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AN ICHTHYOFAUNISTIC STUDY OF RIVER SWAT AND DEVELOPMENT OF A TAXONOMIC KEY Ph.D. Thesis ZAIGHAM HASAN 1
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AN ICHTHYOFAUNISTIC STUDY OF RIVER SWAT AND
DEVELOPMENT OF A TAXONOMIC KEY
Ph.D. Thesis
ZAIGHAM HASAN
DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGYUNIVERSITY OF PESHAWAR
Session (2009-10)
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AN ICHTHYOFAUNISTIC STUDY OF RIVER SWAT AND
DEVELOPMENT OF A TAXONOMIC KEY
Thesis submitted to Department of Zoology, University of Peshawar
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
ZAIGHAM HASAN
DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGYUNIVERSITY OF PESHAWAR
Session (2009-2010)ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
It is an immense pleasure and honour to express my deep sense of gratitude, from the
core of my heart, to my supervisors Prof. Dr. Naheed Ali, ex Chairperson, Department of
Zoology, University of Peshawar and my Co-Supervisor Prof. Dr. Ajaz Ahmad Sandhu, ex-
Chairman, Department of Zoology, GPGC, Gujranwala for their valuable guidance, immaculate
supervision, kind attitude and keen interest in my research work and writing of this dissertation.
Deepest thanks to Dr. Basit Rasheed who abetted me in making maps of the area and
extended helping hand whenever needed.
Special thanks to my dozens of students who helped me in fish collection from the whole
stretch of River Swat. Some names need special mention like Mr. M. Yousaf, Dr. Sanaullah
Roadbari, Mr. Allaudin and Mr. Ibrar Ahmad (AD Fisheries). I am especially thankful to Mr. M.
Nasir, my student of fisheries, BS 8th semester (Now a M. Phil scholar at UVAS, Lahore) who
helped me a lot especially in composing, formatting and improving lay out of this dissertation.
Words are less to thank my mother, wife, children and other family members who
remained a consistent source of encouragement and prayers during the accomplishment of this
work.
Zaigham Hasan
List of Abbreviations
DCR District Census Report
EPA Environmental Protection Agency
EPS Environmental Protection Society
FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations
KP/KPK Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (New name of N.W.F.P.)
N.W.F.P. North West Frontier Province (of Pakistan)
D Dorsal fin rays
P Pectoral fin rays
V Pelvic fin rays
A Anal fin rays
C Caudal fin rays
L.L. Lateral Line scales
ppm Part per million
ppb Part per billion
mg Milligram
cm Centimeter
mm Millimeter
DF Dorsal Fin
C.P. Caudal peduncle
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgments.........................................................................................................i
List of Abbreviations...................................................................................................ii
Table of Contents........................................................................................................iii
List of Tables and Figures.........................................................................................vii
Abstract.......................................................................................................................xii
Chapter-1: Introduction..............................................................................................1
1.1 Aquatic Ecosystem..............................................................................................1
1.1.1 Aquatic Ecosystem and its Role..............................................................1
1.2 Study of Biodiversity................................................................................................3
1.3 Importance of Aquatic Biodiversity.........................................................................4
1.4 Factors Affecting Aquatic Diversity and their Results............................................5
1.5 Role and Importance of Fish in Aquatic Ecosystem................................................7
1.6 Need of Studying Fish diversity...............................................................................8
1.7 Special Status of Ichthyodiversity of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa....................................8
1.8 Fish Identification and its Importance......................................................................9
1.9 Introduction to Study area......................................................................................12
1.9.1 Swat Valley and River Swat:.................................................................13
1.9.2 River Swat’s Division:...........................................................................19
1.9.3 River Panjkora; the major tributary of River Swat................................20
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1.9.4 Main tributaries of River Panjkora.......................................................22
1.10 Aims and Objectives.........................................................................................22
Chapter-2: Literature Review...................................................................................24
Chapter-3: Materials and Method............................................................................31
3.1 Collection of fishes.................................................................................................31
3.2 Preservation of fish.................................................................................................31
3.3 Formalin Injections................................................................................................32
3.4 Caring the collection..............................................................................................33
3.5 Measurement and laboratory work.........................................................................33
3.6 Procedure for Identification...................................................................................33
3.7 Classification..........................................................................................................34
3.8 Confirmation of Classification...............................................................................34
3.9 Development of Key..............................................................................................35
Chapter 4: Results......................................................................................................36
4.1 Systematic Index of the Ichthyofaunal Diversity of River Swat............................36
4.2 Systematic Account................................................................................................40
4.2.1 Order Cypriniformes..............................................................................41
4.2.2 Order Siluriformes................................................................................47
4.2.3 Order Salmoniformes............................................................................49
4.2.4 Order Perciformes..................................................................................49
4.2.5 Order Channiformes...............................................................................50
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4.2.6 Order Beloniformes...............................................................................50
4.2.7 Order Mastacembeliformes....................................................................50
4.3 General Description of Fish Species................................................................51
4.3.1 ORDER CYPRINIFORMES.................................................................51
4.3.1.1 Family I: CYPRINIDAE...............................................................................52
Subfamily I: CULTRINAE.........................................................................................52
Subfamily II: : ASPIDOPARINAE............................................................................58
Subfamily III: RASBORINAE...................................................................................58
Subfamily IV: BARBINAE........................................................................................58
Subfamily V: TORINAE............................................................................................78
Subfamily VI: GARRINAE........................................................................................83
Subfamily VII: SCHIZOTHORACINAE..................................................................86
Subfamily VIII: CYPRININAE.................................................................................92
4.3.1.2 Family II: NEMACHEILIDAE....................................................................98
4.3.2 Order: SILURIFORMES (Catfishes)........................................................111
4.3.2.1 Family I: SISSORIDAE...............................................................................112
4.3.2.2 Family II: BAGRIDAE................................................................................125
4.3.2.3 Family III: SCHILBEIDAE........................................................................127
4.3.3 Order: SALMONIFORMES (Trouts).......................................................131
4.3.4 ORDER CHANIFORMES (Snakeheads).................................................135
4.3.5 ORDER MASTACEMBELIFORMES (Spiny eels)................................139
4.3.6 Order BELONIFORMES (Crowfish).......................................................141
4.3.7 Order PERCIFORMES.............................................................................143
Table- 4.1: Complete List of fish diversity of River Swat and its tributaries.....148
Table 4.2 Analysis of fish diversity of River Swat.................................................152
Table 4.3: Fish Fauna of River Panjkora...............................................................154
Table 4.4: Comparison between fish of River Swat and River Panjkora...........155
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Table 4.5: Economically important Major edible fish fauna of River Swat……… 159
Table 4.6: Minor edible fish fauna of River Swat…………………………………...160
Table 4.7: Specific Ichthyodiversity in River Swat ………………………..………. 161
4.4.1: Statistical analysis of Data …………………………………………....………. 165
Chapter-5: Discussion..............................................................................................167
Conclusion.................................................................................................................175
Recommendations....................................................................................................176
References ................................................................................................................178
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LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES
Table 4.1: Complete list of fish diversity of River Swat and its tributaries....................
Table 4.2: Analysis of fish diversity of River Swat…………………………………….152
Table: 4.3: Fish fauna of River Panjkora ……………………………………….……154
Table 4.4: Comparison between Ichthyodiversity of River Swat and River Panjkora………155
Table 4.5: Economically important Major edible fish fauna of River Swat…..............159
Table 4.6: Minor edible fish fauna of River Swat…...160
Table 4.7: Specific Ichthyodiversity in River Swat ……………………….……………… 161
Figure 1.1 Main Water Resources of Pakistan 12
Figure 1.2 Rivers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 15
Figure 1.3 River Panjkora and its Tributaries 21
Figure 1.4 River Swat and River Panjkora 22
Figure 4.1 Chela cachius 53
Figure 4.2 Salmophasia bacaila 54
Figure 4.3 Salmophasia punjabensis 56
Figure 4.4 Aspidoparia morar 57
Figure 4.5 Amblypharyngodon mola 59
Figure 4.6 Barilius pakistanicus 60
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Figure 4.7 Barilius vagra 62
Figure 4.8 Barilius modestus 63
Figure 4.9 Barilius naseeri 65
Figure 4.10 Devario devario 66
Figure 4.11 Rasbora daniconius 68
Figure 4.12 Labeo diplostomus 69
Figure 4.13 Labeo calbasu 71
Figure 4.14 Cirrhinus mrigala 72
Figure 4.15 Puntius sophore 74
Figure 4.16 Puntius conchonius 75
Figure 4.17 Puntius ticto 77
Figure 4.18 Puntius chola 78
Figure 4.19 Naziritor zhobensis 80
Figure 4.20 Tor macrolepis 81
Figure 4.21 Tor putitora 82
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Figure 4.22 Crossocheilus diplocheilus 84
Figure 4.23 Garra gotyla 85
Figure 4.24 Schizothorax esocinus 87
Figure 4.25 Schizothorax plagiostomus 88
Figure 4.26 Orienus plagiostomus 90
Figure 4.27 Racoma labiata 91
Figure 4.28 Carassius auratus 93
Figure 4.29 Cyprinus carpio 95
Figure 4.30 Cyprinion watsoni 96
Figure 4.31 Ctenopharyngodon idella 98
Figure 4.32 Schistura alepidota 99
Figure 4.33 Schistura naseeri 101
Figure 4.34 Schistura prashari 102
Figure 4.35 Schistura curtistigma 104
Figure 4.36 Schistura macrolepis 105
Figure 4.37 Triplophysa naziri 106
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Figure 4.38 Triplophysa choprai 108
Figure 4.39 Triplophysa microps 109
Figure 4.40 Acanthocobitis botia 110
Figure 4.41 Glyptothorax punjabensis 113
Figure 4.42 Glyptothorax stocki 114
Figure 4.43 Glyptothorax sufii 116
Figure 4.44 Glyptothorax cavia 117
Figure 4.45 Glyptothorax naziri 119
Figure 4.46 Glyptosternon reticulatum 120
Figure 4.47 Glyptosternon maculatum 122
Figure 4.48 Gagata cenia 123
Figure 4.49 Gagata pakistanica 125
Figure 4.50 Mystus bleekri 126
Figure 4.51 Clupisoma naziri 128
Figure 4.52 Clupisoma garua 130
Figure 4.53 Eutropiichthys vacha 131
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Figure 4.54 Oncorhynchus mykiss 133
Figure 4.55 Salmo trutta fario 134
Figure 4.56 Channa puctata 137
Figure 4.57 Channa gachua 138
Figure 4.58 Mastacembelus armatus 140
Figure 4.59 Xenentodon cancila 142
Figure 4.60 Chanda nama 144
Figure 4.61 Colisa faciata 146
Figure 4.62 Colisa lalia 147
Figure 4.63 Abundance of Different fish orders in River Swat 146
Figure 4.64 Diversity of Genera in River Swat 148
Figure 4.65 Diversity of Families in River Swat 148
Figure 4.66 Economically Important Fish Fauna of River Swat 162
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ABSTRACT
Scientific Study of fish fauna of River Swat was started by McClelland in 1842. Fish being one
of the most important part of the biodiversity has remained the focus of many researchers in the
area. It is included in most food chains and all food webs of aquatic bodies. Fish is considered as
one of the most important and efficient bioindicator of the water body. Biodiversity studies of
aquatic ecosystems cannot be considered complete unless fish diversity/ ichthyodiversity in the
water body has not been fully explored and identified. Study and identification of fish fauna of a
water body gives us the idea about its health and about its economic value. Main objective of the
study was to idntify the complete fish diversity of the River Swat and make a pictorial
identification key.
In present study fish fauna of River Swat and one of its major tributaries, River Panjkora was
collected and identification of species was done.
The work was started in 2012 and collection was made using cast nets, hand nets and many local
devices with the help of fishermen of the area. The main focus was to collect all species present
in the area. Using standard keys fishes were identified.
An exclusive pictorial dichotomous taxonomic key was constructed for the identification of
fishes of river swat. The most important quality of the key is that it can be used not only by
researchers and students working on the fauna of River Swat, but it can also be used by a lay
man as coloured pictures of all the fishes are given in the key. This key also provides the local
names of the fishes along with scientific names for ready reference. Using the key, the fish fauna
/ ichthyofauna of river Swat was identified to species level.
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All the 62 species identified from the river belong to Superclass Gnathostomata, class
Actinopterygii, subclass Neopterygii, division Teleostei and superorder Ostaryophysi. These
fishes belong to seven orders namely Cypriniformes, Siluriformes, Salmoniformes,
Mastacembeliformes, Perciformes, Beloniformes and Channiformes. Fishes are included in 11
families; Cyprinidae, Nemacheilidae, Bagridae, Schilbeidae, Sisoridae, Salmonidae,
Mastacembelidae, Ambassidae (Chandidae), Belontiidae, Belonidae and Channidae. These 11
families are further divided into 38 genera. Order Cypriniformes and family Cyprinidae have
been proved as the largest family and order of the fishes in River Swat. The most abundant
species were Barilius pakistanicus and Triplophysa microps and the least abundant were
Schistura macrolepis, Glyptosternon reticulatum. The comparison of the present collection
revealed that some fishes like species of Tor and Schizothorax are under great stress of
extinction from River Swat. Some fishes seem to be missing from this river now as they were
reported previously but not found in present collection example being Chela cachius,
Aspidoparia morar, Amblypharyngodon mola, Devario devario, Naziritor zhobensis, Schistura
naseeri, Glyptothorax naseeri, Colisa faciata and Colisa lalia etc. The reasons for this species
loss may include mighty flood of 2010, illegal fishing, pollution and habitat loss.
It was concluded that although River Swat has favourable environment for fish survival but due
to above mentioned reasons it is not an ideal habitat for fish now. Conclusion was made that
River Swat can help in solving protein deficiency issue and improve socio economic conditions
of the area.
Proper management, implementation of laws and awareness of masses is strongly recommended
to conserve fish and aquatic resources of this area.
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Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Aquatic EcosystemWater can be called the most important chemical compound for the survival and
distribution of life on the earth. It can rightly be called as womb of life as life appeared, sustained
and flourished in the water and it seems to be the driving force in creating biodiversity on this
planet. Allah (SWT) emphasized its importance in the holy book, Al Quran by saying
“And We have created everything from water, will they not then believe”? (Al-Quran,
21:30).
Despite being the most abundant compound on earth, its availability for the earth’s
terrestrial life processes has remained limited in many parts of the world and with heavy human
demand this essential commodity is becoming increasingly scarce.
1.1.1 Aquatic ecosystem and its RoleWater creates a very vast, unique and diverse ecosystem. Aquatic ecosystem is unique
because of its dynamic physical and chemical implications on life. It is more viscous than air and
has more effects on biogeochemical cycles as well as activities and behavior of organisms
(Alexander and Fairbridge, 1999). It provides reduction in weight due to an upward thrust that
reduces the effects of gravitational chains which always bind/tie up the life of organisms on land
and needs a large amount of energy to overcome hence causes great ease in
movement/locomotion of organisms present in it.
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Aquatic ecosystem carries out different significant conservation utilities, e.g. recycling of
nutrients, refreshing Earth’s water and deliver habitations for biota.
Aquatic ecosystem is comprised of two major types; marine and freshwater whereas
brackish water is a transition between them. About 71% Earth’s surface is covered by marine
ecosystem and comprise almost 97% of the world’s water (Alexander and Fairbridge, 1999).
These are differing from freshwater ecosystems by the existence of high water dissolved salts. Of
the dissolved compounds in sea water about 85% are chlorine and sodium. Marine water has
mean salinity value of 35 ppt (3.5%). Marine ecosystems account for about 32% of the planet’s
net primary productivity (Pfafflin and Zeigler, 2006)
Approximately 0.8% surface of earth is enclosed by freshwater ecosystems and consists
of 0.009% of the Earth’s total water (Alexander and Fairbridge, 1999). Freshwater ecosystems
have three main types i.e. lentic (standing or slow water flow), containing ponds, lakes, and
pools, lotic (running or fast water flow), like rivers and streams and wetlands; water saturated
places (Kalff, 2002). They produce approximately 3% of the Earth’s net primary productivity.
According to Gleick (1996) total water present on earth is about 1.386 billion Km3, whereas only
178,520 Km3 is available as freshwater (176,400 Km3 in lakes + 2,120 Km3 in rivers); This tiny
fraction of global freshwater is the home of thousands of species of insects, nematodes, worms,
plants and is very important for human consumption. Approximately 41% fish species of the
world inhabit freshwater ecosystems which is only 0.1% of the total earth water resources
(Nelson, 1994). In addition, the available freshwater is utilized by human beings for their
domestic, household purposes as well as in agriculture and industries.
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Importance of water is not limited to freshwater only, rather its role in both freshwater
and marine ecosystems are paramount for life diversity. Both these basic forms of aquatic
ecosystems harbour the great diversity of life, generally termed as biodiversity.
1.2 Study of BiodiversityBiodiversity is knowing all about, everything, finding, collecting, and naming or
identification of all the species present in the research site. Natural diversity means different for
different scientists (Pearce and Warford, 1992).
1) It may be native species number or their number of individuals in any habitat or area.
2) Diversity of habitats within some area.
3) Different types of interactions occurring among species in some habitat.
4) Genetic variation present amongst same species, different genes present, and their
relative abundance.
As biodiversity is very complex and we know little about it much therefore it is required
to know and quantify it by knowing the most basic “genetic variation” also known as “genetic
diversity”. This could be described as genetic variation which affect the productivity,
characteristics, survival, resistance to stress and alter the performance of ecosystem (Naeem et
al., 1994).
