixed in 4 % formal- South and Southeast Asia and occurs in this area dehyde and later transferred into 70 % ethanol in nearly every stream. Up to now, about 193 for storage (specimens deposited in ZRC and species are considered as valid (Kottelat, 2012), CMK) or fixed and stored in 96 % ethanol (spec- most of them with a restricted area of distribution.
    [Show full text]
  • SCIENCE CHINA Phylogenetic Relationships and Estimation Of
    SCIENCE CHINA Life Sciences • RESEARCH PAPER • April 2012 Vol.55 No.4: 312–320 doi: 10.1007/s11427-012-4305-z Phylogenetic relationships and estimation of divergence times among Sisoridae catfishes YU MeiLing1,2* & HE ShunPing1* 1Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 400732, China; 2Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China Received December 10, 2011; accepted March 9, 2012 Nineteen taxa representing 10 genera of Sisoridae were subjected to phylogenetic analyses of sequence data for the nuclear genes Plagl2 and ADNP and the mitochondrial gene cytochrome b. The three data sets were analyzed separately and combined into a single data set to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships among Chinese sisorids. Both Chinese Sisoridae as a whole and the glyptosternoid taxa formed monophyletic groups. The genus Pseudecheneis is likely to be the earliest diverging extant ge- nus among the Chinese Sisoridae. The four Pareuchiloglanis species included in the study formed a monophyletic group. Glaridoglanis was indicated to be earliest diverging glyptosternoid, followed by Glyptosternon maculatum and Exostoma labi- atum. Our data supported the conclusion that Oreoglanis and Pseudexostoma both formed a monophyletic group. On the basis of the fossil record and the results of a molecular dating analysis, we estimated that the Sisoridae diverged in the late Miocene about 12.2 Mya. The glyptosternoid clade was indicated to have diverged, also in the late Miocene, about 10.7 Mya, and the more specialized glyptosternoid genera, such as Pareuchiloglanis, originated in the Pleistocene (within 1.9 Mya). The specia- tion of glyptosternoid fishes is hypothesized to be closely related with the uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
    [Show full text]
  • AQUA 25-1 Ok.Qxp AQUA 05/02/19 10:45 Pagina 17
    AQUA 25-1_ok.qxp_AQUA 05/02/19 10:45 Pagina 17 aqua, International Journal of Ichthyology A new species of glyptosternine catfish (Siluriformes: Sisoridae) from the Tawangchu River of Arunachal Pradesh, northeastern India Achom Darshan1, Santoshkumar Abujam2,4, Leki Wangchu2, Ram Kumar2, Debangshu Narayan Das2 and Raj Kumar Imotomba3 1) Department of Fisheries Resource Management, Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Utlou-795134, Manipur, India. Email: [email protected] (AD). 2) Fishery and Aquatic Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Rajiv Gandhi University, Rono Hills, Doimukh-791112, India. Email: [email protected] (LW). Email: [email protected] (RK); Email: [email protected] (DND). 3) Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Utlou-795134, Manipur, India. Email: [email protected] (RKI). 4) Corresponding author: Email: [email protected] (SA). Received: 12 August 2018 – Accepted: 04 January 2019 Keywords Schwanzstieltiefe 6,4-6,8% SL; Länge der Fettflossenbasis Creteuchiloglanis, new species, Brahmaputra basin, India. 33,2-33,8% SL; Bauchflossenlänge 19,5-20,5% SL, 2+8 = 10 Kiemenreusen auf dem ersten Kiemenbogen; Kopftiefe Abstract 9,1-10,0% SL; Augendurchmesser 5,8-6,9% HL (Kopf - Creteuchiloglanis tawangensis, a new glyptosternine cat- länge). Diese neue Art ist die fünfte Art der Gattung Cre- fish, is described from the Tawangchu River at Tawang dis- teuchiloglanis, die vom Brahmaputra-Becken be schrieben trict, a headwater of the Manas
