Pantnagar Journal of Research

Abstract

Fish diversity of Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala was studied during the period from January 2018 to December 2020. Fishes comprised of 53 species belonging to 11 Orders, 19 Families and 39 genera were recorded during the study. Family Cyprinidae were the most dominant group represented by 25 species belonging to 19 genera, followed by Cichlidae (4 species) and Channidae and Nemachelidae (3 species each) respectively. According to IUCN status, one species (Mesonoemachelius herrei) were ‘critically endangered’ (CR), four were ‘Near Threatened’ (NT), one species was ‘Endangered’ (EN) and one species is listed as ‘Vulnerable’ (VU). Further, data on one species were listed as ‘Data deficient’ (DD), and six species was found to be exotic species. The results of the study were represented in the form of a checklist of the freshwater fish fauna of the Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary together with remarks on risks and conservation requirements.