Species diversity is another recognizable part of biodiversity. It is the most common type
which is generally studied extensively (laymen consider and recognize only this type of diversity
as biodiversity). Generally, all the species or all the species of some specific group of an area are
studied in biodiversity (Maes et al., 2014). Some species e.g. talking in terms of fish diversity,
Schizothorax plagiostomus and Gara gotyla are abundant, other such as Xenentodon cancila,
Tor putitora, Labeo dero etc. are declining and may become extinct in our waters.
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Associations among different species is 3rd aspect of biological diversity. This type of
association makes biological communities which may include areas like forests or wetlands (Das
and Pande, 1978). Communities form the biotic parts of ecosystems i.e. anthropogenic activities
influence the biodiversity (Beyer et al. 2010). Diversity of ecological processes and set of
environmental factors confirms the diversity in an ecosystem and thus enhance the reliability of
the ecosystem (Naeem and Li, 1997).
In general, biological diversity may include all kinds of ecosystems, patterns present in
them. Therefore, it could be said that "totality of genes and species and totality of all the
ecosystems in a region is called biodiversity.
1.3 Importance of Aquatic BiodiversityMarine and freshwater ecosystems especially supply a large variety of food resources,
services and other goods for the human population. For aquatic ecosystems, biodiversity is very
important feature for the protection and stabilization of an ecosystem as mentioned by Ehrlich
and Wilson (1991), is also necessary for the commercial fisheries and maintenance of aquatic
natural resources for the future. Obviously aquatic biodiversity is vital to the sustainable
productivity of fisheries. Therefore, fisheries, with developing more species or populations have
balanced clasps than fisheries developing with the presence of one species (Hilborn et al., 2003;
Dulvy et al., 2000). Conserving such diversity or biological density of population, provides
flexibility and protects against the changes in habitat (Yachi and Loreau, 1999). Biodiversity
gives help to save ecosystems services which are essentially important for the people of poor
countries.
Environment of river can be assessed by studying fish biodiversity; therefore, it is
important to study it (Shinde et al., 2009). Generally, not only fishing but other geological and
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physical changes cause major changes in fish diversity. In the last few decades, a steady increase
in the habitat loss in aquatic environments, especially of rivers has been observed which suffer
the fish fauna with high mortality due to change in river bed as well as habitat (Pearsons et al.,
1992). In 2010 massive flooding caused serious damage to the fish resources of northern parts of
Pakistan. This loss is directly affecting the fisheries resources which need to be conserved for
future generation by passing conservation laws and making masses aware (Welcomme, 1985).
1.4 Factors affecting Aquatic diversity and their resultsRecently aquatic diversity has gained more attention of natural and social scientists due
to its economic importance (Clausen and York, 2008). In Millennium Environmental Assessment
(MEA) conference, 1400 scientists assembled from 95 countries, stated, that the changes
occurred in biodiversity in last 50 years as the result of human activities were the fastest if
compared with the past changes in human history (MEA, 2005). As for as the loss of aquatic
fauna is concerned, its distribution and arrangement is more, rather absolutely, dependent on
biotic (e.g. Human activities, competition, predation, recruitment) and abiotic (Hydrodynamics
Salinity, temperature of water, habitat differences, variation in seasons, etc.) factors (Whitfield,
1980, 1999; Blaber and Blaber, 1980; Day et al., 1989).
Aquatic diversity is threatened worldwide by a number of human based issues like habitat
loss, changes in climate, eutrophication, pollution and invasive species (Solbrig, 1996). The most
extreme and most recent threats are introduction of invasive species into culture systems and
lakes etc. which later make their way to running water habitat as well. One of the biggest
examples in our country is the introduction of Cyprinus carpio and Oreochromis spp. which
being very hardy are giving a very tough time to our native fish. Although there is no study
available, but these fishes have almost become invasive. An extra threat in this regard has begun
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currently, is the escape, and in many cases, introduction of genetically modified fish (Dale et al.,
2002) whose effects on diversity would be far more severe. Changes in use of land is also
disturbing biodiversity. Construction of dams is one of the most serious threats to aquatic and
especially fish diversity. In Pakistan, energy crisis has forced the governments to make number
of large and dozens of small dams which are posing serious threats to fish fauna. Change in
climate is previously disturbing the distribution of species and its upcoming effects are expected
to be more widespread (Sala et al., 2000).
In Pakistan a huge flood in 2010 whose severity was the most prominent in Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa (KP) was a clear evidence of climate change which had destroyed and depleted our
aquatic diversity to a great extant.
Fishing rather overfishing is another core issue that threatens the ichthyodiversity
globally. Due to overexploitation worldwide over forty different marine fish populations became
extinct (Dulvy et al., 2003). These damages show global biodiversity destrucion.
This issue of overfishing is not confined to oceans only, rather freshwater habitats are
more affected by overfishing. Even in our province our important food fishes like Tor and
Clupisoma are seriously threatened and their catch is becoming meager every year. Tor putitora
has been in the assessed as endangered in IUCN Red list of threatened species of 2018
(www.iucnredlist.org).
There are many common challenges to the aquatic diversity of the world which are also
destroying the fish and other species of aquatic environments in Pakistan, in Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa and in River Swat as well. Among these the most common and most important are
deforestation, aquatic pollution due to dumping of domestic wastes, industrial wastes and
agricultural runoff etc. (Dudgeon et al., 2006; Moyle and Cech, 2011).
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1.5 Role and importance of fish in Aquatic ecosystem Freshwater fish fauna constitutes an important part of the aquatic ecosystem and are very
important for their economic, aesthetic and social importance. The freshwater fish fauna is not
only the most diverse assemblage among vertebrates, but also the most endangered one (Duncan
and Lockwood, 2001). Relatively freshwater fishes have inhabited in a limited space (i.e. Lake or
river etc.) having very low capability of inter-basin movement (Unmack, 2001); in comparison,
marine fishes have comparatively free-movement, so freshwater fishes are facing more severe
conservation problems.
Fishes are the keystone species of aquatic ecosystem which confirm the existence and
richness of other organism representing the health and indicate the quality of water in an
ecosystem (Kumar, 2000). Fishes are concerned with the indication of ecological and
biodiversity quality and have been used successfully in the study of biogeography, conservation
evaluation, delineations of the ecoregion and assessment of water quality management
(Economoua et al., 2007).
In modern world fish is the most important component of the aquatic ecosystems because
of its economic value. According to FAO (2018), about 3.2 billion people, mainly in
unindustrialized countries, depend on fish as their main (20%) animal protein source. According
to Kura et al. (2004), small island countries and sub-Saharan African countries, mostly rely on
fish as a food, numerous of which depend on fish for over 50% of their animal protein sources.
In Pakistan, dependence on fish is still lesser as compared to other sources of animal protein like
poultry, mutton and beef.
Fishing is a vital source of employment in numerous developing countries, mainly for
little-income families in rural regions. It is estimated by the FAO that some thirty five million
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men are directly involved whichever full or part-time, in practices of fishing. More than 95% of
them belong to developing countries, and majority of them is limited fishers (FAO, 2002). In
Pakistan, fish and fish associated industries make about 1% of our GDP.
1.6 Need of studying Fish diversityAs a stable item of diet of the most people, fishes are the essential element in the
economy of countries. Measuring the abundance of species ((which means to study total species
present in a habitat at some location) is basic step for not only field studies but also for studying
community ecology proper management and conservation of biodiversity (Colwell and
Codington, 1994; May, 1988). Count data is a term used for total number of species counted at
some place at given time is used to measure the richness of species as studies carried out by
(Karr et al., 1990; Dawson et al., 1995; Knick and Rotenberry, 1995; Enoksson et al., 1995;
Schiek et al., 1995; Thiollay, 1995; McIntyre, 1995; Riffell et al., 1996). Such works examine
temporal trends which means the space and position to find the richness of species or sometimes
natural conditions on species present locally.
Pakistan has a good diversity of freshwater fishes. The total number of fish species are
182 whereas KP has a diversity of about 78 fishes (Mirza, 2016).
1.7 Special Status of Ichthyodiversity of Khyber PakhtunkhwaOur province has generously been gifted large natural water resources by Allah
Almighty. Fish and fishing have remained one of the most important part of the economy of the
people of the province. A sizeable majority of the people, especially living near freshwater
bodies like rivers, streams, lakes, dams etc. earn their livelihood from fishing. Therefore, it is
very important to find out about the actual ichthyodiversity which will be helpful in conservation
management and further enhancing this precious resource. Identification of fish diversity will
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help to understand the quality (species number) and quantity (relative richness of species) of the
fish resources.
Study of ichthyodiversity also helps to identify the potential candidates for fish culture as
our culture system is running on only 5 species (rohu, mori, grass, silver and china carp) from
last 5 decades.
Our province has vast natural water resources. We have many big rivers like River Kabul
and River Swat which join to form River Indus. Many other small rivers like Panjkora, Tochi,
Kurram, Kalpani, Jindi etc. also flow across the length of the province and mainly fall into two
major rivers i.e. Swat and Kabul.
For the present study, River Swat, one of the largest rivers of the province was selected.
Importance of this river is that it flows through a course of 150 Km from Kalam to Charsaddah.
Another reason for selecting this river for Ichthyodiversity studies is its unique feature of having
three distinct temperature zones;
1- Cold water zone
2- Semi cold-water zone
3- Warm water zone
1.8 Fish Identification and its importance
The key developed for the fish fauna of this river will help a lot for identifying common
species of fishes of this province as this river contains majority of the fish species found in this
province.
Fish can be identified by following three methods
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1- Inspection method
2- Taxonomic Key method
3- DNA barcoding/fingerprinting
In first method a fish is identified only by its very prominent physical features. Some
fishes are recognized by their shape e.g. eel can easily be identified by its long snake like
body. Some fish have special marks on the body like those of genus Puntius and Barallius
which have specific black spots (Puntius) and black bands (Barilius) on their body. some
has specific type of fins like curved dorsal fin of Cyprinus carpio and others have some
specific colouration like goldfish etc. These permanent features make them easily
identifiable. However, confirmation of identification still requires other methods to be
followed.
The second method of fish identification which is the most prevalent and the most
commonly used method, is the identification through taxonomic keys. These keys are
basically dichotomous keys as they are developed on the basis of pair of contrasting
characters. Mostly these characters are external, but some internal characters are also
included for the identification of certain fishes. These characters in case of fish are of two
types
a. Morphometric measurements
b. Meristic count
Morphometric measurements are lengths taken from different parts of the fish body. Following
are some important morphometric lengths
i. Total length
10
ii. Forked length
iii. Standard length
iv. Head length
v. Eye diameter
vi. Snout length
vii. Pre orbital length
viii. Post orbital length
ix. Pre dorsal length
x. Post dorsal length
xi. Body height/depth
xii. Body thickness
xiii. Length of CP (caudal peduncle)
xiv. Height of CP
Practically these lengths are not used in fish identification. Actually, the ratios between
different lengths are used for identification and confirmation of species. Similarly, all these
lengths are not required for identification of every fish.
Meristic count is the counting of the fin rays and lateral line scales of a fish. This count is a
tool for species confirmation.
An old method of fish identification is by using its otolith which could also be used to
assess the age of the fish as well.
11
Third method of fish identification is a modern method evolved after the recent
development in biotechnology. This method is based on DNA analysis and is considered very
perfect although selection of DNA source and target DNA segments are objected by some
researchers. Another limitation of this method is its high cost due to the the requirement of high
quality lab equipment and computer analysis softwares which are scarcely available in
underdeveloped countries like Pakistan. Hence this method of fish identification is rather not
used for identification rather confirmation of the species identified by taxonomic key method.
1.9 Introduction to Study areaRiver Swat is part of Malakand Division along with many other rivers of the area. Before
describing the River Swat a view of the whole riverine network will enhance the understanding
of the true picture of the area and that of river swat. Malakand Division is characterized by
green forest, glaciers, high mountains and abundance of water resources. Its Riverine Network
consists of five rivers namely River Swat (district Swat), River Barandu (district Buner), River
Shangla (district Shangla), River Chitral (district Chitral) and River Panjkora (District Dir) along
with their tributaries. Being rich in fauna and especially cold waters, MRN freshwater ecosystem
and especially River Swat has tremendous biological importance.
12
Fig. 1.1 Main water resources of Pakistan (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_rivers_of_Pakistan)
This network of rivers is considered as the main pillar of the economy of this region. Its
water is utilized for household, for irrigation, for industries and above all the water creates a
unique ecosystem in which large number of aquatic animals and plant species are present.
1.9.1 Swat Valley and River Swat:River Swat (34.1166662 - 71.7166638) (http://latitude.to/articles-by-country/pk/
pakistan /39059/swat-river ) originates in the form of rapid stream arising from glacial lakes and
snow covered high mountains of Swat Kohistan. These streams get united and form Ushu and
Gabral Rivers which both unite to form River Swat at Kalam. River Gabral originates from the
mountains around Chitral, whereas river Ushu arises from the hills present in Badagai area of
northern Swat Kohistan. River Swat enters Malakand Agency at Landaki and then flowing across
the agency, as a natural boundary between Malakand and Dir, it receives water from its major
tributary, River Panjkora, near the village Totakan. Dozens of streams fall in River Swat during
this run from Kalam to village Totakan.
13
The lush green and historic Swat valley lies between 34.30`- 35.55`N latitudes and
71.45`-72.45`E longitudes. Swat is the masterpiece of natural beauty and is full of a variety of
plant and animal resources. Swat has an area about 5337 sq. km.
The old name of Swat in Buddhist era was “Udyana” means garden. Historians from
Alexander time has mentioned the name of “Swastu” for River Swat which is derived from the
word Sweta means “white” which seems true for its clear water. In Tuzak-e-Baburi, Babar, the
great Mughal king has mentioned the name “Swad” for this area (D.C. R, 1999).
Melting of snow is the main cause of water flow in spring (March) to summer (June) but
after this the flow of river is due to rain fall especially, in monsoon (July, August). The elevation
of the mountains in Swat varies 600 to 6000 feet and this fluctuation has a great effect on the fish
diversity. The only drainage basin of this area is River Swat and its canal network. Therefore, it
has a main role in socio- economic strength of the Swat valley. Its water is important from
drinking to power generation and from protein source to ecotourism.
As mentioned above, River Swat starts at Kalam after the confluence of River Ushu and
Utror/ Gabral. Up to Chakdara it flows for 160 km in the valley, and then flows some 90 km
more (total 250 Km) up to Naguman, Charsadda where it joins River Kabul. Large number of
tributaries join the main river along its course.
River Swat flows at higher speed in mountainous areas, from Kalam to Madyan, where
its average width is between 35-40m and this narrow course continuous up to Thalapand
(Baghderai). From here downstream the River Swat may spreads up to 400m. it again becomes
narrow in the extreme south of the valley and receives water from River Panjkora at village
Qalangi. Two big canals; Lower Swat canal and Upper Swat canal have been made for electricity
generation at Jaban and Dargai and irrigation of plains of Peshawar valley.
14
Swat is situated in upper part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and River Swat is running in the
middle of the district between the hard rocks while somewhere in the plane areas. it start from
Fig. 1.2 Rivers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
15
The snow filled peaks of Hindukush feed small streams which join to make the river Swat. The
river has its value in the agriculture of the area. Its irrigation system gives a lot of benefit to the
province. From the river swat two large canals namely, Upper Swat Canal and Lower Swat canal
or the Abbazai canal have been constructed and now a new canal is also under construction these
canals irrigate large parts of the province like the Malakand agency areas some parts of the
Mardan district and Nowshehra and some area of Swabi district on the river hydro power
projects also runs which gives a high voltage electricity.
But above all these, it has a lot of fish species which are famous for their delicious taste
and have a high value in the markets and gives a lot of job opportunities to the peoples of the
area.
River Swat from Kalam to Talapanr flows in a narrow course ranging 15-30 m and then
spread up to 400 m in the width. Water flow increases down the stream due to the tributaries
which join it. These tributaries are mostly rainwater fed. These tributaries join and the flow of
water as well as water quality of the river is affected. Some tributaries are seasonal while others
are perennial. Water volume in these tributaries fluctuates a lot due to seasonal variation. Details
of these tributaries are as follows.
Some of the tributaries of river Swat are listed as follow,
i. Gahil stream
It is the 1st stream which joins river after Kalam. It is a big water body. It starts from the
lofty glacier of Gahil catchments.
ii. Mankial stream
16
Mankial stream joins main river at an area called Mankial. Water of this tributary is very
cold and ideal for trout growth and culture.
iii. Darral khwar
This stream originates from lake of Darral and enters Swat river at a town Bahrain. This
water is suitable for trout culture.
iv. Chail Khwar
This khwar starts in Chail area of village Beshigram (danda) and falls in River Swat at
Madyan. Government of KP has established a Trout hatchery on this khwar in Madyan.
v. Bawari khwar
This originates from Sakhra Lalku catchments andenters River Swat at Kalakot. Its water
is comparatively warm and Schizothorax species are present in it.
vi. Haronai River
Spinsar area is the origin, water comes from alpine catchments. It enters main river swat
at Bamakhela. Schizothorax spawns in this water.
vii. Minglawar khwar
This stream originates from Malam Jaba and enters river swat near Sangota.
