Study on Fishes of Mahakali River With Reference to Hill-Stream Fishes

Abstract

The present study “Study on fishes of Mahakali river with reference to hill-stream fishes” was carried out from October 2007 to October 2008. The Mahakali river flows in western region of Kanchanpur district of Mahakalizone of Nepal. The study was carried to provide baseline information on the hill-stream fishes of Mahakali river and also environmental factor, fishing implements and management polices. The sampling stations were establishedalong the 10km stretch of this river and dividing into two section, eachsampling station are 10km far from each other. Each sampling station was visited three times during the study period. A total of 16 samples were collected a total of 44 fish species including 19 hill stream fish species. This includes 5 order, 12 family, 29 genus. Among them, 5 species are exotic and 39species are collected from Mahakali river and irrigation canal. The family Cyprinidae dominates with 21 species, followed by family Cobitidae with 5species, Bagridae represented by 2 species, Claridae with 2 species, Channidaewith 2 species, Mastacembelidae 2 species, Siluridae 1 species, Chandidae 1species, Nandidae 1 species, Gobiidae 1 species and finally Anguillidaere present 1 species. Among them, altogether 19 species are hill-stream fishes.Among hill-stream Labeo dero, Barilius barna, Barilius bendelisis, Bariliusvagra, Raiamas bola, Brachydanio rerio, Esomus denricus, Garra annandalei,Garra gotyla, Tor tor, Crossocheilus latius, Schizothorax plagiostomus,Schizothoraichthys progastus, Botia lohachata, Lepidocephalus guntea, Acanthocobatis botia,Schisturarupecola,SchisturacoricaandGlossogobiusgiuriswere used. The physico-parameter of Mahakali river is found asfollows; the higher tempeture is found to be 22 2 o c in the month of June where as minimum temperature is found to be 12 o c in February. The water be comeshazy in October in rainy season and in that season the oxygen content measured to be 8.3 as high quantity. The co level is maximum as 5 in February. Total hardness is found to be high in October as 5. Besides these the P H 2 quanty is found to be highere in 7.6 in June.Considering the conservation of hill stream fishes in the Mahakali river to be vital. The fishes of Mahakali river are used as food and ethno-medicine. Their economic importance are given and conservation and management principles are highlighted.