Review on freshwater fish diversity of Northern West Bengal, India: status, threats and conservation measures

摘要

Fishes are the most diverse group of vertebrates and the most important aquatic fauna, directly or indirectly related to human well-being. West Bengal is a Nadimatrik state i.e., land nourished by rivers with a total freshwater area stretching about 272380 ha area. However, despite the huge water resource, the knowledge of fish diversity is very inadequate, especially in northern part of West Bengal, known as North Bengal. This dearth of information on ichthyofauna is a big obstacle for promoting, resurrecting and conserving the fish variety present in the variety of freshwater habitats present here. This review is an attempt to provide a systematic catalog of fish species recorded so far in this area, along with their local names, economic importance and conservation status. Attempt has also been made to enlist the possible threats to survival of these fish varieties and their conservation strategies. As many as 177 species of freshwater fishes, belonging to 31 families have been found to be recorded in various freshwater habitats in this area.