We use the term upper Swat for the area above Mingora and lower Swat for the area
below Mingora to Dargai. Rather more correct is that lower parts of River Swat include areas up
17
to Charsadda where it joins River Kabul. Thus, the above-mentioned tributaries lie in the range
of upper Swat. Major tributaries of lower Swat region of River Swat are given below.
i. Hazara khwar
It originates from the mountains of Nekpekhail, Shah Dherai and join River Swat near
Hazara.
ii. Jambil khwar
It originates from the mountains of Jambil and another of its tributary, (Marghazar
Khwar) comes from Elum Mountain both join at Mingora. It is highly contaminated with various
pollutants from Mingora city and its water enters the Swat River as dead water body (E.P.S
Swat, 2003).
iii. Ghalagay khwar
It originates from the mountains of Ghalagay and join river Swat at village Ghalagay. It is
a seasonal tributary that flows in monsoon season.
iv. Amluk darra khwar
It originates from Elum and joins river Swat at Barikot. It is a perennial tributary of river
Swat, having warm water (Temperature 25° to 30°c). Mostly having species of Schizothorax,
Barilius, Carassius, etc. (Findings of the present study).
v. Mulk e adam khwar
It originates from the junction of Swat and Buner Mountains and Join River Swat near
Barikot. The Amlukdara Khwar and Mulk-e-Adam Khwar both join at Barikot before falling into
18
river Swat. It has species of Garra, Crossocheilus, Schizothorax, Mastacembelus, etc. (Findings
of the present study).
vi. Kota khwar
It starts from mountains of Chowa and Sandoka and meet with river Swat near Landakay.
It is perennial tributary and having species of Barilius, Channa, Mastacembelus, Carassius,
Schistura, Puntius, etc. (Findings of the present study).
vii. Parrai khwar
Its start from mountains of Parrai and meet the River Swat near Barikot. It is also a
seasonal tributary that flows in monsoon season.
viii. Thana khwar
Its start from the mountains of Nalloo (Malakand Agency) and enter river Swat near
Thana Bypass. It mostly depends on rain water (DCR, 1999).
ix. Amandara head works
Amandara Head Works is the point from where upper Swat canal arises and irrigates
299979 Acres agricultural area of Peshawar & Mardan. It was completed in 1918. River Swat
has an annual flow volume of 5440 M illion Cubic Meter here with a winter minimum discharge
of 36.5 Cusecs and a maximum summer flow up to 443 Cusecs (www.malakand.com).
Many other streams like swat Ranizai and Adenzai also joins the river swat but the
catchments of these streams have lost its vegetation covers and hence lost its production.
19
1.9.2 River Swat’s Division: River Swat can be differentiated in two major zones on the bases of trout. Trout zone and the
other non-trout one (Fisheries dept. KP)
a. Trout Zone:
This zone starts from initiation of River Swat up to the Bridge at Madyan. This zone
cannot be considered a border for the presence of trout as people catch trout near Talapanr bridge
Baghderai and sometimes in Fiza Gut park. This zone is an arbitrary division and may be
extended upto Baghderai Bridge as trout is generally caught upto here.
Trout area has its unique water characteristic. The average aquatic temperature remains
up to 15o Ċ and average air temperature up to25o Ċ. Generally, temperature is highest during
July- August. Speed of water in this zone is fast due to presence of rocks. Minimum water depth
in summer is 10 m and in winter about 5 m whereas its average width remains between 15-30
meters. Oncorhynchus mykiss (Rainbow trout) and Salmo trutta fario (Brown trout) are two main
species found here.
b. Non Trout Zone:
This zone comprises the part of river below Madyan up to its confluence with River
Naguman near Charsadda; including its tributaries. A great variation of temperature is found in
this zone which has its effects on fish diversity.
In this part water temperature fluctuates from 15o Ċ-18o Ċ whereas in its tributaries from
Mingora downstream it fluctuates between 20o Ċ-25o Ċ. The ariel temperature during summer
fluctuates a lot and at Madyan it is 25oĊ and at Chakdara 37o Ċ. The ecological zone supports
many fish species e.g. Schizothorax esocinus, S. plagiostomus, R. labiata, G. gotyla, C. carpio,
20
C. auratus, C. gachua, M. armatus, T. macrolepis, T. naziri, T. choprai, S. alipodotus, B.
pakistanicus, P. sophore etc. Lebeo dero, Glyptothorax cavia, Xenontodon cancila,
Crossocheilus latius diplocheilus, Glyptosternon reticulatum etc. are also found in it.
1.9.3 River Panjkora; the major tributary of River SwatPanjkora is the biggest tributary of the river. The term Panjkora is derived from Persian
“Panj” means “Five” and “Kora” means “River”) distributing the upper and lower District Dir
into 2 equivalent parts flows southwards and is initiated from Kohistan, District upper Dir. River
Panjkora then joins River Swat at Bosaq bridge in Village Sharbatti. The name Panjkora as
described above, is because of five streams that fall in it at four different locations. River
Panjkora flows in north–south direction. Many streams join it on both sides during course of
flow in district. The river falls, near village Kolangi, into river Swat in the extreme south of
district Dir.
21
Fig. 1.3 River Panjkora and its tributaries
Fig. No. 1.4 : River Swat (Left) and River Panjkora (Right)
22
1.9.4 Main tributaries of River Panjkora.1) Gwaldi Stream falls in River Panjkora at Patrak, Sheringal Dir Upper.
2) Barawal falls in River Panjkora at Chukiatan, Dir Upper.
3) Ushera Dara stream falls in River Panjkora at Darora, Dir Upper.
4) Nurhund stream falls in River Panjkora at Darora, Dir Upper.
5) Karoodara stream falls in River Panjkora at Akhagram, Dir Upper.
1.10 Aims and Objectives To identify the complete icthyodiversity of river Swat
To develop a most recent, pictorial key for the identification of the fishes (as the keys
available are obsolete and cause lots of problems in identification. Available keys are
either written by Indian authors or by researchers from the Punjab which donot fulfil our
needs. Some species of KP are even missing from these keys).
To compare the diversity with other rivers of KP and search for the unique features of
this river.
To analyze the specific changes in the fish diversity of River Swat by comparing it with
the fishes reported by previous workers.
To compare the pre flood and post flood situation of faunistic diversity of river swat.
To strengthen Natural History Museum, Department of Zoology, University of Peshawar.
23
24
Chapter 2
LITERATURE REVIEW
River Swat is an important water body of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Fishery biologists have
started showing their interest towards it two centuries ago. The very first work on the
identification of fishes from River Swat was published by McClelland in 1842. He worked on the
collection of freshwater fishes made by William Griffth during his travel to Swat from 1835 to
1842.
After the creation of Pakistan many researchers worked on this river but most of the work
was focused either on certain important species or confined to certain easily accessible areas of
the valley. A preliminary survey of ichthyofauna of Swat was conducted by Hussain and Shah
(1960) who identified only six fish species from the river viz. Schizothorax curvifrons,
Schizothorax longipinnus, Schizothorax esocinus, Schizothorax plantifrons, Schizothorax nasus,
Schizothorax progastus. Surprisingly they did not mention any other group of fish from the river
except Schizothorax. None of these fish have been reported by any other worker till now. One of
the reasons seems misidentification as these fishes have neither been reported earlier nor after
them.
Ahmad and Mirza (1963a) worked on the loachs of Genus Nemacheilus and published
two papers. This study includes only one family of the fishes found in River Swat. In the same
year, Ahmed and Mirza (1963b) published another work on “Hill Streams Fishes of Kaghan and
Swat” and described only 9 species from the area.
25
Ahmad (1969) reported only 8 species including Salmo trutta fario, Schizothorax
labiatus, Schizothorax plagiostomus, Nemacheilus choprai, Nemacheilus rupicola alipidotus,
Nemacheilus naziri, Nemacheilus punjabensis naseeri, Glyptosternon reticulatum.
Mirza (1973) conducted fish fauna survey of Swat and adjoining areas; Mingora,
Madyan, Bahrain and Kalam. He reported 27 species; Salmo trutta fario, Salmostoma
punjabensis, Barilius vagra, Danio devario, Aspidoparta morar, Labeo dero, Crossocheilus
latius diplocheilus, Tor putitora, Puntius ticto, Schizothoraichthys labiatus, Schizothoraicthys
esocinus, Schizothorax plagiostomus, Nemacheilus botia, Nemacheilus stenurus choprai,
Nemacheilus naseeri, Nemacheilus griffithi naziri, Glyptosternon reticulatum, Glyptothorax
punjabensis, Glyptothorax platypogonoides, Mystus seenghala, Mystus cavasius, Clupisoma
naziri, Channa gachua, Channa puctata and Mastacembelus armatus. In this work Mirza added
four new records namely Barilius vagra, Puntius ticto, Crossocheilus latius diplocheilus and
Channa gachua.
Mirza and Hameed (1975) worked on the fishes of sub family Schizothoracinae in which
they referred to three species found in River Swat.
Butt (1986) made an extensive work on ichthyofauna of N.W.F.P. in which he described
15 fish species from different parts of River.
Latif (1999) worked on the fauna of lower part of River Swat at Malkand Agency and
described 15 species; Puntius ticto, Garra gotyla, Mastacembelus armatus, Channa puctata,
Barilius vagra, Triplophysa naziri, Schistora alepidota, Schizothorax plagiostomus,
Schizothorax labiatus, Schizothorax esocinus, Tor macrolepis, Crossocheilus latius,
Glyptothorax reticulatum, Glyptothorax stocki and Eutropiichthys vacha.
26
Rafique and Javed (2002) also worked on fish fauna of River Swat and Bunair and
reported 24 species from both areas.
Yousuf (2004) studied the fish diversity of lower part of River Swat and reported 20 fish
species including Barilius pakistanicus, Crossocheilus diplocheilus, Carassius auratus,
Cyprinus carpio, Schizothorax plagiostomus, Schizothorax esocinus, Racoma labiata, Garra
gotyla, Puntius sophore, Labeo dero, Tor macrolepis, Triplophysa naziri, Triplophysa choprai,
Schistora alipidota, Mastacembelus armatus, Glyptothorax cavia, Glyptothorax reticulatum,
Xenentodon cancila, Oncorhynchus mykiss and Channa gachua.
Mirza (2007) reported fishes of whole River Swat. This work was not based on personal
collection rather it was a review of all the work done in this regard previously. He included all
the fish fauna of upper part of River Swat from Mingora to Kalam and lower part of River Swat
downward Mingora upto Charsadda. He reported 45 fish species viz. Onchorhynchus mykiss,
Chela cachius, Salmotrutta fario, Aspidoparia morar, Salmophasia punjabensis,
Amblypharyngodon mola, Devario devario, Rasbora daniconius, Barilius pakistanicus, Puntius
conchonius, Labeo diplostomus, , P. chola, P. ticto, P. sophore, Naziritor zhobensis, Tor
macrolepis, Crossocheilus diplochilus, G. gotyla, Schizopyge esocinus, Racoma labiata,
Schizothorax plagiostomus, Carassius auratus, Cyprinus carpio, Schistura alepidota, S.
prashari, S. naseeri, Acanthocobitis botia, Triplophysa naziri, T. choprai, Mystus bleekeri,
Glyptosternon reticulatum, Gagata cenia, Glyptothorax naziri, G. cavia, G. suffi, G. stocki, G.
punjabensis, Clupisoma naziri, Xenentodon cancila, Mastacembelus armatus, C. punctata, C.
gachua, Colisa fasciata , and C. lalia.
Shuaib (2009) studied the icthyofauna of Buner of River Barandu and reported following
eleven fish species; Schizothorax plagiostomus, Tor macrolepis, Crossocheilus latius, Barilius
27
pakistanicus, Puntius sophore, P. ticto, G. gotyla, Schistura punjabensis, Mastacembelus
armatus, Channa gachua and Glyptothorax punjabensis.
Ahmad (2010) conducted the survey of fish diversity of the lower part of River Swat and
reported these seventeen species; Barilius pakistanicus, Carassius auratus, Crossocheilus
diplocheilus, Garra gotyla, Orienus plagiostomus, Puntius sophore, Puntius conchonius,
Puntius chola, Racoma labiata, T. macrolepis, Triplophysa naziri, Schistura alepidota,
Glyptothorax punjabensis, G. reticulatum, Mastacembelus armatus, Channa gachua and C.
puctata.
Ullah (2012) had conducted the ichthyofaunistic survey on the River Panjkora, lower Dir
and reported twenty five species of fish belonged to four orders, five families and 12 genera. The
largest amongst families was Cyprinidae with 13 species; Schizothorax palgiostomus,
Schizothorax esocinus, Racoma labieta, Tor macrolepis, Tor putitora, Crossocheilus
diplocheilus, Cyprinion watsoni, Gara gotyla, Cyprinus carpio, Barilius vagra, Barilius
modestus, Barilius pakistanicus, and Ctenopharyngodon idella. Family Nemalcheilidae signified
by 5 species; Schistura prashari, S. alepidota, S. macrolepis, Tiplophysa microps and T. naziri.
Family Sisoridae was represented by four species; Glyptothorax naziri, G. punjabensis, G. sufii
and G. stocki. Channidae was represented by two species; Channa gachua and C. puntata while
family Mastacembelidae by Mastacembelus armatus, only a single species.
Hasan et al. (2013) published their work which included al the fish diversity so far
recorded from River Swat. They enlisted 50 species including six new records from river Swat
and its tributaries.
Yousafzai et al. (2013) have worked on the fish biodiversity and chemical analysis of
water of the lower part of River Swat about 35 km belt of river. They collected 38 species
28
belonged to 6 orders, 9 families and twenty four (24) genera. The dominant fish family,
Cyprinidae, represented by twenty (20) species i.e. Tor macrolepis, Crossocheilus diplocheilus,
Barilius modestus, B. pakistanicus, B. vagra, Puntius conchonius, Puntius sophore, Puntius
chola, Puntius ticto, Racoma labiata, Schizothorax plagiostomus, Garra gotyla, Rasbora
daniconius, Carassius auratus (exotic), Cyprinus carpio (exotic), Amblypharyngodon mola,
Salmophasia punjabensis, Salmophasia bacaila, Labeo diplostomus and Cirrhinus mrigala.
Nemacheilidae was represented by four species i.e. Acanthocobitis botia, Schistura prashari,
Schistura alepidota and Triplophys anaziri. Family Sisoridae represented by six species viz.
Gagata pakistanica Gagata cenia, Glyptothorax stocki, Glyptothorax punjabensis, Glyptothorax
cavia and Glyptothorax sufii. Family Channidae and family Schilbidae represented by two
species; Clupisoma garua, Clupisoma naziri, Channa gachua and Channa puctata respectively.
Family Bagridae, Mastacembelidae, Chandidae and Belonidae represented by single species;
Mystus bleekeri, Mastacembelus armatus, Chanda nama and Xenentodon cancila respectively.
Khan (2014) conducted the fish fauna survey of the upper portion of River swat and
reported 20 fish species viz. Schizothorax esocinus, Schizothorax plagiostomus, Racoma
labiata, Orienus plagiostomus, Barilius pakistanicus, Barilius naseeri, Barilius vagra, Puntius
chonchonius, Crossocheilus diplocheilus, Carassius auratus, Labeo calbasu, Gara gotyla,
Acanthocobitis botia, Schistura alepedota, Schistura prashari, Schistura curtistigma,
Triplophysa microps, Glypthosternum maculatum, Onchorynchus mykis and Salmo trutta fario.
Muhammad et al. (2014) conducted the ichthyofaunistic survey of River Punjkora at
District Upper Dir K.P and reported 11 fish species belonged to four orders and four families.
Family Cyprinidae was the dominant family consisted of seven species; Racoma labiata,
29
Schizothorax eocinus, Orienus plagiostomus, Gara gotyla, Crossocheilus diplocheilus,
Carassius auratus and Barilius pakistanicus, Family Sisoridae by two species; Glyptothorax
punjabensis and Gagata cenia, Family Salmonidae and Channidae by one species each i.e.
Oncorhynchus mykiss and Channa punctata respectively.
Ishaq et al. (2014) described fish fauna of upper River Swat from Madyan to Chakdara
and described 18 species from five orders and six families including Crossocheilus diplocheilus,
Barilius pakistanicus C. carpio, G. gotyla, Carassius auratus, , P. sophore , Orienus
plagiostomus, S. esocinus , Racoma labiata, Tor macrolepis, Schistura alepidota, Triplophysa
naziri , Glyptothorax stocki, G. punjabensis, Channa gachua, C. puctata, Mastacembelus
armatus and Oncorhynchus mykiss. This was a short study which partially described the fauna of
the area.
Ulah et al (2015) described edible fish fauna of Rhound Stream, Dir and described ten species
namely Schizopyge esocinus, Cyprinion watsoni, Racoma labiata, Cyprinus carpio,
Mastacembelus armatus, Garra gotyla, Crossocheilus diplocheilus, Puntius ticto, Puntius
sophore, and Channa puctata.
River Darmai of Upper Swat area was studied to find out the fish fauna by Akhtar et al
(2016). It was a short study made for just four months from August to December. They collected
114 specimens and identified only seven species of fish belonging to 5 genera, 2 orders and three
families and. Names of the fishes reported are Schizothorax esocinus, S. palgiostomus, Orienus
plagiostomus, Barilius pakistanicus, Schistura alepidota, Glyptothoarx stocki and Glyptothorax
punjabensis.
30
31
Chapter - 3
MATERIALS AND METHODS
3.1 Collection of fishesThe whole stretch of River Swat and River Panjkora was divided into different collection zones
considering their ecology and topography. From Kalam to Bahrain was nominated as Zone 1,
from Bahrain to Madyan zone 2, from Madyan to Matta, from Matta to Mingora and so on upto
Charsadda. The same way of collection was also adapted for River Panjkora. All possible efforts
were made to make collection from minor tributaries, streams and khwars and even from iraabs.
Catch efforts were made monthly from June 2011 and continued for the whole year till May
2012. The collection was made with the help of hook and line, semi automatic rod, cast net, hand
net and other locally adapted devices, except poisoning with toxic chemical, dynamiting and
other inhuman, unethical and illegal ways. The size of the mesh used for capturing fish was in
range of 0.6mm to 2.2cm. This is why the collection included small size fishes like Puntius and
Barilius as well as large size fishes like Schizothorax, Racoma, etc.
