2020 Special Issue
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Journal Home page : www.jeb.co.in « E-mail : [email protected] Original Research Journal of Environmental Biology TM p-ISSN: 0254-8704 e-ISSN: 2394-0379 JEB CODEN: JEBIDP DOI : http://doi.org/10.22438/jeb/4(SI)/MS_1903 Plagiarism Detector Grammarly Ichthyofauna of Dampa Tiger Reserve Rivers, Mizoram, North-Eastern India Lalramliana1*, M.C. Zirkunga1 and S. Lalronunga2 1Department of Zoology, Pachhunga University College, , Aizawl-796 001, India 2Systematics and Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl – 796 004, India *Corresponding Author Email : [email protected] Paper received: 04.02.2020 Revised received: 03.07.2020 Accepted: 10.07.2020 Abstract Aim: The present study was undertaken to assess the fish biodiversity in buffer zone of rivers of the Dampa Tiger Reserve, Mizoram, India and to evaluate whether the protected river area provides some benefits to riverine fish biodiversity. Methodology: Surveys were conducted in different Rivers including the buffer zone of Dampa Tiger Reserve during the period of November, 2013 to May, 2014 and October, 2019. Fishes were caught using different fishing nets and gears. Collected fish specimens were identified to the lowest possible taxon using taxonomic keys. Specimens were deposited to the Pachhunga University College Museum of Fishes (PUCMF) and some specimens to Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) Kolkata. Shannon-Wiener diversity index was calculated. Results: A total of 50 species belonging to 6 orders, 18 families and 34 genera were collected. The order Cypriniformes dominated the collections comprising 50% of the total fish species collected. The survey resulted in the description of 2 new fishOnline species, viz. Pethia rutila and Channa Copy aurantipectoralis; 2 new records from India viz., Badis rhabdotus and Psilorhynchus rahmani; one new record from Mizoram viz., Dermogenys sp. and two new records from the Karnaphuli drainage viz., Garra nigricollis and Schistura paucireticulata. The result revealed high diversity of fish species with diversity index of 3.78. Interpretation: The high ichthyofaunal diversity was observed, in this study, revealed the importance of the Dampa Tiger Reserve. The protected area could be important for conservation and management of fish diversity in the region, especially for resident and threatened species. Key words: Biodiversity hotspot, Conservation, Drainage system, New record How to cite : Lalramliana, M.C. Zirkunga and S. Lalronunga: Ichthyofauna of Dampa Tiger Reserve Rivers, Mizoram, North-Eastern India. J. Environ. Biol., 41, 884-895 (2020). © Triveni Enterprises, Lucknow (India) Journal of Environmental Biology July 2020 Vol. 41 884-895 Lalramliana et al.: Fishes of Dampa Tiger Reserve 885 Introduction R Hʹ =– Σpi In pi With increasing in human population growth and i=1 expansion of land utilized for habitat and agricultural purposes, species are becoming extinct, making conservation of where, pi is the proportion of individuals belonging to the biodiversity a major challenge. The increasing loss of biodiversity ith species. is very challenging which requires the discovery and analysis of biodiversity at a greatly accelerated rate (Smith et al., 2003). The Results and Discussion Dampa Tiger Reserve (23°20' to 23°47'N and 92°15' to 92°30'E), the largest protected area in Mizoram, is situated in the western The study resulted in the documentation (including part of Mizoram (Mamit District), North-Eastern India covering an undetermined species) of 50 species belonging to 18 families and area of 500 sq. km. The area is covered by tropical evergreen 6 orders. The calculated Shannon index value is 3.78, revealing and semi-evergreen forest as well as tropical moist deciduous the high diversity along with the richness and evenness of fish forest (Champion and Seth, 1968; Pawar and Birand, 2001). species in the Dampa Tiger Reserve. The area is drained with the Keisalam, Seling, Aivapui and Mar Rivers (Karnaphuli Drainage) including Teirei and Tut Rivers Species Account (Barak Drainage) at the buffer zone. The freshwater fauna of ORDER: BELONIFORMES Mizoram, North-Eastern India is not only rich in diversity but Family: Belonidae also distinct from the mainland India and its adjacent countries. Xenentodon cancila (Hamilton, 1822) This is due to the presence of three independent major river Common Name: Freshwater gar fish/Asian needle fish drainage system which are not connected even in the flood Local Name: Nghafunglawr plains viz., Barak drainage (Ganges-Brahmaputra basin), Karnaphuli drainage and Kaladan drainage system. Besides, Remarks: It is characterized by their relatively large and heavy- rivers of the area are poorly explored because of difficult set of jaws, length of