Comparative Diversity of Small Indigenous Freshwater Fishes from the Wetlands of Charaideo and Nagaon Districts of Assam, India
Bhargov Borah
Department of Zoology, Girijananda Chowdhury University, Guwahati, Assam, India.
Bhenila Bailung *
Department of Zoology, Sonari College, Charaideo, Assam, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The present study documents the diversity of small indigenous freshwater fishes from selected wetlands of Charaideo and Nagaon districts of Assam, India. Field surveys were conducted using traditional fishing gears commonly employed by local fishermen, and species identification was carried out following standard taxonomic literature. A total of 32 small indigenous fish species belonging to 15 families were recorded from the study area, reflecting considerable ichthyofaunal diversity in the wetlands. The family Cyprinidae was found to be the most dominant, followed by Danionidae, Channidae, and other families. Comparative analysis revealed that Nagaon district exhibited higher species richness and abundance, while several species in Charaideo district were recorded as present or rare. Most of the recorded species fall under the ‘Least Concern’ category of the IUCN Red List, although a few species were categorized as ‘Near Threatened’, indicating the need for focused regional conservation measures. The findings provide important baseline information for future research, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable management of freshwater wetland ecosystems in Assam.
Keywords: Indigenous fishes, freshwater wetlands, fish diversity, IUCN status, conservation