A big collection of fishes from River Swat was present in fisheries lab made by research
students of Department of Zoology, University of Peshawar. This collection was also utilized
and considered for the present studies.
32
3.2 Preservation of fish
Fishes thus caught alive were killed by a hit on the head and was then immediately
preserved 5 % formalin solution. 20 parts of water were mixed with one part of commercial
formalin (37%) to make above solution. The solution was kept in plastic bottles. Fishes were
dropped into bottles and lids were placed. The above procedure assists in identification.
3.3 Formalin InjectionsFishes with length 15 cm or more were injected with formalin through a hypodermic syringe in
their belly with full pressure of the thumb on syringe so as to spread the chemical in the whole
viscera. This process keeps the preserved fish from decay by stopping bacterial infection from
inside.
33
3.4 Caring the collectionThe fishes preserved, were shifted to laboratory. Every bottle/jar was labeled mentioning
collection locality, date and time.
3.5 Measurement and laboratory work Prior to identification, each fish was taken out from the bottle with the help of forceps and was
placed in a petri dish. The specimen was washed with tap water for 2-3 minutes.
At first fish was identified by inspection method which generally works in most cases upto genus
level identification.
Then meristic counts and Morphometric characters were measured, and fishes were identified up
to specie level.
Vernier caliper and ruler were used to take various morphometric measurements. During lab
work instruments like magnifying glass of different focal lengths, forceps, counting needles,
divider, light microscope, binocular microscope, dissecting microscope, surgical gloves, and
Petri-dishes were used.
3.6 Procedure for IdentificationFollowing Morphometric measurements were taken as described by Ali (2012)
a. Total length
b. Standard length
c. Forked length
d. Pre dorsal length
e. Post dorsal length
f. Lateral line scales
g. Snout length
34
h. Post orbital length
i. Body depth
j. Eye diameter
k. Length of caudal peduncle
l. Meristic count
3.7 ClassificationClassification of fishes was made using various taxonomic or systematic keys.
Fishes were identified according for their scientific names which followed the taxonomist
name who first described it. This identification according to binomial nomenclature is a
method of uniform identification which is understandable all over the world. For this
purpose, following standard keys were used:
1. Inland fishes of India and adjacent countries. Talwar. & Jhingran. (1991).
2. The freshwater fishes of the Indian region. Jayaram (1999).
3. Fishes of the Punjab Pakistan. Lahore. Mirza. & Sandhu (2007).
4. Pakistan May Taza Pani Ki Machliyan (1st ed.). Mirza (1990).
5. Pakistan May Taza Pani Ki Machliyan (2nd ed.). Mirza (2004).
6. Natural History of Fishes and Systematics of freshwater Fishes of India (Munshi
& Srivastava (1988).
8. Fishes of the World (Nelson, 1994, 2006, 2016)
3.8 Confirmation of ClassificationFinally, the identification was confirmed by paying regular visits to the two most
renowned fish taxonomists; Prof. (R) Dr. Mohammad Ramzan Mirza, GC, Lahore and
Dr. Ajaz Ahmad Sandhu, Professor, GPGC, Gujranwala.
35
3.9 Development of KeyAnalyzing all the data a most recent identification key was developed. The key provides
the detailed morphometric characters of all the type specimens. This key contains coloured
pictures of all the fishes which make it more valuable and unique from all the other keys
published in Pakistan and India.
36
Chapter 4
RESULTS
Fish fauna of River Swat was studied from Kalam, situated in Upper Swat to Charsadda
where this river joins with River Kabul losing its identity to make River Indus, one of the largest
rivers of not only Pakistan but of Asia as well.
The collection of fish was identified using many published papers helpful in this regard and
standard keys. After identification of fishes a most recent Pictorial Key was developed. The key
and details of individual species along with their classification, morphometric measurements, fin
formulae, general characters like colour, size, habitat and distribution in Pakistan as well as in
other countries of Asia are presented here.
4.1 SYSTEMATIC INDEX OF THE ICHTHYOFAUNAL DIVERSITY OF RIVER SWAT
Scientific names Common names
Kingdom Animalia
Superphylum Deuterostomia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Craniata
Superclass Gnathostomata
Class Actinopterygii
Subclass Neopterygii
Division Teleostei
Superorder 2: Ostariophysi
37
Order 1: CYPRINIFORMES
Superfamily 1: Cyprinoide
Family 1: Cyprinidae
Subfamily I: Cultrinae
Chela cachius (Hamilton) Bidda
Salmophasia punjabensis (Day) Punjabi Chal
Salmophasia bacaila (Hamilton) Chal
Subfamily II: Aspidoparinae
Aspidoparia morar (Hamilton) Common Chilwa
Subfamily III: Rasborinae
Amblypharyngodon mola (Hamilton) Mola Chilwa
Barilius modestus (Day) Lahori Chilwa
Barilius naseeri Mirza, Rafiq & Awan Naseeri Chilwa
Barilius pakistanicus Mirza & Sadiq Pakistani Chilwa
Barilius vagra (Hamilton) Lahori Chilwa
Devario devario (Hamilton) Patha Makhni
Rasbora daniconius (Hamilton) Charl
Subfamily IV: Barbinae
Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton) Mrigal, Mori
Labeo calbasu (Hamilton) Kalbans
Labeo diplostomus (Heckel) Mountainous Rohu
Naziritor zhobensis (Mirza) Zhobi Mahseer
Puntius chola (Hamilton) Chola Popra
Puntius conchonius (Hamilton) Rosy Barb
Puntius sophore (Hamilton) Sophora popra
Puntius ticto (Hamilton) Ticto popra
Subfamily V: Torinae
Tor macrolepis (Heckel) Indus golden Mahseer
38
Tor putitora
Subfamily VI: Garrinae
Crossocheilus diplocheilus (Heckel) Dogra
Garra gotyla (Gray) Patherchatt
Subfamily VII: Schizothorancinae
Racoma labiata McClelland & Griffith Chun
Schizopyge esocinus Heckel Ranth, Aasala
Schizothorax plagiostomus Heckel
Orienus plagiostomus Heckel Swati, Gulguli
Subfamily VIII: Cyprininae
Cyprinion watsoni (Day) Sabzag
Carassius auratus (Linnaeus) Gold fish
Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus Common carp
Subfamily IX: Squaliobarbinae
Ctenopharyngodon idella (Valenciennes) Grass carp
Family 2: Nemacheilidae
Acanthocobitis botia (Hamilton) Sundali
Schistura alepidota (Mirza & Banarescu) Sundali
Schistura curtistigma Mirza & Nalbant Sundali
Schistura macrolepis Mirza & Banarescu Sundali
Schistura naseeri (Ahmad and Mirza) Sundali
Schistura prashari (Hora) Sundali
Triplophysa choprai (Hora) Singhat
Triplophysa microps (Steindachner) Singhat
Triplophysa naziri (Ahmad and Mirza) Singhat
Order 2: SILURIFORMES
39
Family 3: Bagridae
Mystus bleekeri (Day) Bleekri Tingara
Family 4: Schilbeidae
Clupisoma garua (Hamilton) Bachwa
Clupisoma naziri Mirza & Awan Naziri Bachwa
Eutropiichthys vacha (Hamilton) Jhalli
Family 5: Sisoridae
Gagata cenia (Hamilton) Sanglai
Gagata pakistanica Mirza, Parveen & Javed Sanglai
Glyptosternon reticulatum McClelland Chikar, Kanzoobo
Glyptosternon maculatum McClelland Chikar, Kanzoobo
Glyptothorax cavia (Hamilton) Sulemani Khagga
Glyptothorax naziri Mirza & Naik Sulemani Khagga
Glyptothorax punjabensis Mirza & Kashmiri Sulemani Khagga
Glyptothorax stocki Mirza & Nijssen Sulemani Khagga
Glyptothorax sufii Bashir & Mirza Sulemani Khagga
Superorder 3: Protacanthopterygii
Order 3: SALMONIFORMES
Family 6: Salmonidae
Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) Rainbow trout
Salmo trutta fario Linnaeus Browntrout
Order 4: MASTACEMBELIFORMES
Family 7: Mastacembelidae
Mastacembelus armatus (Lacepede) Bam, Marmahi
40
Order 5: PERCIFORMES
Family 8: Ambassidae (Chandidae)
Chanda nama (Hamilton) Sheesha
Family 9: Belontiidae
Colisa fasciata Bloch & Schneider Bari Kangi
Colisa lalia (Hamilton) Chhoti Kangi
Order 6: BELONIFORMES
Family 10: Belonidae
Xenentodon cancila (Hamilton) Kan
Order 7: CHANNIFORMES
Family 11: Channidae
Channa gachua (Hamilton) Dauli
Channa punctata (Bloch) Daula
4.2 SYSTEMATIC ACCOUNT
Key to orders:
1a. Body cylindrical, much elongated and eel shaped--------------------------------------------------- 2
b. Body rounded not eel-shaped---------------------------ORDER MASTACEMBELIFORMES
2a. Skin scaleless, smooth or covered with scattered tubercles, pectoral fins’ first ray is always
changed into a thick hard ray or osseous spines
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------- ORDER SILURIFORMES
b. Skin generally with scales, sometimes without scales, osseous plates never found. Pectoral is
simple without such modifications----------------------------------------------------------------------
3
3a. An adipose dorsal fin present----------------------------------------ORDER SALMONIFORMES
41
b. Adipose dorsal fin absent -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4
4a. Body is always cylindrical and elongated. Jaws make a long beak in which sharp teeth are
present. No spines in fins ---------------------------------------------- ORDER BELONIFORMES
b. Jaws are not made into beak. Body ventrally compressed. Jaws not elonnot gated. Fins may
or may not be with spines--------------------------------------------------------------------------------5
5a. No scales on head. No teeth on jaws. Mostly a single dorsal fin. No spine in Pectoral fin
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ORDERCYPRINIFORMES
b. Scales on head and body. Jaws with teeth. Dorsal fin mostly in two parts ---------------------- 6
6a. Dorsal fin is with some spiny and some non-spiny soft parts
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------- ORDER PERCIFORMES
b. Dorsal fin not like above --------------------------------------------- ORDER CHANNIFORMES
4.2.1 Order Cypriniformes
Key to families:
1a. Either Barbels absent or two or four; scales on the body are prominent mostly; preorbital
spine absent, body laterally compressed ----------------------------------------- FAMILY
CYPRINIDAE
b. Barbels six and scales on the body if present are non prominenet rather indistinct
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FAMILY
NEMACHEILIDAE
Superfamily Cyprinoidea
4.2.1.1 Family Cyprinidae
Key to subfamilies:
42
1a. Part of abdomen may be sharp edged whereas dorsal inserted in the body’s posterior half,
eyes invisble from below the head, Anal at least 9 divided rays ---------------------------
CULTRINAE
b. Abdomen is flat or rounded with no sharp edge ---------------------------------------------------- 2
2a. Minute scales. L.L scale number is 90 or more. Anal fin base and vent enwrapped in tile like
scales ---------------------------------------------------- OREININAE (SCHIZOTHORANCINAE)
b. Body scales may be large or small and always < 90. No tile like scales present ----------------
3
3a. Skin of head, snout and upper lip are continuous. Position of mouth inferior. Suctorial disk
may be present or absent on lower lip ----------------------------------------------------
GARRINAE
b. Upper lip not continuous but separated by means of a deep groove from skin of snout. Mouth
either inferior, subinferior or at anterior position. No suctorial disc ----------------------------- 4
4a. DF is inserted behind pelvic fins base. L. L when complete shows downward curve, and is
present at caudal peduncle’s lower half ---------------------------------------------------------------
5
b. Branched rays count in Dorsal fin very between 7-30. DF is either inserted opposite or before
the pelvic fin’s origin. Hard/osseous ray may be present or absent. L.L in mid of caudle
peduncle peduncle --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6
5a. Mouth is without lower lip whereas lower jaw bone in the form of crecent edge, no barbles
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASPIDOPARINAE
b. Mouth is with lower lip and lower jaw elliptical, not crecent shaped -------------
RASBORINAE
6a. A spine (serated) in anal fin present ---------------------------------------------------
CYPRININAE
b. No spine (serated) present ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7
43
7a. Barbles always absent. A short Dorsal fin having seven divided rays. No spine in
D.F.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SQUALIOBARBINAE
b. Barbles may be absent or present. Dorsal always having > seven divided rays. Spine often
present or not ------------------------------------------------------------------------- BARBINAE
Subfamily Cultrinae
Key to genera:
1a. Pelvc fin inserted nearer to pectoral as compared to the anal fin origin. Pelvic has elongated
outer rays. Interorbital area scaleless ---------------------------------------- Genus Chela
Hamilton
b. origin of Pelvic fin is near the anal as compared to pectoral. outer pelvic rays normal
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Genus Salmophasia
Swainson
Subfamily Rasborinae
Key to genera:
1a. Mouth opens (cleft) upto to half of the eye margin -------------------- Genus Barilius Hamilton
b. Mouth doesn’t open upto eye margin ----------------------------------------------------------------- 2
2a. No Upper lip. with incomplete L. L, no barbles -------------- Genus Amblypharyngodon
Bleeker
b. Complete L. L and Upper lip both present ------------------------------------------------------------
3
3a. Anal fin is longer having more than twelve rays -------------------------- Genus Devario
Heckel
44
b. Shorter anal fin having seven or eight rays ------------------------- Genus Rasbora
Bleeker
Genus Barilius Hamilton, 1822
Key to species:
1a. No vertical band present on the Body -------------------------------------------- B. modestus (Day)
b. Body decorated with shiny black vertical lines/bands ---------------------------------------------- 2
2a. Branched rays in A. F from 7 to 9 ------------------------------- B. naseeri Mirza, Rafique &
Awan
b. 10 to 12 divided rays in A.F ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
3
3a. Vertical bands not touching L. L. --------------------------------------- B. vagra (Hamilton)
b. Vertical bands touching L.L. ------------------------------- B. pakistanicus Mirza & Sadiq
Subfamily Barbinae
Key to genera:
1a. lower jaw keeps a small elevation; Symphysial knob; two barbels attached with rostrum
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Genus Cirrhinus
Cuvier
b. No such structure present, if present, no rostral barbels
------------------------------------------------- 2
2a. No osseous spine is present in Dorsal ----------------------------------------- Genus Labeo Cuvier
b. Osseous spine in Dorsal fin present ------------------------------------------------------------------- 3
3a. A transverse fold in lower lip present ----------------------------------------------------------------- 4
b. No fold is present in lower lip --------------------------------------------- Genus Puntius Hamilton
45
4a. Number of scales in lateral line 32-37. 8-10 Gill rakers present on lower gill arch
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Genus Naziritor
Mirza & Javed
b. Number of scales in lateral line 20-30. > 10 gill rakers present on lower gill arch
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Genus
Tor Gray
Genus Labeo Cuvier, 1816
Key to species:
1a. Total rays in Dorsal 15 and above ---------------------------------------------- L. calbasu (Hamilton)
b. Total rays in Dorsal less than 15 --------------------------------------------- L. diplostomus
(Heckel)
Genus Puntius Hamilton, 1822
Key to species:
1a. Barbels present; only one pair of barbels--------------------------------------- P. chola (Hamilton)
b. Barbels absent-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2
2a. Two black blotches on body including dorsal fin --------------------------------------------------- 3
b. Only one black blotch on body------------------------------------------- P. conchonius (Hamilton)
3a. Posterior dark blotch on 22nd to 24th scales. Dorsal spine smooth. Lower gill arch with 15-17
gill rakers. Pre-anal scales 14-15, circum-peduncular scales 9-10 -------- P. sophore
(Hamilton)
b. Posterior dark blotch on 16th to 20th scales. Dorsal spine serrated. Lower gill arch with 5-7
gill rakers. Pre-anal scales 10-14, circumpeduncular scales 10-12 ---------------- P. ticto
(Hamilton)
Subfamily Garrinae
Key to genera:
46
1a. A more or less circular sucking disc present with lower lip. Both lips continuous and
connected. Colour variations present ----------------------------------------------------- Genus
Garra Hamilton
b. No such sucking disk at lower lip. Lips are not connected with each other; colour and finrays
vary with area and environment ------------------------- Genus Crossocheilus Kuhl & van
Hasselt
Subfamily Schizothoracinae
Key to genera:
1a. Barbels present------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2
b. Barbels absent-------------------------------------------------------- Genus Schizopyge
Steindachner
2a. Lower lip bears a papillated plate which is well developed; mouth more or less crescent
shaped ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Genus Orienus
McClelland
b. Lower lip doesn’t have any such papillated plate; mouth more or less horse-shoe shaped
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---- 3
3a. Labial fold present in Lower lip ------------------------------------- Genus Racoma McClelland
b. No labial fold found in lower lip ---------------------------------------- Genus Schizothorax Heckel
Subfamily Cyprininae
Key to genera:
1a. A naked furrow without scales is present between head and dorsal fin; seven branched rays
present in anal fin =----------------------------------------------------------- Genus Cyprinion
Hackel
47
b. No such furrow without scales present between head and dorsal fin; five branched rays
present in anal fin
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2
2a. Barbels are present in two pairs. 30-40 scales in Lateral line present, 3 rows of teeth in
pharynx --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Genus Cyprinus
Linnaeus
b. No barbels present. Single row of teeth in pharynx region. Number of scales in lateral line
23-31------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Genus Carassius
Nilsson
4.2.1.2 Family Nemacheilidae
Key to genera:
1a. 10-12 divided rays present in Dorsal fin ---------------------------- Genus Acanthocobitis
Peters
b. 7-8 divided rays present in Dorsal fin ----------------------------------------------------------- 2
2a. Body bears conspicuous vertical lines or bars---------------------- Genus Schistura McClelland
b. Body bears irregular patterens or spots, caudal peduncle long and cylindrical
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Genus
Triplophysa Rendahl
Genus Schistura McClelland, 1839
Key to species:
1a. Divided rays count in dorsal fin 7---------------------------------------------------------------------- 2
b. Eight divided rays in dorsal fin ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4
2a. Lateral line complete ------------------------------------------------ S. curtistigma Mirza &
Nalbant)
48
b. Lateral line incomplete---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3
3a. Caudal fin forked------------------------------------------------------------------- S. prashari (Hora)
b. Caudal fin emarginated to varying degree or
truncat
e---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------- S. alepidota (Mirza & Banarescu)
4a. Body with 8-9 irregular crossbars, reaching below lateral line but not to ventral
side-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. macrolepis Mirza
& Banarescu
b. Dorsal fin inserted nearer snout or midway------------------------ S. naseeri (Ahmad and Mirza)
Genus Triplophysa Rendahl, 1933
Key to species:
1a. Caudal fin is truncate or rounded ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 2
b. Forked type Caudal fin -------------------------------------------------------------- T. choprai (Hora)
2a. L. L. incomplete ------------------------------------------------ T. microps (Steindachner)
b. L. L. complete ----------------------------------------------- T. naziri (Ahmad & Mirza)
4.2.2 Order Siluriformes
Key to the families:
1a. Longer anal fin present with 26-89 divided rays---------------------- FAMILY SCHILBEIDAE
b. Shorter anal fin present with 7-12 divided rays------------------------------------------------------ 4
2a. Nostrils of a side separated widely, anterior nostrils are tube like and placed closeer to snout
tip -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FAMILY BAGRIDAE
b. Nostrils on one side lie closer to each other , nasal barble present between them-----
FAMILY SISORIDAE
49
4.2.2.1 Family Schilbeidae
Subfamily Schilbeibnae
Key to genera:
1a. Split of mouth slanting and mouth opens below the middle point of orbit of eye
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Genus
Eutropiichthys Bleeker
b. Split of mouth is not slanting and opens only to anterior line of eye
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Genus Clupisoma Swainson
Genus Clupisoma Swainson, 1838
Key to species:
1a. Barbels (maxillary) shorter reach upto ventral fin, shorter anal fin having 29-36 rays. A 2nd
dorsal fin is not present in adults --------------------------------------- C. garua (Hamilton)
b. Barbels (maxillary) longer reach beyond pelvic fin, longer anal fin having 40-47 rays. A 2nd
adipose dorsal fin is always present ----------------------------------------- C. naziri Mirza &
Awan
4.2.2.2 Family Sisoridae
Key to genera:
1a. Adhesive mechanism well developed----------------------------------------------------------------- 2
b. No adhesive mechanism ------------------------------------------------------ Genus Gagata Bleeker
2a. Thoracic adhesive apparatus present; caudal fin forked; dorsal spine not very weak, small
eyes covered with membrane --------------------------------------------------- Genus Glyptothorax
Blyth
50
b. No adhesive disk present; no forked caudal fin; dorsal spine very weak, operculum opens to
ventral side -------------------------------------- Genus Glyptosternum /Glyptosternon
McClelland
Genus Gagata Bleeker, 1858
Key to species:
1a. Barbels reaching to base of the pelvic fins ---------------- G. pakistanica Mirza, Parveen &
Javed
b. Barbels not extending the base of pelvic fins ----------------------------------- G. cenia
(Hamilton)
Genus Glyptothorax Blyth, 1860
Key to species:
1a. Barbels attached with nostrils don’t touch eye ------------------------------------------------------ 2
b. Barbels attached with nostrils touch eye ------------------------------------------------------------- 3
2a. Body not spindle shaped; adhesive apparatus rounded almost as long as broad; B.D is 5.5- 6.6
times in S.L; least depth of C.P nearly 2.7 times in length of C.P ------------ G. cavia
(Hamilton)
b. Body almost spindle shaped; adhesive disk is more long less broad
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- G. sufii Bashir & Mirza
3a. Occipital process is separated from dorsal fin’s basal bone; 2-3 serrations on dorsal spine
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- G. punjabensis Mirza &
Kashmiri
b. Occipital process is not separated from dorsal fin’s basal bone ---------------------------------- 4
4a. Least height of caudal peduncle about twice in its length; longitudinal streaks on the back and
sides of the body not conspicuous; thoracic adhesive sucker shape is like horse-shoe i.e. more
long less broad ---------------------------------------------------------------- G. naziri Mirza & Naik
51
b. Least height of caudal peduncle more than twice in its length; longitudinal streaks on the
back and sides of the body conspicuous; shape of adhesive sucker is not like horse shoe i.e.