    [Show full text]
  • Aborichthys Waikhomi, a New Species of Fish (Teleostei : Nemacheilidae) from Arunachal Pradesh, India
    ISSN 0375-1511 Rec. zool. Surv. India: 112(part-l) : 49-55, 2012 ABORICHTHYS WAIKHOMI, A NEW SPECIES OF FISH (TELEOSTEI : NEMACHEILIDAE) FROM ARUNACHAL PRADESH, INDIA LAISHRAM KOSYGIN Estuarine Biology Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India Hilltop, Gopalpur-on-Sea, Odisha 761 002, India Email: [email protected] INTRODUCTION MATERIALS AND METHODS The fishes of the genus Aborichthys Chaudhuri The specimens were preserved in 10% formalin. are smaliloaches generally found in torrential hill Measurements and counts followed Jayaram (1999). streams in the Darjeeling Himalayas, north eastern Measurements were made to the nearest 0.1 mm India and upper Myanmar. They are characterized on the left side of specimens whenever possible. in having elongated and compressed body; anus The type specimens are deposited in the Zoological situated far forwards; pelvic fins extend Survey of India at Estuarine Biology Regional considerably beyond the anal opening; dorsal fin Centre, Gopalpur-on-Sea and Arunachal Pradesh inserted slightly behind pelvic fins; oblique narrow Regional Centre, Itanagar. Abbreviations used are: stripes on body; rounded caudal fin, which is HL, Head length; EBRC/ZSI/F, Estuarine Biology usually marked with concentric black rings and a Regional Centre/Zoological Survey of India/Fish; Max, Maximum; Min, Minimum; n, number of black spot at the upper corner of caudal base specimens examined; SD, Standard deviation; SL, (Chaudhuri, 1913; Hora, 1925). While describing Standard length; V / APRC/ ZSI/ P, Aborichthys rossamai, Sen (2009) remarked that it is Vertebrate/ Arunachal Pradesh Regional Centre/ very much similar to genus Schistura McClelland Zoological Survey of India/Pisces. and except for the forward position of the anus other characters of the genus are lacking in it.
    [Show full text]
  • Insights Into Body Size Evolution: a Comparative Transcriptome Study on Three Species of Asian Sisoridae Catfish
    International Journal of Molecular Sciences Article Insights into Body Size Evolution: A Comparative Transcriptome Study on Three Species of Asian Sisoridae Catfish Wansheng Jiang 1,2,† , Yicheng Guo 1,† , Kunfeng Yang 1,2, Qiong Shi 3,* and Junxing Yang 1,2,* 1 State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China; [email protected] (W.J.); [email protected] (Y.G.); [email protected] (K.Y.) 2 Yunnan Key Laboratory of Plateau Fish Breeding, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China 3 Shenzhen Key Lab of Marine Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Molecular Breeding in Marine Economic Animals, BGI Academy of Marine Sciences, BGI Marine, BGI, Shenzhen 5180083, China * Correspondence: [email protected] (Q.S.); [email protected] (J.Y.); Tel.: +86-755-3630-7807 (Q.S.); +86-871-65191652 (J.Y.) † These authors contributed equally to this work. Received: 25 January 2019; Accepted: 18 February 2019; Published: 21 February 2019 Abstract: Body size is one of the most important attributes of a species, but the basic question of why and how each species reaches a different “right size” is still largely unknown. Herein, three phylogenetically closely related catfishes from Sisoridae, including one extraordinarily large-sized Bagarius yarrelli and two average-sized Glyptothorax macromaculatus and Oreoglanis setiger, were comparatively studied using RNA-Seq. Approximately 17,000 protein-coding genes were annotated for each of the three fishes, and 9509 genes were identified as high-confidence orthologous gene pairs. Comparative expressions uncovered a similar functional cluster about ribosome biogenesis was enriched in different tissues of the upregulated genes of Bagarius yarrelli.