upper jaw fits 2.6–3.2 times in body length topography and lack of proper road connection. measured from anterior margin of orbit to end of hypural plate, 9–21 enlarged teeth in upper jaw, dorsal-fin origin usually anterior Taxonomic survey and its documentation pertaining to to a vertical through anal-fin origin, heavy-bodied and reaching 40 Ichthyofauna of Mizoram is far from complete due to lack of cm TL extensive survey works. Moreover, no diversity studies have been conducted in Dampa Tiger Reserve, except some new fish Family: Zenarchopteridae species described (Lalronunga et al., 2013; Lalramliana et al., 2014; Dermogenys sp. Lalhlimpuia et al., 2016) from the Reserve and its buffer zone. The Common Name: Silver halfbeak/pygmy halfbeak/wrestling halfbeak aim of this study was to assess fish diversity within and the buffer Local Name: Nghafunglawrte zone of the Dampa Tiger Reserve in order to provide reference information as a baseline for further conservation of the area. Remarks: Viviparous; slender body. Upper jaw longer than wide; biserial or tri-serial conical oral teeth; teeth on lower jaw not Materials and Methods extending over anterior margin of upper jaw. Extensive surveys were conducted in different Rivers ORDER: CYPRINIFORMES including the buffer zone of Dampa Tiger Reserve (Aivapui, Family: Balitoridae Keisalam, Seling, Mar Rivers of Karnaphuli Drainage and Teirei Balitora brucei Gray, 1830 and Tut Rivers of Barak Drainage), during the period of November Common Name: Gray’s stone loach 2013 to May 2014 and October 2019. Fishes were caught using Local Name: Nghalungbet/Nghapawmrem different fishing nets and gears. Specimens were fixed in 10% formalin and later preserved in 70% ethanol. The fishes were Remarks: Dorsal fin originates opposite of ventral, head measured and identified following taxonomic keys (Menon, 1964; depressed, mouth ventral, eye small, brown blotches dorsally Kottelat, 1990; Jayaram, 1999; 2006). Identification was done to (8–10) and laterally, dirty yellowish ventrally. Lateral line the lowest possible taxon, counts and measurementsOnline were made complete. PectoralCopy and ventral fin placed horizontally with brown on the left side of specimens whenever possible. Osteological tinge, pectoral broader than ventral. Lower lobe of caudal fin studies were done following the procedure of Taylor & Van Dyke longer than upper with black tinge. Skin rough to touch with (1985). Specimens were deposited to the Pachhunga University minute tubercles College Museum of Fishes (PUCMF) and some specimens to Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) Kolkata. Family: Cobitidae Lepidocephalichthys berdmorei (Blyth, 1860) Shannon-Wiener diversity index was used to describe Common Name: Spiny loach the fish species diversity using the formula: Local Name: Nghachik ¨ Journal of Environmental Biology, Special issue, July 2020¨ 886 Lalramliana et al.: Fishes of Dampa Tiger Reserve Remarks: Truncated or rounded caudal fin; scales absent on top Remarks: A moderately sized Garra very similar to G. of head; anterior rostral barbels long, extending past anterior lissorhynchus. It possessed W-shaped broad band across the nostril. Irregular dark spots on side; three to six dark bars on caudal fin, smooth snout, dorsal fin with 2 simple and 6½ branched caudal fin; lamina circularis composed of fused and thickened rays; 31–32 lateral line scales; 4/1/3 scales in a transverse row; seventh and eighth pectoral rays, forming long cylinder along 14 predorsal scales; dorsal fin with transverse black bar. edge of fin. However, it is markedly differing from G. lissorhynchus in having (vs. lacking in G. lissorhynchus) scales on the breast and belly. Family: Cyprinidae Amblypharyngodon mola (Hamilton, 1822) Garra dampaensis Lalronunga, Lalnuntluanga & Common Name: Mola carplet Lalramliana, 2013 Local Name: Mawka Common Name: Dampa Garra Local Name: Dampa Nghazawngek Remarks: Compressed and elongate bodied fish. Body color silvery, light greenish on back, conspicuous lateral silvery band Remarks: It is a new species recently described from Seling river along the body. Black markings on the dorsal and anal fins. of Dampa Tiger Reserve. It is characterized by no transverse Caudal fin deeply forked; lobes pointed. Lateral line complete with groove and proboscis on the snout; tip of dorsal fin falcate; long 65–70 scale rows. axillary scale present at the base of pelvic fin, reaching the base of last pelvic fin ray; 27–29 lateral-line scales, 10–11 regularly Barilius bendelisis (Hamilton, 1807) arranged predorsal scales; W-shaped black band across the Common Name: Hamilton’s Barila middle of caudal fin and presence of scales on the breast and Local Name: Lengphar zangchhah belly. Remarks: Deep, compressed and elongate bodied fish, two pairs Garra manipurensis