clearly more long than broad -------------------------------------------- G. stocki Mirza & Nijssen
Genus Glyptosternum (Glyptosternon) McClelland
Key to species
1a. Adipose dorsal fin continuous and meets tail fin; caudal peduncle’s depth is almost 3 times present in length; body depth 7- 8 times in standard length ----------- G. reticulatum McClelland
b. Adipose dorsal fin not continuous and separate from caudal fin; caudal peduncle’s depth twice the length; body depth 3.6 - 5.1 times in standard length -------------- G. maculatum McClelland
Superorder Protacanthopterygii
4.2.3 Order Salmoniformes
4.2.3.1 Family Salmonidae
Key to genera:
1a. 8-12 rays in Anal fin . first gill arch’s lower limb bears number of gill rackers which are 20 or
less. Body with black spots ---------------------------------------------------- Genus Salmo
Linnaeus
b. Anal fin with 14-18 rays. More than 35 Gill rakers present on first gill arch’s lower limb. Body greenish blue with indistinct fine speckling on back -------------- Genus Oncorhynchus Suckley
4.2.4 Order Perciformes
Key to families:
1a. Pelvic fins’ outer rays are thin and filament like ------------------------------- Family Belontidae
b. Pelvic fins’ outer rays are not filament like --------------------------------------- Family
Ambassidae
4.2.4.1 Family Belontidae (Osphronemidae)
Genus Colisa Cuvier, 1831
Key to species:
52
1a. Rounded type soft parts in anal and dorsal fins. Vertical bands or bars of light blue and
crimson. Rounded caudal fin with dotted lines. Body laterally compressed ------------ C. lalia
(Hamilton)
c. Dorsal fin and anal fins soft parts produced; more than 13 oblique coloured bars present on lateral side. caudal fin square or box shaped. Body laterally compressed --------------- C. fasciata (Bloch & Schneider)4.2.4.2 Family Ambassidae (Chandidae)
Key to genera:1a. Lower jaw with canine teeth. Scales tiny numbering 100-107. Lower jaw very prominent
with Mouth large,-……...…………….……………………………….... Genus Chanda
Hamilton
Genus: Chanda Hamilton, 1822
Species Chanda nama (Hamilton)
4.2.5 Order Channiformes
4.2.5.1 Family Channidae
Genus Channa Scopoli, 1777
Key to species:
1a. Pectoral fin is more than double the length of pelvic fin. Pectoral fins bear greyish blue and
orange coloured slanting lines but body doesn’t have any bars ---------- C. gachua (Hamilton)
b. Pectoral fin is less than double the length of pelvic fin; pectoral fins don’t bear any coloured
bands or bars. Body has bars and patches which present from dorsal side to
abdomen------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- C.
punctata (Bloch)
4.2.6 Order Beloniformes
4.2.6.1 Family Belonidae
Genus: Xenentodon Regan, 1911
Species X. cancila (Hamilton)
4.2.7 Order Mastacembeliformes
4.2.7.1 Family Mastacembelidae
53
Genus: Mastacembelus Scopoli, 1777Species………………………………………………………………………… M. armatus (Hamilton)
4.3 General Description of Fish Species
4.3.1 ORDER CYPRINIFORMES Mouth is always without teeth and mostly protractile.
Barbels may present or absent.
Dorsal fin is comprised of soft divided or branched rays, but anterior rays (one or more)
are generally unbranched and in many species first simple ray is ossified to make a
spine. Sine may bear either weak or strong serrations.
Adipose dorsal fin absent (except in some cobitids).
Pelvic fins always abdominal.
Head is always scaleless. Body enwrapped with cycloid scales. It is very rare that a
cyprinidis either partially or completely devioid of scales.
A completelLateral line is present in all species.
Branchiostegal rays always three.
All species are oviparous.
This is the largest order of the freshwater fishes which includes 3268 species (Nelson,
2016).
The group consists solely of freshwater fish and is widespread in tropical and temperate
waters of Europe, Africa, Asia and North America.
The greatest diversity is in South-Eastern Asia.
Cypriniforms fishes are very famous as aquarium fishes e.g. loaches and minnows.
54
4.3.1.1 Family: CYPRINIDAE (Carps and Minnows)
Subfamily I: CULTRINAE
Chela cachius (Hamilton, 1822)
Systematic Account
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Subfamily: Cultrinae
Genus: Chela
Species: Chela cachius
Morphometric Measurements (Previously reported, no specimen found now. Species seems to be lost now)
Total length
Standard length
Fork length
Head length
Eye diameter
55
Fin Formula:
General Characteristics
Colour: Silvery appearance, dorsal side yellowish, with bright lateral bands
Habitat: plains and sub mountainous areas, rivers, ditches, standing water bodies
Size: 10 cm TL
Distribution: KP, Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Azad Kashmir, Nepal, Bangladesh
Myanmar and India
Figure 4.1 Chela cachius
Salmophasia bacaila (Hamilton, 1822)
Systematic Account
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Subfamily: Cultrinae
Genus: Salmophasia
56
Species: Salmophasia bacaila
Morphometric Measurements
Total length 11.3 cm
Standard length 8.6 cm
Fork length 10. 6 cm
Head length 2.4 cm
Eye diameter 0.8 cm
Fin Formula: (D. 3/7; P. 13; V. 9; A. 3/11-14; C. 19; L.L. 86-110)
General Characteristics
Colour: Silvery with small black spots. A black streak on lateral side. appearance
Habitat: plains and sub mountainous areas, rivers, streams, canals, natural ponds
Size: 18 cm TL
Distribution: KP, Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Azad Kashmir, Nepal, Bangladesh and
India
Figure 4.2 Salmophasia bacaila
Salmophasia punjabensis (Day, 1872)
Systematic Account
57
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Subfamily: Cultrinae
Genus: Salmophasia
Species: Salmophasia punjabensis
Morphometric Measurements
Total length 11. 1 cm
Standard length 9. 8 cm
Fork length 10. 3 cm
Head length 2.5 cm
Eye diameter 0.8 cm
Fin Formula: (D. 2/7; P. 11; V. 8; A. 3/14-16; C. 19; L.L. 82-92)
General Characteristics
Colour: body Silvery with shiny band on lateral side
Habitat: rivers, streams, canals, natural ponds in plains and sub mountainous areas,
Size: 8 cm TL
Distribution: KP, Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Azad Kashmir, Nepal, Bangladesh and
India
58
Figure 4.3 Salmophasia punjabensis
Subfamily II Aspidoparinae
Aspidoparia morar (Hamilton, 1822)
Systematic account
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Subfamily: Aspidoparinae
Genus: Aspidoparia
Species: Aspidoparia morar
Morphometric Measurements (Previously reported, no specimen found now. Species seems to be lost now)
59
Total length
Standard length
Fork length
Head length
Eye diameter
Fin Formula:
General Characteristics
Colour: body is brownish above and silvery on lateral side
Habitat: streams, canals, natural ponds in plains and mountainous regioms,
Size: 17 cm TL
Distribution: KP, Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Azad Kashmir, Afghanistan, Iran, Nepal,
Bangladesh, Myanmar and India
Figure 1.4 Aspidoparia morar
60
Subfamily III: RASBORINAE
Amblipharyngodon mola (Bleekar, 1859)
Systematic Account:
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Subfamily: Rosborinae
Genus: Amblipharyngodon
Specie: Amblipharyngodon mola
Morphometric Measurements (Previously reported, no specimen found now. Species seems to be lost now)
Total length
Standard length
Forked length
Head length
Eye diameter
Fin Formula:
General Characters:
61
Colour: Silvery with a dark band on both lateral sides operculum blackish, median
fins with black edges
Habitat: Streams, nullahs, canals, paddy fields, natural ponds.
Size: 20 cm TL.
Distribution: KP, Punjab, Sind, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and India.
Figure 4.5 Amblypharyngodon mola
Barilius pakistanicus (Mirza and Sadiq, 1978)
Systematic Account
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
62
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Subfamily: Rasborinae
Genus: Barilius
Species: Barilius pakistanicus
Morphometric Measurements
Total length 8.9 cm
Standard length 7.2 cm
Forked length 8 cm
Head length 1.65 cm
Eye diameter 0.5 cm
Fin Formula: D.2/7; P.15; V.9; A.2/10-12; C.19; L. 1. 42-44
General Characters:
Colour: Body Silver coloured. black bands present from dorsal side which touch or
cross lateral line.
Habitat: Streams of hilly areas having rocky or gravel bottom.
Size: 10.0 cm TL
Distribution: KP, AJK, Baluchistan and Punjab
Figure 4.9 Barilius pakistanicus
63
Barilius vagra (Hamilton, 1822)
Systematic account
Class Actinopterygii
Sub Class Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order Ostariophysi
Order Cypriniformes
Family Cyprinidae
Subfamily Rosborinae
Genus: Barilius
Species: Barilius vagra
Morphometric Measurements
Total length 8.6 cm
Standard length 6.2 cm
Forked length 7.3 cm
Head length 1.8 cm
Eye diameter 0.6 cm
Fin Formula: (D. 2/7; P. 15-16; V. 9; A. 2/10-12 C. 19; L.l 42-44)
64
General Characteristics
Colour: Silvery with brownish back, 10-14 light blue vertical lines, fins yellowish to pink,
caudal grey edged.
Habitat: Streams with bottom having gravel or rocks.
Size: 12.5 cm TL
Distribution: KP, Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, A. J. Kashmir, Nepal, Bangladesh and India.
Barilius modestus (Day, 1872)
Systematic Account:
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Subfamily: Rosborinae
65
Figure 4.7 Barilius vagra
Genus: Barilius
Specie: Barilius modestus
Morphometric Measurements
Total length 10.0 cm
Standard length 7.8 cm
Forked length 8.7 cm
Head length 2. 1 cm
Eye diameter 0.7 cm
Fin Formula: (D. 2/7; P. 15-16; V. 9; A. 2/10; C. 19; L. l. 42-44)
General Characters:
Colour: Silvery grey above, pinkish below without vertical bars.
Habitat: Lower reaches of rivers and ponds.
Size: 12.5 cm TL.
Distribution: KPK, Punjab, Sind, Baluchistan, Azad Kashmir and India.
Figure 4.8 Barilius modestus
66
Barilius naseeri (Rafique and Awan, 1986)
Systematic Account
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Subfamily: Rosborinae
Genus: Barilius
Species: Barilius naseeri
Morphometric Measurements
Total length 7.9 cm
Standard length 5.7 cm
Forked length 6.7 cm
Head length 1.3 cm
Eye diameter 0.5 cm
Fin Formula: (D. 2/7; P. 15; V. 9; A. 3/8 C. 19; L.L. 46-49)
General Characteristics
67
Colour: Body colour silvery. Generally, 9-14 bands present vertically on the sides.
Dorsal fin bears a dark line along its middle.
Habitat: found in streams of hilly areas with gravel bottom.
Size: 10 cm TL
Distribution: Stream, rivers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab
Figure 4.2 Barilius naseeri
Devario devario (Hamilton, 1822)
Systematic account
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Subfamily: Rosborinae
Genus: Devario
68
Species: Devario devario
Morphometric Measurements (Previously reported, no specimen found now. Species seems to be lost now)
Total length
Standard length
Forked length
Head length
Eye diameter
Fin Formula:
General Characters:
Colour: Silvery body with three bluish streaks on lateral sides separated by golden
streaks.
Habitat: Rivers and ponds in sub-mountainous ranges to plain areas.
Size: 6.0 cm TL
Distribution: KP, Punjab, Baluchistan, Sindh, Bangladesh, India and Nepal.
Figure 4.10 Devario devario
69
Rasbora daniconius (Hamilton, 1822)
Systematic Account
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Subfamily: Rosborinae
Genus: Rasbora
Species: Rasbora daniconius
Morphometric Measurements
Total length 11.5 cm
Standard length 9.4 cm
Forked length 10 cm
Head length 2.1 cm
Eye diameter 0.5 cm
Fin Formula: D.2/7; P.19; V.9; A.2/5; C.19; L. L. 31
General Characters:
Colour: Body silvery laterally with a black streak. Dorsal side greenish yellow.
Fins pale orange and tips of the caudal fin grey.
70
Habitat: Slow moving streams with clear water pools and ditches in plain areas
especially those with sandy bottom.
Size: 10 cm TL
Distribution: KP, Punjab, Sindh, Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Nepal and
Laos.
Subfamily IV: BARBINAE
Labeo diplostomus (Hamilton, 1822)
Systematic Account
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super order: Ostariophysi
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
71
Figure 4.11 Rasbora daniconius
Sub Family: Barbinae
Genus: Labeo
Species: Labeo diplostomus
Morphometric Measurements
Total length 28. 3cm
Standard length 24.5 cm
Forked length 26. 6 cm
Head length 4.2 cm
Eye diameter 0.8 cm
Fin Formula: D.2/10-11; P. 1/17; V.1/8; A. 2/5 C.19; L.L 41-43
General Characteristics
Colour: dorsally olive green to bluish black in colour but silvery below lateral line, dorsal fin
and basis of other fins hyaline. Edges of fins reddish blue. Scales brownish with a tinge of pink
colour.