    [Show full text]
  • FAMILY Nemacheilidae Regan, 1911
    FAMILY Nemacheilidae Regan, 1911 - stone loaches [=Nemachilinae, Adiposiidae, Lefuini, Yunnanilini, Triplophysini] GENUS Aborichthys Chaudhuri, 1913 - hillstream loaches Species Aborichthys boutanensis (McClelland, 1842) - Bolan hillstream loach [=kempi] Species Aborichthys cataracta Arunachalam et al., 2014 - Arunachal hillstream loach Species Aborichthys elongatus Hora, 1921 - Reang hillstream loach Species Aborichthys garoensis Hora, 1925 - Tura hillstream loach Species Aborichthys kempi Chaudhuri, 1913 - Egar hillstream loach Species Aborichthys tikaderi Barman, 1985 - Namdapha hillstream loach Species Aborichthys verticauda Arunchalam et al., 2014 - Ranga hillstream loach Species Aborichthys waikhomi Kosygin, 2012 - Bulbulia stone loach GENUS Acanthocobitis Peters, 1861 - loaches Species Acanthocobitis pavonacea (McClelland, 1839) - pavonacea loach [=longipinnis] GENUS Afronemacheilus Golubtsov & Prokofiev, in Prokofiev, 2009 - stone loaches Species Afronemacheilus abyssinicus (Boulenger, 1902) - Bahardar stone loach Species Afronemacheilus kaffa Prokofiev & Golubtsov, 2013 - kaffa stone loach GENUS Barbatula Linck, 1790 - stone loaches [=Cobites, Orthrias] Species Barbatula altayensis Zhu, 1992 - Kelang stone loach Species Barbatula barbatula (Linnaeus, 1758) - stone loach [=anglicana, blackiana, caucasicus, erythrinna, fuerstenbergii, furstenbergii, hispanica B, hispanica L, markakulensis, parisiensis, taurica, pictava, pironae, vardarensis, variabilis] Species Barbatula conilobus Prokofiev, 2016 - Bogd loach Species Barbatula dgebuadzei
    [Show full text]
  • Loaches of Darjeeling Himalaya and Adjoining Areas of West Bengal: Their Prospects As Ornamental Fish and Constraints
    Available online at www.ijpab.com ISSN: 2320 – 7051 Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 2 (3): 258-264 (2014) Research Article INTERNATIONAL JO URNAL OF PURE & APPLIED BIOSCIENCE Loaches of Darjeeling Himalaya and Adjoining areas of West Bengal: their Prospects as Ornamental Fish and Constraints M. L. Acharjee 1* and S. Barat 2 1Department of Zoology, Kalimpong College, Darjeeling, West Bengal, 734301, India 2Aquaculture & Limnology Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of North Bengal, District- Darjeeling, West Bengal, 734013, India *Corresponding Author E-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT The loaches form an important group of having good potential to be classified aquarium fish due to their small size, bright bands, blotches, colouration, peaceful nature, hardiness, compatibility, and the ability to be reared in aquarium throughout the life span. In the present communication, The Darjeeling Himalaya and its adjoining plain land Terai and Dooars of the Indian state of West Bengal were surveyed for four years (March 2007 to February 2011) in order to examine the diversity of loaches. A total of 20 species of loaches were recorded from the study area belonging to 4 families and 9 genera. Percentage compositions of families were Balitoridae (5%), Nemacheilidae (55%), Cobitidae (20%) and Botiidae (20%). Amongst them more than 50 percent species belong to threatened category. The region with rich ichthyodiversity and high level of endemism is under immediate threat of species decline and habitat destruction mainly due to tremendous pressure from demotechnic growth and also because of natural environmental changes. Thus, there should be a term planning, conservation and judicious use of the germplasm, the highly priced native ornamental fish resources especially loaches to provide this region an ample scope for foreign exchange earnings.
