Identification Of Fish Diversity, Distribution, And Fauna At Head Qadirabad, Marala And Khankis, Chenab River, Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

Surveys were conducted from October 2022 to November 2023 to evaluate the variety and distribution of fish fauna at Marala Head, Qadirabad Head and Khanki Head, which are located on the Chenab River in Punjab, Pakistan. In all, 2720 fish specimens from seven orders, seventeen families, forty-one genera, and fifty-nine species were recorded in this study. In all fishes 53 species, 39 species and 27 species were recorded in this research at Qadirabad Head, Marala Head and Khanki Head, respectively, on the Chenab River. The fish biodiversity of the regions was determined by local names, and identification from local people, fish farmers, contractors and private fishermen. Samples were classified on the Based on morphometric features, conventional keys from study areas. Twelve genera and thirteen species were contributed by the six families that representation of the order Siluriformes. Six families contributed six genera and eight species to the Order Perciformes. With one family, the Order Cypriniformes generated eighteen genera and thirty species. One family, one genus, and four species were represented by the Order Channiformes. With two genera and two species, the order Mastacembeliformes comprised a single family. The Beloniformes order had one family with one species and one genus. One genus and one species were represented by the Order Osteoglossiforms within one family. During this study, both native and invasive fish species were recorded from research areas. Invasive species in Pakistan were identified from several locations along the Chenab River during this research as Ctenopharyngodon idella, Cyprinus carpio, Hypophathalmichthys molitrix, Ctenopharyngodon idella, and Oreochromis mossambicus and Oreochromis niloticus. The native carp species in Pakistan include Cirrhinus reba, Labeo rohita, and Cirrhinus mrigala also identified during this study.