Habitat: Streams and rivers of mountainous and sub-mountainous areas
Size: 50 cm TL
Distribution: KP, Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Azad Kashmir, Bangladesh, India.
72
Fig. 4.12 Labeo diplostomus
Labeo calbasu (Hamilton, 1822)
Systematic Account
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super order: Ostariophysi
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Sub Family: Barbinae
Genus: Labeo
Species: Labeo calbasu
Morphometric Measurements
Total length 33.3 cm
Standard length 28. 3 cm
Forked length 30. 5 cm
Head length 5.2 cm
Eye diameter 1.0 cm
Fin Formula: D. 3/12-15; P. 1/15-16; V.1/8; A. 2-3/5 C. 19; L.L. 40-44
73
General Characteristics
Colour: Specimens collected from streams and river are dark grey on back wchich become mild
on sides. Scales have a scarlet tinge in centre.
Habitat: Rivers above tidal reach, ponds, dams
Size: 100 cm TL
Distribution: KP, Balochistan, Punjab, Sindh, A J K, Bangladesh, Thailand, Nepal, India,
Myanmar and China.
Figure 4.13 Labeo calbasu
Cirrihinus mrigala (Hamilton, 1822)
Systematic Account
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super order: Ostariophysi
Order: Cypriniformes
74
Family: Cyprinidae
Sub Family: Barbinae
Genus: Cirrhinus
Species: Cirrhinus mrigala
Morphometric Measurements
Total length 14.7 cm
Standard length 12.1 cm
Forked length 13.4 cm
Head length 2.5 cm
Eye diameter 0.4 cm
Fin Formula: D. 3-4/12-13; P. 18-19; V.9; A. 3/5; C. 19; L.L. 40-45)
General Characteristics
Colour: Dorsal side dark grey and silvery beneath. All fins except dorsal and caudal with orange
tinge.
Habitat: Rivers, canals, ponds, lakes and dams
Size: 100 cm TL
Distribution: KP, Balochistan, Sindh, Punjab, A J K, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, India.
75
Figure 4.14 Cirrhinus mrigala
Puntius sophore (Hamilton, 1822)
Systematic Account
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super order: Ostariophysi
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Sub Family: Barbinae
Genus: Puntius (Hamilton-Buchanan)
Species: Puntius sophore
Morphometric Measurements
Total length 9.95 cm
Standard length 8.15 cm
Forked length 9.25 cm
Head length 2.1 cm
76
Eye diameter 0.67 cm
Fin Formula: D. 3/8-9; P. 17; V. 1/8; A. 3/5; C.19; L.L. 23-26
General Characteristics
Colour: Beautiful silvery, back grey green to brownish.
Habitat: Plains and sub mountainous regions streams, rivers and ponds
Size: 18 cm TL
Distribution KP, Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Azad Kashmir, Bangladesh, India, Nepal,
Myanmar, China.
Fig. 4.15 Puntius sophore
Puntius conchonius (Hamilton, 1822)
Systematic Account
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
77
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Sub Family: Barbinae
Genus: Puntius
Species: Puntius conchonius
Morphometric Measurements
Total length 5.95 cm
Standard length 4.67 cm
Forked length 5.35 cm
Head length 1.23 cm
Eye diameter 0.4 cm
Fin Formula: D. 3/8; P. 11; V. 1/8; A. 2/5; C. 19; L.L. 24-26
General Characteristics
Colour: Dorsal and lateral side is yellowish brown whereas ventral side is yellowish white. A
bright large black circular mark at caudal peduncle just before the tail fin. Dorsal fin occasionally
with black tip. Operculum is golden
Habitat: Fast flowing Hill streams. Streams of mountainous and sub mountainous regions
Size: 12.5 cm TL
Distribution: KP, Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan, Azad Kashmir, Bangladesh, Thailand, Nepal,
India, Myanmar
78
Fig. 4.16 Puntius conchonius
Puntiu ticto (Hamilton, 1822)
Systematic Account
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super order: Ostariophysi
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Sub Family: Barbinae
Genus: Puntius (Hamilton-Buchanan)
Species: Puntius ticto
Morphometric Measurements
Total length 8 cm
Standard length 6.25 cm
Forked length 7.1 cm
Head length 2.05 cm
Eye diameter 0.6 cm
Fin Formula: D.3/8-9; P.15; V.1/8; A.3/5; C.19; L. L. 23-26
79
General Characters
Colour: Body silvery with grey dorsal. Body with two lateral spots. First on 3-4 scale
and second on 18-19
Habitat: found in rivers, streams, pools and ponds
Size: 10 cm TL
Distribution: KP, Punjab, Sindh, Azad Kashmir, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Myanmar.
Fig. 4.17 Puntius ticto
Puntius chola (Hamilton, 1822)
Systematic Account
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super order: Ostariophysi
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Sub Family: Barbinae
Genus: Puntius (Hamilton-Buchanan)
80
Species: Puntius chola
Morphometric Measurements
Total length 8 cm
Standard length 6.25 cm
Forked length 7.1 cm
Head length 2.05 cm
Eye diameter 0.6 cm
Fin Formula: D.3-4/8; P.14-17; V.1/8; A.2.3/5; C.19; L. L. 24-29
General Characters
Colour: Dorsal dusky brown to dirty green and yellowish brown on flanks. A black spot
from 21st to 23rd scale in caudal region and another near gill opening. Base of first ray of dorsal
fin is also with a black mark. Sometimes in fresh specimens a scarlet red band is also present
from gills to caudal fin base.
Habitat: Streams, rivers and ponds in plains
Size: 15 cm TL
Distribution: KP, Punjab, Sindh, Azad Kashmir, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Myanmar.
Fig. 4.18 Puntius chola
Subfamily V: TORINAE
81
Naziritor zhobensis (Mirza, 1967)
Systematic Account:
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Subfamily: Torinae
Genus: Naziritor
Species: Naziritor zhobensis
Morphometric Measurements (Previously reported, no specimen found now. Species seems to be lost
now)
Total length
Standard length
Forked length
Head length
Eye diameter
Fin Formula:
General Characters:
Colour: Dorsal side greyish, ventral side bright. All fins are white /pinkish.
82
Habitat: Rapid streams with rocky bottom.
Size: 33.7 cm
Distribution: KP and Balochistan only (Endemic fish of Pakistan first found in River
Zhob Balochistan also found in River Kurram, Gomal Zam and Tank Zam in KP).
Fig. 4.19 Naziritor zhobensis
Tor macrolepis (Heckel, 1838)
Systematic Account
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super order: Ostariophysi
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Sub Family: Torinae
Genus: Tor (Hamilton-Buchanan)
83
Species: Tor macrolepis
Morphometric Measurements
Total length 13.5 cm
Standard length 10.0 cm
Forked length 12.0 cm
Head length 2.8 cm
Eye diameter 0.6 cm
Fin Formula: (D. 4/8-10; P. 15-18; V. 1/8; A. 2/5; C. 19; L. l. 22-27)
General Characters:
Colour: Greenish dorsally, sides light pink and abdomen silvery white, fins yellow with
red tinge.
Habitat: Rapid streams with rocky bottom.
Distribution: KP, Punjab, Sindh, Baluchistan and Azad Kashmir, India: Indus drainage system.
Fig. 4.20 Tor macrolepis
84
Tor putitora (Heckel, 1838)
Systematic Account
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super order: Ostariophysi
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Sub Family: Torinae
Genus: Tor (Hamilton-Buchanan)
Species: Tor putitora
Morphometric Measurements
Total length 12.9 cm
Standard length 10.5 cm
Forked length 11.8 cm
Head length 2.9 cm
Eye diameter 0.6 cm
Fin Formula: D. 4/8-10; P. 15-18; V. 1/8; A. 2/5; C. 19; L. L. 22-27
General Characters:
Colour: Greenish dosally, sides light pink and abdomen silvery white, fins yellow with red
tinge.
Habitat: Rapid streams with rocky bottom.
Size: 200 cm TL
85
Distribution: KP, Punjab, Baluchistan, Sindh. Azad Kashmir, India.
Fig. 4.21 Tor putitora
Subfamily VI: GARRINAE
Crosssocheilus diplocheilus (Heckel, 1838)
Systematic Account:
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Subfamily: Garrinae
Genus: Crossocheilus
Species: Crossocheilus diplocheilus
Morphometric Measurements
Total length 12.5 cm
86
Standard length 10.01 cm
Fork length 11.2 cm
Head length 2.1 cm
Eye diameter 0.5 cm
Fin Formula: D. 3/8; P. 15; V. 9; A. 2/5; C.19; L. L. 38
General Characters:
Colour: Dorsally Greyish brown and ventrally yellowish white. Lower half of
caudal fin grey, rest of the fins pinkish.
Habitat: Rivers, Mountainous streams, slakes, nullahs, canals
Size: 12.0 cm TL.
Distribution: KP, Sindh, Punjab, Baluchistan and Azad Kashmir, Indus drainage system
and India.
Fig. 4.22 Crossocheilus diplocheilus
87
Garra gotyla (Gray, 1832)
Systematic Account:
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Subfamily: Garrinae
Genus: Garra
Species: Garra gotyla
Morphometric Measurements
Total length 12.2 cm
Standard length 10.5 cm
Fork length 11.3 cm
Head length 2.6 cm
Eye diameter 0.4 cm
Fin Formula: D.2/8; P.15; V.8; A.2/5; C.19; L. L. 30
General Characters
Colour
Dorsal dark brown and light pink on flanks and belly.
Habitat Mountain streams
Size: 22cm TL
88
Distribution: KP, Punjab, Sindh, Azad Kashmir, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Myanmar.
Fig. 4.23 Garra gotyla
Subfamily VII: SCHIZOTHORACINAE [Snow trouts; Snow minnows]
Schizothorax esocinus (Heckel, 1838)
(Synonym: Schizopyge esocinus (Heckel, 1838)
Systematic Account
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Subfamily: Schizothoracinae
Genus: Schizothorax/ schizopyge
Species: Schizothorax esocinus
Morphometric Measurements
89
Total length 18.4 cm
Standard length 15.1 cm
Fork length 17.4 cm
Head length 3.5 cm
Eye diameter 0.7 cm
Fin Formula: (D. 4/8; P. 20; V. 10; A. 3/5; C. 19; L. L. 95-98)
General Characters:
Colour: Body silver dorsal side have black spots which are present on sides as
well.
Habitat: Rivers, Mountainous streams, lakes
Size: 75.0 cm TL
Distribution: KPK, Northern areas, Azad Kashmir, Balochistan, Punjab, Afghanistan, China
and India.
Fig. 4.24 Schizothorax esocinus
Schizothorax plagiostomus (Heckel, 1838)
Systematic position:
Class: Actinopterygii
90
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Subfamily: Schizothoracinae
Genus: Schizothorax
Species: Schizothorax plagiostomus
Morphometric Measurements
Total length 31.2 cm
Standard length 25.5 cm
Fork length 27.0 cm
Head length 5.5 cm
Eye diameter 1.0 cm
Fin Formula: D. 4/8; P. 20; V. 11; A. 3/5; C. 19; L. L. 110
General Characters:
Colour: Body silvery with greyish back. fins pinkish in colour in fresh specimens.
Young fishes with black spots on dorsal and lateral sides.
Habitat: Rivers and Mountainous streams.
Size: 60.0 cm TL.
Distribution: KP, Northern Areas, Northern Punjab, Azad Kashmir, Baluchistan, ,
Afghanistan, China and India
91
Fig. 4.25 Schizothorax plagiostomus
Orienus plagiostomus (Heckle, 1838)
Systematic Account:
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Sub Family: Schizothoracinae
Genus: Orienus
Species: Orienus plagiostomus
Morphometric Measurements
Total length 27 cm
Standard length 21.5 cm
92
Forked length 23 cm
Head length 4.8 cm
Eye diameter 0.95 cm
Fin Formula: D. 4/8; P. 20; V. 11; A. 3/5; C. 19; L. L. 110
General Characters:
Colour: Body silvery with greyish back. fins pinkish in colour in fresh specimens. Young
fishes have black dots on back and sides.
Habitat: Rivers, Mountainous streams and lakes.
Size: 60 cm TL
Distribution: KP, Northern Areas, Baluchistan, Northern Punjab, Azad Kashmir,
Afghanistan, China and India.
Fig. 4.26 Orienus plagiostomus
Racoma labiata (Heckel, 1838)
Systematic Account:
93
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Subfamily: Schizothoracinae
Genus: Racoma
Species: Racoma labiata
Morphometric Measurements
Total length 20.3 cm
Standard length 17.1 cm
Fork length 18.6 cm
Head length 3.7 cm
Eye diameter 0.65 cm
Fin Formula: D. 4/8; P. 20; V. 11; A. 3/5; C. 19; L. L. 110
General Characters:
Colour: Dorsally greyish brown and ventrally yellowish. Dorsal fin and tail greyish.
Habitat: Rivers and Mountainous streams
Size: 75.0 cm TL
94
Distribution: KP, Northern Areas, Northern Punjab, Baluchistan, Azad Kashmir, Afghanistan,
India and China.
Fig.4.27 Racoma labiata
Subfamily VIII: CYPRININAE
Carassius auratus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Systematic Account:
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Subfamily: Cyprininae
95
Genus: Carassius
Species: Carassius auratus
Morphometric Measurements
Total length 18 cm
Standard length 14.3 cm
Fork length 16.6 cm
Head length 4.05 cm
Eye diameter 0.9 cm
Fin Formula: D. 3/16-18; P. 17; V. 9; A. 3/5; C. 19; L.L 28
General Characteristics
Colour: In nature greyish brown colour but under domestication attains colours like golden, red,
orange etc.
Habitat: Rivers sides, canals, dams etc in wild and aquaria as pet.
Size: 30 cm TL
Distribution: KP, Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and Azad Kashmir. An exotic species kept in
aquaria.
96
Fig. 4.28 Carassius auratus
Cyprinus carpio (Linnaeus, 1758)
Systematic Account:
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Subfamily: Cyprininae
Genus: Cyprinus
Species: Cyprinus carpio
Morphometric Measurements
Total length 16.0 cm
Standard length 12.0 cm
97
Fork length 13.0 cm
Head length 3.0 cm
Eye diameter 0.6 cm
Fin Formula: D. 3/17; P. 15; V. 9; A. 3/5; C. 19; L. L. 36-38
General Characters:
Colour: Greenish brown to golden and even reddish; greatly variable under culture and in
different habitats.
Habitat: Rivers, lakes, dams, canals, ponds (Cultured in suitable waters of Pakistan and all
over the world).
Size: 100 cm TL
Distribution: KP, Punjab, Baluchistan, Sindh, Azad Kashmir. It is an exotic fish cultured
throughout the world in warm waters.
Fig. 4.29 Cyprinius carpio
Cyprinion watsoni (Day, 1872)
98
Systematic position:
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Subfamily: Barbinae
Genus: Cyprinion
Species Cyprinion watsoni
Total length 13.9 cm
Standard length 10.9 cm
Fork length 12.3 cm
Head length 2.5 cm
Eye diameter 0.6 cm
Fin Formula: D. 3/9-10; P. 15; V. 8; A. 2/7; C. 19; L. L. 33-36
General Characters:
Colour: Silvery dashed with gold.
Habitat: Streams, lakes and rivers of sub mountainous regions.
Distribution: KP, Punjab, Baluchistan, Azad Kashmir, Afghanistan and Iran.
99
Fig. 4.30 Cyprinion watsoni
Subfamily IX: SQUALIOBARBINAE
Ctenopharyngodon idella (Valenciennes, 1844)
Systematic Account:
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Subfamily: Cyprininae
Genus: Ctenopharyngodon
Species: Ctenopharyngodon idella
Morphometric Measurements
Total length 12.0 cm
Standard length 10.5 cm
Fork length 11.0 cm
100
Head length 1.7 cm
Eye diameter 0.6 cm
Fin Formula: (D. 3/7; P. 18; V. 9; A. 2/8; C.19; L. l. 40-42)
General Characters:
Colour: Dorsally dark grey, silver to golden ventrally; fins dark coloured.
Habitat: Rivers, dams, lakes, ponds (Cultured in Pakistan and all over the world for
aquatic vegetation control).
Size: 150 cm TL.
Distribution: Exotic Chinese carp, cultured in suitable waters of Pakistan and all over
the world for food and control of aquatic vegetation.
Fig. 4.31 Ctenopharyngodon idella
4.3.1.2 Family: NEMACHEILIDAE
Schistura alepidota (Mirza & Banarescu, 1970)
101
Systematic position:
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Nemacheilidae
Genus: Schistura
Species: Schistura alepidota
Morphometric Measurements
Total length 7.7 cm
Standard length 6.9 cm
Forked length ------
Head length 1.9 cm
Eye diameter 0.2 cm
Fin Formula: (D. 3/7; P.12; V.2/6; A.2/5; C.18)
General Characters:
Colour: 12- 16 band on the body. Spots on head spotted. Small dots present on
both tail fin and dorsal fin. No dots on rest of the fins. Caudal fin base
with a dark band and dorsal fin origin marked with black.
102
Habitat: Rapid streams with clear, shallow water and having gravelly bottom.
Size: 8.2 cm TL
Distribution: KP, Punjab, Azad Kashmir
Fig. 4.32 Schistura alepidota
Schistura naseeri (Ahmad and Mirza, 1963)
Systematic position
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Nemacheilidae
Genus: Schistura
Species: Schistura naseeri
Morphometric Measurements (Previously reported, no specimen found now. Species seems to be lost now)
103
Total length
Standard length
Fork length
Head length
Eye diameter
Fin Formula:
General Characters:
Colour: Body with 10-12 irregular vertical bars which are wider than the interspace and
some are not sharply delimited. A blackish spot dorsal spot on the origin of dorsal fin. On
caudal fin base bars are mostly divided in two fragments. One or two strips on caudal fin.
