Ichthyodiversity of Sichi River, under Koyu Circle, Lower Siang District, Arunachal Pradesh, India
Kento Kadu *
Department of Zoology, Jawaharlal Nehru College, Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh, 791103, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
A survey and documentation of ichthyofaunal diversity were undertaken from April 2024 to December 2025 in the Sichi river, located within the Koyu circle of Lower Siang district, Arunachal Pradesh, India. With the help of local fishermen, specimens were sampled randomly along the length of the river at various times using locally available fishing gear and techniques. A total of 36 species of fish were recorded, belonging to 14 families, 5 orders, and 30 genera. According to the IUCN conservation categories, among the 36 species, 1 species comes under the category of Endangered (EN), 3 species are under the Vulnerable (VU) category, 5 species are under the Near Threatened (NT) category, 1 species is under the Data Deficient (DD) category and the remaining 5 species are under the Not Evaluated (NE) category. Under The Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act (WPAA, 2022), one species, Cyprinion semiplotum, is listed under the Scheduled-I. The study also revealed that most of the fish species recorded from the river have high food value, recreational/sport fishing value, and ornamental value. Furthermore, the study also revealed that the fish population in the river has declined alarmingly over the past decade, highlighting the urgent need for appropriate conservation measures.
Keywords: Arunachal Pradesh, ichthyodiversity, Koyu Circle, Sichi river