    [Show full text]
  • Hidden Himalayas: Asia's Wonderland
    REPORT LIVING HIMALAYAS 2015 HIDDEN HIMALAYAS: ASIA’S WONDERLAND New species discoveries in the Eastern Himalayas, Volume II 2009-2014 WWF is one of the world’s largest and most experienced independent conservation organisations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in more than 100 countries. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by: conserving the world’s biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. Written and designed by Christian Thompson (consultant), with Sami Tornikoski, Phuntsho Choden and Sonam Choden (WWF Living Himalayas Initiative). Published in 2015 by WWF-World Wide Fund For Nature (Formerly World Wildlife Fund). © Text 2015 WWF All rights reserved Front cover A new species of dwarf snakehead fish (Channa andrao) © Henning Strack Hansen For more information Please contact: Phuntsho Choden Communications Manager WWF Living Himalayas Initiative [email protected] MINISTER MINISTER FOREWORD Minister for Agriculture and Forests, Bhutan The importance of the Eastern Himalayas as a biodiversity hotspot is well known. Endowed with exceptionally rich flora and fauna, the region is truly a conservation jewel. Therefore, to learn that 211 new species have been discovered in the Eastern Himalayas between 2009 and 2014 further enhances that reputation. The Royal Government of Bhutan is truly delighted to know that at least 15 of the new species were found in Bhutan alone. This is indeed an indication of how much there is still to be explored and found from our incredible region.
    [Show full text]
  • Oral Presentations
    Organizing Societies American Elasmobranch Society 33rd Annual Meeting President: Dean Grubbs Treasurer: Cathy Walsh Secretary: Jennifer Wyffels Editor and Webmaster: David Shiffman Immediate Past President: Chris Lowe American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists 97th Annual Meeting President: Carole Baldwin President Elect: Brian Crother Past President: Maureen A. Donnelly Prior Past President: Larry G. Allen Treasurer: F. Douglas Martin Secretary: Prosanta Chakrabarty Editor: Christopher Beachy Herpetologists’ League 75th Annual Meeting President: David M. Green Immediate Past President: James Spotila Vice-President: David Sever Treasurer: Laurie Mauger Secretary: Renata Platenburg Publications Secretary: Ken Cabarle Communications Secretary: Wendy Palin Herpetologica Editor: Stephen Mullin Herpetological Monographs Editor: Michael Harvey Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles 60th Annual Meeting President: Richard Shine President-Elect: Marty Crump Immediate Past-President: Aaron Bauer Secretary: Marion R. Preest Treasurer: Kim Lovich Publications Secretary: Cari-Ann Hickerson Thank you to our generous sponsor We would like to thank the following: Local Hosts David Hillis, University of Texas at Austin, LHC Chair Dean Hendrickson, University of Texas at Austin Becca Tarvin, University of Texas at Austin Anne Chambers, University of Texas at Austin Christopher Peterson, University of Texas at Austin Volunteers We wish to thank the following volunteers who have helped make the Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists
    [Show full text]
  • An Updated Checklist of Globally Threatened Species in Bhutan As Listed in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
    Preprints (www.preprints.org) | NOT PEER-REVIEWED | Posted: 3 February 2021 doi:10.20944/preprints202102.0124.v1 An Updated Checklist of Globally Threatened Species in Bhutan as listed in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Tej Kumar Nepal1,* & Manita2 1Student, M.Sc. in Ecology and Environment Studies, Nalanda University, Bihar, India 2Student, B.A. in English & Media Studies, Sherubtse College, Royal University of Bhutan, Trashigang, Bhutan *Corresponding author: [email protected] Abstract Bhutan lies to the East of Himalaya and it hosts around 11,248 species in all taxa. Bhutan’s lush and green forest covers 71 percent of land which comes under the five National Parks, four Wildlife Sanctuaries, 1 Strict Nature Reserve, Community Forests and biological corridors connecting different protected areas. More than half (51.44 percent) is protected by law and activities are restricted under certain circumstances. It is home to Takin (Budorcas taxicolor whitei), White-bellied Heron (Ardea insignis), Black-necked Crane (Grus nigricollis), Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens), Great Hornbill (Buceros bicornis) and Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) that are globally threatened. Bhutan contributed around 23 new species between 2017 and 2020 which were new to science, and Bhutan’s biodiversity holds immense opportunities for researchers and environmental scientists as its biodiversity is in early stage of discovery. To date, Bhutan records 1 species as Extinct (EX), 1 species as Extinct in the Wild (EW) and 134 species as Vulnerable (VU), Endangered (EN) and Critically Endangered (CR) under International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. This paper aims to report a checklist of globally threatened species listed in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species from Bhutan.
    [Show full text]