Habitat: Shallow, clear, swift streams with pebbly bottom.
Distribution: Endemic to KP (Swat valley, Allai Khawr and Abbotabad).
Fig.4. 33 Schistura naseeri
Schistura prashari (Hora, 1933)
Systematic Account:
104
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Nemacheilidae
Genus: Schistura
Species: Schistura prashari
Morphometric Measurements
Total length 8.3 cm
Standard length 7.5 cm
Fork length ----- cm
Head length 1.0 cm
Eye diameter 0.1 cm
Fin Formula: D. 2/7; P.9; V.7; A.2/5; C.18)
General Characters:
Colour: Upper skin of head greyish. Operculum creamy yellow. Body having 15-17
vertical olive coloured bars. First three rays of D.F with a black mark. Tail fin with two
dark wavy bands. Rest of the fins light yellow.
Habitat: streams having pebbly bottom.
Size: 5 cm SL
105
Distribution: Endemic to KP and Punjab.
Fig. 4.34 Schistura prashari
Schistura crustistigma (Mirza & Nalbant, 1981)
Systematic position:
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Nemacheilidae
Genus: Schistura
Species: Schistura curtistigma
Morphometric Measurements
Total length 10.2 cm
Standard length 8.4 cm
106
Fork length ---- cm
Head length 2.2 cm
Eye diameter 0.3 cm
Fin Formula: (D. 3/8; P.11; V.7; A.2/5; C.16)
General Characters:
Colour: 11 vertical bands on the body which touch lateral line don’t go beneath;
Dorsal fin origin bears a dull spot; caudal with small spots arranged in 4
rows.
Habitat: Swift streams having clear shallow water and gravel bottom.
Size: 4.6 cm SL
Distribution: KP, Punjab.
Fig. 4.35 Schistura curtistigma
107
Schistura macrolepis (Mirza and Banarescu, 1981)
Systematic Account
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Nemacheilidae
Genus: Schistura
Species: Schistura macrolepis
Morphometric Measurements
Total length 12.2 cm
Standard length 10.3 cm
Fork length ----cm
Head length 2.4 cm
Eye diameter 0.4 cm
Fin Formula: (D; 3/8; P. 9-; V 7; A. 2/5; C 18)
General Characteristics
Colour: Body creamy yellow having 8-9 brownish bands with no specific shape or equal size.
Dorsal having a black mark at its origin.
Size: 3.6 cm TL
108
Distribution: KP, Punjab
Fig. 4.36 Schistura macrolepis
Triplophysa naziri (Ahmad and Mirza, 1963)
Systematic Account:
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Nemacheilidae
Genus: Triplophysa
Species: Triplophysa naziri
Morphometric Measurements
Total length 5.56 cm
Standard length 3.95 cm
Forked length 5.0 cm
Head length 1.2 cm
109
Eye diameter 0.3 cm
Fin Formula: D.3/7; P.10; V.8; A.2/5; C.14
General Characters:
Colour: Dorsally Brownish and ventrally yellow; both tail and dorsal fins bear
spots.
Habitat: Deeper parts of rivers and and lakes.
Size: 6.8 cm SL.
Distribution: Endemic to KP in River Swat and Peshawar valley
Fig. 4.37 Triplophysa naziri
Triplophysa choprai (Hora, 1934)
Systematic Account:
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Cypriniformes
110
Family: Nemacheilidae
Genus: Triplophysa
Species: Triplophysa choprai
Morphometric Measurements (Previously reported, Few specimens collected in 2004, no specimen found now.
Species seems to be lost now)
Total length
Standard length
Forked length
Head length
Eye diameter
Fin Formula: D.3/8; P.11-12; V.8; A.2/5; C.19
General Characters:
Colour: Body pale olive colour with back and sides clouded with dark patches.
Ventral side lighter in colour. Dorsal and Caudal fins with irregular bands.
Undivided rays of dorsal fin with five dark spots.
Habitat: Rivers of mountainous areas generally deeper portions and lakes. Cold and
semi coldwater areas.
Size: 14 cm TL.
Distribution: Endemic to KP in River Swat, Swat valley and Chitral.
111
Fig. 4.38 Triplophysa choprai
Triplophysa microps (Steindachner, 1866)
Systematic Account:
Class: Actinopterypgii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Genus: Triplophysa
Species: Triplophysa microps
Morphometric Measurements
Total length 10 cm
Standard length 9.0 cm
Fork length 8.3 cm
Head length 1.5 cm
Eye diameter 0.3 cm
Fin Formula: (D. 3/7; P. 10; V. 8; A. 2/5; C.14)
General Characters:
Colour: Dorsally Brownish and ventrally yellow; both tail and dorsal fins bear
spots.
Habitat: Deeper parts of rivers and and lakes.
Size: 6.8 cm SL.
Distribution: KP, Azad Kashmir, Punjab and India.
112
Fig. 4.39 Triplophysa microps
Acanthocobitis botia (Hamilton, 1822)
Systematic account
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Nemacheilidae
Genus: Acanthocobitis
Species: Acanthocobitis botia
Morphometric Measurements
Total length 6.6 cm
Standard length 5.3 cm
Forked length 5.7 cm
Head length 1.4 cm
Eye diameter 0.3 cm
Fin Formula: (D. 2/10-12; P. 11; V. 8; A.2/5; C.17)
113
General Characteristics
Color: Mottled from upper side up to lateral line which is marked by a longitudinal band with 9
or 10 downward projection. Wavy vertical bars on caudal fin.
Size: 6 cm SL
Distribution: KP, Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan, A J Kashmir, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal,
India.
Fig. 4.40 Acanthocobitis botia
114
4.3.2 Order: SILURIFORMES (Catfishes)
Body elongated and usually dorso ventrally compressed, scales mostly absent or some
may be having bony plates.
Eyes are mostly small as they use barbels in searching food.
Maxilla usually rudimentary and serve as a support for a barbel.
A spine is present in dorsal and pectoral fins (first ray). No spine in pelvic fin.
An adipose dorsal fin, posterior to 1st dorsal is usually present.
Pectoral fins are attached low.
Caudal fin rays mostly 17 or in few cases 18.
Branchiostegal rays are 4 to 17 in number.
Catfishes can easily be identified by their usually long barbels extending from sides of
the upper jaw and in some fishes from lower jaw as well.
Catfishes are of great economic importance as sports fish, valued food items and as pet in
tropical aquaria.
These fishes are numerously present in the Indian region and their size range between 3-5
cm.
Most of the species inhabit freshwater only.
Several species of catfishes are known to be venomous (Halstead, 1970). Sharp spines
present in pectorals can cause severe wounds and a poison could be injected which is
produced by epidermal tissue covering the spines and having glandular cells for poison
production.
115
4.3.2.1 Family: SISORIDAE (Sisorid catfishes)
Glyptothorax punjabensis Mirza and Kashmiri, 1971
Systematic Account
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Sisoridae
Genus: Glyptothorax
Species: Glyptothorax punjabensis
Morphometric Measurement
Total length 11.3 cm
Fork length 10.5 cm
Standard length 9.9 cm
Head length 2.1 cm
Eye diameter 0.3 cm
Fin Formula: (D. 1/6; P. 1/8; V. 6; A. 3/9; C.18)
General Characters:
Colour: Greyish back and whitish abdomen. A yellow blotch on sides of head;
base of fins like caudal, dorsal and pectoral is dark brown tips are
yellowish. Rest of the fins yellowish.
Habitat: Mountain rapids.
116
Size: 20.0 cm TL.
Distribution: KP, Baluchistan, Punjab, Sind, Kashmir, India.
Fig. 4.41 Glyptothorax punjabensis
Glyptothorax stocki Mirza & Nijssen, 1978
Systematic Account
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Sisoridae
Genus: Glyptothorax
Species: Glyptothorax stocki
Morphometric Measurements
Total length 10.1 cm
Fork length 9.0 cm
117
Standard length 8.0 cm
Head length 2.0 cm
Eye diameter 0.3 cm
Fin Formula: (D.1/6; P.1/10-11; V.6; A.1/10-11; C.16-18)
General Characters
Colour
In alcohol, brown on back and flanks, pinkish-tan ventrally; a narrow whitish line present
from eye margin to caudal fin base. Adipose dorsal fin and tail fin have a dark band.
Habitat: Mountain rapids.
Size: 12.0 cm TL.
Distribution
KP in River Swat. it is also found in Punjab and Azad Kashmir.
Fig. 4.42 Glyptothorax stocki
118
Glyptothorax sufii Bashir and Mirza, 1975
Systematic Account:
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Sisoridae
Genus: Glyptothorax
Species: Glyptothorax sufii
Morphometric Measurements
Total length 7.2 cm
Fork length 6.1 cm
Standard length 5.1 cm
Head length 1.8 cm
Eye diameter 0.3 cm
Fin Formula: (D. 1/6; P. 1/8; V. 6; A. 3/9; C.18)
General Characters:
Color: Brownish black above and yellowish below; rayed dorsal and adipose
dorsal dark edged, other fins yellowish white.
Habitat: Freshwater rivers of sub mountainous regions.
Size: 12.0 cm TL.
119
Distribution: Pakistan: KPK, Punjab, Sind and India: East India.
Fig. 4.43 Glyptothorax sufii
Glyptothorax cavia (Hamilton, 1822)
Systematic Account:
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Sisoridae
Genus: Glyptothorax
120
Species: Glyptothorax cavia
Morphometric Measurements
Total length 8.3 cm
Fork length 7.2 cm
Standard length 6.2 cm
Head length 1.8 cm
Eye diameter 0.2 cm
Fin Formula: D. 1/6; P. 1/8; V.6; A.3/9; C.17)
General Characters:
Colour: Brown on dorsal side. Silvery ventrally. Transverse bars on tail and caudal fin.
Habitat: Fast moving Mountainous stream
Size: 10.0 TL cm
Distribution: KP, Punjab, Azad Kashmir, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar and India
Fig. 4.44 Glyptothorax cavia
121
Glyptothorax naziri (Mirza & Naik, 1969)
Systematic position:
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Sisoridae
Genus: Glyptothorax
Species: Glyptothorax naziri
Morphometric Measurements (Previously reported, no specimen found now. Species seems to be lost now)
Total length
Fork length
Standard length
Head length
Eye diameter
Fin Formula:
General Characters:
Colour: Body brown and with a creamy yellow spot on the back. All fins creamy yellow
with black tinge.
122
Habitat: Mountain rapids
Size:
Distribution: KP, Punjab, Balochistan and Azad Kashmir
Fig.4.45 Glyptothorax naziri
Glyptosternon reticulatum (McCleland and Griffth, 1842)
Systematic Account:
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Sisoridae
Genus: Glyptosternon
123
Species: Glyptosternon reticulatum
Morphometric measurements
Total length 9.9 cm
Standard length 8.1 cm
Forked length --------
Head length 2.2 cm
Eye diameter 0.2 cm
Fin Formula: (D.1/6; P.1/11; V.1/5; A.2-3/5)
General Characters
Colour
Uniformly dark grey on dorsal, the sides merging to yellowish white on the ventral side.
In some specimens the dorsal is dark grey with yellowish spot like those on the stone at the bed
of the stream.
Habitat: Fast running streams of mountainous areas
Size: 12.2 cm TL
Distribution
Swat, Kaghan, Chitral, Gilgit, Baltistan, Kashmir, India, Afghanistan, Tibet, and central
Asia.
Fig. 4.46 Glyptosternon reticulatum
124
Glyptosternon maculatum (Regan, 1905)
Systematic Account:
Systematic Account:
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Sisoridae
Genus: Glyptosternon
Species: Glyptosternon maculatum
Morphometric measurements
Total length 7.4 cm
Standard length 6.6 cm
Forked length --------
Head length 1.6 cm
Eye diameter 0.2 cm
Fin formula: (D.1/6; P.1/8; V.6; A.3/9; C.18)
General Characters:
Colour: Blackish grey on dorsal, ventral side whitist; bases of dorsal, caudal and pectoral
fins dark brown.
Habitat: Rapid streams in mountains
125
Size: 10.7 cm TL
Distribution: In Pakistan it is found in Kaghan, Swat, Chitral, Gilgit and Baltistan. It is also
found in Kashmir, India, Tibet, Afghanistan, and central Asia.
Fig. 4.47 Glyptosternon maculatum
Gagata cenia (Hamilton, 1822)
Systematic Account:
Systematic Account:
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Sisoridae
Genus: Gagata
Species: Gagata cenia
126
Morphometric measurements
Total length 10.1 cm
Standard length 8.2 cm
Forked length 9.3 cm
Head length 2.4 cm
Eye diameter 0.8 cm
Fin formula: D. 1/6; P.1/9; V.6; A.3/10-12; C.19)
General Characters:
Colour: Body is yellowish bronze dorsally and abdomen is silvery. Three dark coloured
bands on head and four dark bands on back which descend upto lateral line.
Dorsal fin with dark mark. Two black spots on caudal lobes which sometimes
replaced with semi lunar band.
Habitat: Rivers
Size: 15cm TL
Distribution: KP, Punjab, Kashmir, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Myanmar.
Fig. 4.48 Gagata cenia
127
Gagata pakistanica Mirza, Parveen and Javed, 1999)
Systematic Account:
Systematic Account:
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Sisoridae
Genus: Gagata
Species: Gagata pakistanica
Morphometric measurements
Total length 6.3 cm
Standard length 4.4 cm
Forked length 5.3 cm
Head length 1.6 cm
Eye diameter 0.7 cm
Fin formula: D. 1/6; P.1/8; V.1/6; A.1/12; C.17
General Characters:
Colour: Body is pale white with five copper colour bands. Caudal fin base having a black
stripe. Anterior part of mouth black
128
Habitat: Rivers of sub mountainous areas
Size: 7cm TL
Distribution: Endemic to KP, Punjab.
Fig. 4.49 Gagata pakistanica
4.3.2.2 Family: BAGRIDAE (Bagrid catfishes)
Mystus bleekri (Day, 1877)
Systematic Account:
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Bagridae
Genus: Mystus
Species: Mystus bleekri
129
Morphometric measurements
Total length 12.1 cm
Standard length 9.5cm
Forked length 9.7 cm
Head length 1.6 cm
Eye diameter 0.6 cm
Fin formula: D.1/7; P.1/9-10; V.6; A.3/6-7; C.17
General Characters:
Colour: Body is brownish grey with two parallel lateral streaks. A dark spot on
shoulder region. Anal fin with a dark band.
Habitat: Upper reaches of rivers
Size: 13.5 cm TL
Distribution: KP, Punjab, Sindh, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Myanmar.
Fig. 4.50 Mystus bleekri
130
4.3.2.3 Family: SCHILBEIDAE (Schilbid catfishes)
Body elongate and compressed.
Tapering conical head, little compressed provided with large eyes directed either laterally
or ventrolaterally.
Nostrils widely separated, anterior wide and along the front border of snout, posterior
nostrils slit like or with a flap.
Teeth generally villiform in band on jaws.
Barbels two to four pairs, usually elongated whereas nasal barbels generally present.
Gill-openings very wide and gill membranes free from isthmus.
Base of dorsal fin is short and with spine. Adipose dorsal fin is very small and sometimes
vestigial or absent.
Caudal and anal fins not confluent. Anal fin is long.
Pectoral fin usually with a thin stiff spine; pelvic with 6-7 rays or in some species entirely
absent. Caudal deeply forked.
Branchiostegal rays between 5 and 12.
About 16 genera equally divided between Africa and Asia.
Clupisoma naziri (Hamilton, 1822)
Systematic Account:
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
131
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Schilbidae
Genus: Clupisoma
Species: Clupisoma naziri
Morphometric measurements
Total length 20.2 cm
Standard length 17.5 cm
Forked length 19.5 cm
Head length 2.9 cm
Eye diameter 0.5 cm
Fin formula: D.1/7; P.11-12; V.6; A.3/37-44; C.17
General Characters:
Colour: Body dark bluish above and on sides and yellowish below. Fins light pink.
Caudal fin edge is darker in colour.
Habitat: Rivers, Streams big lakes like Chashma barrage.
Size: 32 cm TL
Distribution: KP, Punjab, Azad Kashmir.
Fig. 4.51 Clupisoma naziri
132
Clupisoma garua (Hamilton, 1822)
Systematic Account:
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Schilbidae
Genus: Clupisoma
Species: Clupisoma garua
Morphometric measurements
Total length 15.8 cm
Standard length 12.9 cm
Forked length 14.3 cm
Head length 2.4 cm
Eye diameter 0.4 cm
Fin formula: D.1/7; P.1/11; V.5; A.3/26-33; C.17
General Characters:
Colour: Body silvery with dorsal side darker in colour. Fin grey.
Habitat: Rivers, Streams, and big lakes
Size: 60 cm TL
Distribution: KP, Punjab, Sindh, Azad Kashmir, Bangladesh, India, Nepal.
133
Fig. 4.52 Clupisoma garua
Eutropiichthys vacha (Hamilton, 1822)
Systematic Account:
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Schilbeidae
Genus: Eutropiichthys
Species: Eutropiichthys vacha
Morphometric measurements
Total length 22.6 cm
Standard length 19. 7 cm
Forked length 21. 7 cm
Head length 3.4 cm
Eye diameter 0.7 cm
134
Fin formula: D.1/6-7; P.1/12; V.6; A.2-4/27-29; C.19
General Characters:
Colour: Body bright silvery. Edges of pectoral and Caudal fin black in colour.
Habitat: Rivers, Streams and estuaries
Size: 30 cm TL
Distribution: KP, Punjab, Sindh, India, Bangladesh, Nepal.
Fig. 4.53 Eutropiichthys vacha
4.3.3 Order: SALMONIFORMES
Body subcylindrical, with cycloid scales; head naked. Maxilla included in gape of mouth;
teeth on maxillae
Gill-membranes free from isthmus and extending forward.
Dorsal fin and pelvic fin are inserted almost opposite to each other. An adipose dorsal fin
present.
Branchiostegal rays 7 to 20.
135
4.3.3.1 Family: SALMONIDAE (Salmonids; Trouts)
Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum, 1792)
Systematic Account
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Salmoniformes
Family: Salmonidae
Genus: Oncorhynchus
Species: Oncorhynchus mykiss
Morphometric measurements
Total length 15.4 cm
Standard length 13.6 cm
Forked length 12.3 cm
Head length 2.9 cm
Eye diameter 0.7cm
Fin Formula: D. 14; P.15; V.10; A.13; C.20; L.L.40
General Characteristics
Colour: Body brownish with lot of black spots on dorsal and lateral sides with long pink streaks
on side. Body gives rainbow colours in light.
Habitat: Cold water areas, culture raceways
136
Size: 40 cm TL
Distribution: An exotic fish cultured in cold water areas of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir.
Fig. 4.54 Oncorhynchus mykiss
Salmo trutta fario (Hamilton, 1822)
Systematic Account
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Salmoniformes
Family: Salmonidae
Genus: Salmo
Species: Salmo trutta fario
Morphometric measurements
137
Total length 20.4 cm
Standard length 18.3 cm
Forked length 19.3 cm
Head length 2.6 cm
Eye diameter 0.7 cm
Fin Formula: (D.13; P.14; V.10; A. 1; C.20; L.L. 120)
General Characteristics
Colour: Deep brown to light brown on dorsal side with black and orange spots. Spots are larger
above and smaller below.
Habitat: Cold water streams, rivers and lakes
Size: 60 cm TL
Distribution: Exotic fish introduce in culture system. Also found in lakes and rivers of northern
areas of Pakistan.
Fig. 4.55 Salmo trutta fario
138
4.3.4 ORDER CHANIFORMES (Snakeheads)
Body elongate and cylindrical. dorsal and anal fins are long, completely soft-rayed.
Large mouth with toothed jaws and palate.
Eyes placed in anterior-half of head, dorsolateral in position.
Have wider gill-openings but gill membranes confluent with each other but free from
isthmus.
Pelvic fins usually present having six rays. A typical rounded caudal fin.
Ctenoid or cycloid small size scales on the body. Scales present on head are larger as
compared to those present on the body and provided with concentric rings towards their
margin, a few arranged in form of a rosette.
Air bladder elongated, extending almost to caudal peduncle.
Fishes of this family can be recognized by their head shape which resembles with snake.
The snakeheads inhabit mainly permanent shallow, lentic waters (ponds and lakes); the
larger species (Channa marulius) also inhabit rivers and large lakes.
These fishes are air-breathers. They live for many hours (and sometimes days) out of
water and can migrate across land from one freshwater pool to another.
These fishes can be kept alive for days with the minimum quantity of water, or even if the
respiratory apparatus and the body are kept moist.
All are carnivorous: These fishes are monogamous and great parental care is exercised by
the various species.
139
4.3.4.1 Family CHANNIDAE (Snakeheads, Murrels)
Channa puctatus (Bloch, 1793)
Systematic Account
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Channiformes
Family: Channidae
Genus: Channa
Species: Channa punctatus
Morphometric Measurements
Total length 18 cm
Standard length 14.1 cm
Forked length --------
Head length 4.7 cm
Eye diameter 0.7 cm
Fin Formula: D.29-32; P.17; V.6; A.21-23; C.12; L. L. 37-40)
General Characters:
Colour: Greenish grey dorsally while yellowish below; a black line along the side of head.
Many small cross bars from dorsal side to middle of body. Spots on fins.
140
Habitat: Pools, ponds and swamps of freshwater.
Size: 30.0 cm TL. In plains generally smaller upto 11cm.
Distribution: KP, Balochistan, Punjab, Azad Kashmir, Myanmar, Iran, China, Bangladesh, Sri
Lanka, Nepal, Malaysia, China and Polynesia.
Fig. 4.56 Channa puctatus
Channa gachua (Hamilton, 1822)
Systematic Account
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Channiformes
Family: Channidae
Genus: Channa
141
Species: Channa gachua
Morphometric Measurements
Total length 14.1 cm
Standard length 12 cm
Forked length --------
Head length 3.5 cm
Eye diameter 0.6 cm
Fin Formula: (D. 32-37; P. 15; V. 6; A. 21-23; C. 12; L. l. 39-47)
General Characters:
Colour: Back of the body greenish grey, belly bluish. Unpaired fins dark slate coloured
with orange fringe. Pectoral fin base black having orange margins and slanting
bars.
Habitat: Freshwater streams, ponds and pools in plain areas. Also inhabit streams and
pools at high elevations. It could also survive in standing water ponds which are
poorly oxygenated.
Size: 20.0 cm TL.
Distribution: KP, Balochistan, Punjab, Sindh, AJK, Iran, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka,
Nepal, India, Afghanistan.
142
Fig.4.57 Channa gachua
4.3.5 Order Mastacembeliformes (Spiny eels) Body snake like and compressed.
Snout is pointed and with a fleshy rostral appendage flanked by tubular anterior nostrils
whereas posterior nostrils are placed near eyes.
Operculum and sub- and inter-operculum bones thin and mostly lack spines on
preoperculum.
Gill-openings below suboperculum.
A long Dorsal fin present. About 14-35 spines are present preceding D.F.
Anal fin is also long with 30-90 rays preceeded by 2 - 3 spines. Ventral fins absent.
Tail fin distinct, generally connected with rays of anal and dorsal fin.
Scales miute and cycloid. Tendency to be brightly coloured.
Mastacembelids are regarded as an excellent food fish.
Many of the spiny-eels are air-breathers and can survive in mud and oxygen-deficient
water for an indefinite time.
The largest spiny eel, Mastacembelus armatus (Lacepede) reaches a length of 90 cm.
4.3.5.1 Family: MASTACEMBELIDAE (Spiny eels)
Mastacembelus armatus (Lacepede, 1800)
Systematic Account
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Mastacembeliformes
143
Family: Mastacembelidae
Genus: Mastacembelus
Species: Mastacembelus armatus
Morphometric Measurements
Total length 38.2 cm
Standard length 35.7 cm
Forked length --------
Head length 6 cm
Eye diameter 0.55 cm
Fin Formula: D. 32-39/74-90; P. 23; A. 3/75-88
General Characters:
Colour: Body is brown with marks and spots of same colour on back and sides.
Belly yellowish white; fins generally spotted.
Habitat: Rivers and streams having gravelly, sandy or rocky bottom.
Size: 80 cm TL
Distribution: KP, Balochistan, Punjab, Sindh, A J K, Bangladesh, India, Nepal,
Myanmar, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and China.
Fig. 4.58 Mastacembelus armatus
144
4.3.6 Order Beloniformes Body elongated and laterally compressed.
Both upper and lower jaws extended into long beaks which are provided with sharp teeth
from junctions to tip.
Spines are not present in fins. Posteriorly placed dorsal and anal finss inserted opposite to
each other.
Pectoral fins are short and inserted high on sides. However, pelvics are abdominal in
position having six soft rays.
Body covered with small cycloid scales. Lateral line present along lower margin of the
body and a branch to is given to pectoral fin origin.
The order is predominantly marine and estuarine called needlefishes has only a single
freshwater genus in Asia.
4.3.6.1 Family: BELONIDAE (Garfishes)
Xenentodon cancilla (Hamilton, 1822)
Systematic Account
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Beloniformes
Family: Belonidae
Genus: Xenentodon
Species: Xenentodon cancila
145
Morphometric Measurements
Total length 23.8 cm
Standard length 20.7cm
Forked length 22.5 cm
Head length 8.0 cm
Eye diameter 0.8 cm
Fin Formula: D. 15-18; P. 11-12; V.6; A.16-19; C.15
General Characters:
Colour: Greenish dorsally with black spots. Ventrally whitish to yellowish in
colour. A dark edged silver line present on both sides which runs from
pectoral fin to caudal fin base.
Habitat: Slow running streams, sides of rivers, dams, pools with sandy or rocky
substrate. Generally found near surface.
Size: 40 cm TL
Distribution: KP, Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan, Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal,
Thailand, Sri Lanka, China and Malaysia.
Fig.4.59 Xenentodon cancila
146
4.3.7 Order PERCIFORMES
Spines are present in anal, dorsal and pelvic fin. Adipose fin absent.
Pelvics may be absent but if present pectoral fins are inserted before the pelvics.
Scales usually ctenoid. gills four and branchiostegal rays seven or fewer.
Perciformes is the largest order of not only fish but also of vertebrates.it comprises about
160 families, 1539 genera and some 10033 species (Nelson, 2016). About one-third of all
fish species are perciforms.
4.3.7.1 FAMILY CHANDIDAE
Chanda nama (Hamilton,1822)
Systematic Account
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Perciformes
Family: Chandidae
Genus: Chanda
Species: Chanda nama
Morphometric Measurements
Total length 6.7 cm
147
Standard length 4.9 cm
Forked length 5.8 cm
Head length 2.1 cm
Eye diameter 0.9 cm
Fin Formula: D1.7; D2. 1/13-17; P. 12-13; V.6; A.3/14-17; C.17
General Characters:
Colour: Body yellowish olive with minute black dots. Dorsal fin with black spot
on its upper edge.
Habitat: Running and standing water both brackish and fresh
Size: 11 cm TL
Distribution: KP, Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan, AJK, Bangladesh, India, Myanmar,
Nepal.
Fig. 4.60 Chanda nama
148
4.3.7.2 Family: BELONTIIDAE (Gouramies)
Colisa faciata (Bloch and Schneider, 1801)
Systematic Account
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Perciformes
Family: Belontidae
Genus: Colisa
Species: Colisa faciata
Morphometric Measurements (Previously reported, no specimen found now. Species seems to be lost now)
Total length cm
Standard length cm
Forked length ------
Head length cm
Eye diameter cm
Fin Formula:
General Characters:
Colour: Body greenish dorsally and dirty white ventrally. A black spot on
operculum.14-15 orange coloured oblique wavy bands present on both
149
sides of the body. Dorsal and anal fins with orange spots. Caudal fin with
multiple dotted bars.
Habitat: Running and standing water both. Rivers, streams, lakes and estuaries
preferring weedy environment. Kept in aquaria as well.
Size: 12.5 cm TL
Distribution: KP, Punjab, Sindh, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar
Fig. 4.61 Colisa faciata
Colisa lalia (Bloch and Schneider,1801)
Systematic Account
Class: Actinopterygii
Sub Class: Teleostei
Cohort: Euteleostei
Super Order: Ostariophysi
Order: Perciformes
Family: Belontidae
Genus: Colisa
Species: Colisa lalia
150
Morphometric Measurements (Previously reported, no specimen found now. Species seems to be lost now)
Total length:
Standard length:
Forked length:
Head length:
Eye diameter:
Fin Formula:
General Characters:
Colour: Body darker dorsally. Many light blue and scarlet transverse bands on the
body. greenish dorsally and dirty white ventrally. Dorsal and caudal fins
marked with bars and have red margins.
Habitat: Slow running streams, river sides, lakes and standing water pools with
plenty of vegetation. Kept in aquaria as well.
Size: 5 cm TL
Distribution: KP, Punjab, Sindh, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar
d
Fig. 4.62 Colisa lalia
151
4.4 Data Analysis
All the above fish species collected from River Swat, its main tributary River Panjkora
and their sub tributaries have been arranged in the following table according to their
classification
Table- 4.1: Complete List of fish diversity of River Swat and its tributaries
S/
No
Order Family Sub Family Genus and Species
1 Cypriniformes Cyprinidae Cultrinae Chela cachius (Hamilton)
2 Salmophasia bacaila (Hamilton)
3 Salmophasia punjabensis (Day)
4 Aspidoparinae Aspidoparia morar (Hamilton)
5 Rasborinae Amblypharyngodon mola (Hamilton)
6 Barilius pakistanicus (Mirza and Sadiq)
7 Barilius vagra (Hamilton)
8 Barilius modestus (Day)
9 Barilius naseeri (Mirza, Rafiq&Awan)
10 Devario devario (Hamilton)
11 Rasbora daniconius (Hamilton)
12 Barbinae Labeo diplostomus (Hamilton)
13 Labeo calbasu (Hamilton)
14 Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton)
152
15 Puntius sophore (Hamilton)
16 Puntius conchonius (Hamilton)
17 Puntius ticto (Hamilton)
18 Puntius chola (Hamilton)
19 Torinae Naziritor zhobensis (Mirza)
20 Tor macrolepis (Heckel)
21 Tor putitora (Hamilton)
22 Garrinae Crossocheilus diplocheilus (Heckel)
23 Garra gotyla (Gray)
24 Schizothoracinae Schizothorax/Schizopyge esocinus
(Heckel)
25 Schizothorax
Plagiostomus (Heckel)
26 Orienus plagiostomus (Heckel)
27 Racoma labiata (Mc Clelland and
Griffith)
28 Cyprininae Carassius auratus (Linnaeus)
29 Cyprinus carpio (Linnaeus)
30 Cyprinion watsoni (Day)
31 Squaliobarbinae Ctenopharyngodon idella (Valenciennes)
153
32 Nemacheilid
ae
Schistura alepidota (Mirza and
Banarescu)
33 Schistura naseeri (Ahmad and Mirza)
34 Schistura prashari (Hora)
35 Schistura curtistigma (Mirza and Nalbant)
36 Schistura macrolepis (Mirza and
Banarescu)
37 Triplophysa naziri (Ahmad and Mirza)
38 Triplophysa choprai (Hora)
39 Triplophysa microps (Steindachner)
40 Acanthocobitis botia (Hamilton)
41 Siluriformes Sisoridae Glyptothorax punjabensis (Mirza and
Kashmiri)
42 Glyptothorax stocki (Mirza and Nijssen)
43 Glyptothorax sufii (Bashir and Mirza)
44 Glyptothorax cavia (Hamilton)
45 Glyptothorax naziri (Mirza and Naik)
46 Glyptosternon reticulatum (Mc Clelland
and Griffith)
47 Glyptosternon maculatum (Regan)
48 Gagata cenia (Hamilton)
154
49 Gagata pakistanica (Mirza)
50 Bagridae Mystus bleekeri (Day)
51 Schilbidae Clupisoma naziri (Mirza and Awan)
52 Clupisoma garua (Hamilton)
53 Eutropiichthys vacha (Hamilton)
54 Salmoniformes Salmonidae Oncorhynchus mykiss
(walbaum)
55 Salmo trutta fario (Linnaeus)
56 Chaniformes Channidae Channa puctata (Bloch)
57 Channa gachua (Hamilton)
58 Mastacembelifo
rmes
Mastacembel
idae
Mastacembelus armatus (Lacepede)
59 Beloniformes Belonidae Xenentodon cancila (Hamilton)
60 Perciformes Chandidae Chanda nama (Hamilton)
61 Belontidae Colisa fasciata (Bloch & Schneider)
62 Colisa lalia (Hamilton)
155
Fig. 4. 63 Abundance of Different fish orders in River Swat
Table 4.2 Analysis of fish diversity of River Swat
Orders Family Genus Species
Cypriniformes 02 (18.18%) 25 (65.8%) 40 (64.5%)
Siluriformes 03 (27.27%) 06 (15.8%) 13 (20.9%)
Salmoniformes 01 (09.09%) 02 (05.2%) 02 (3.2%)
Channiformes 01 (09.09%) 01(02.6%) 02 (3.2%)
Mastacembeliforme
s
01 (09.09%) 01 (02.6%) 01 (1.6%)
Beloniformes 01 (09.09%) 01 (02.6%) 01 (1.6%)
Perciformes 02 (18.18%) 02 (05.2%) 03 (4.8%)
Total 11 38 62
156
64.5
20.9
3.23.2
1.6 1.64.8
Abundance of different Fsih Orders in River Swat
CypriniformesSiluriformesSalmoniformesChanniformesMastacembeliformesBeloniformesPerciformes
65.8
15.8
5.2
2.62.6 2.6
5.2CypriniformesSiluriformesSalmoniformesChanniformesMastacembiliformesBeloniformesPerciformes
Fig. 4.64 Diversity of Genera in River Swat
Cyprin
iform
es
Silur
iform
es
Salm
onifo
rmes
Chann
iform
es
Mastac
embil
iform
es
Belonif
ormes
Percifo
rmes
Total
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
2 3 1 1 1 1 2 11
18.181818181818227.2727272727273
9.090909090909099.09090909090909
9.09090909090909
9.0909090909090918.18
100
PercentageFamily numbers
Fig. 4. 65 Diversity of Families in River Swat
157
Abundance of Different Genera of Fishes in River Swat
Abundance of families of fishes in River Swat
Table 4.3: Fish Fauna of River Panjkora
S/No Order Family Sub Family Genus and Specie
1 Cypriniformes Cyprinidae Rasborinae Barilius pakistanicus
2 Barilius vagra
3 Barilius modestus
4 Garrinae Crossocheilus diplocheilus
5 Garra gotyla
6 Schizothoracinae Schizothorax esocinus
7 Schizothorax plagiostomus
8 Racoma labiata
9 Torinae Tor putitora
10 Tor macrolepis
11 Cyprininae Cyprinus carpio
12 Cyprinion watsoni
13 Squaliobarbinae Ctenopharyngodon Idella
14 Nemacheili
dae
Schistura alepidote
15 Schistura prashari
16 Schistura macrolepis
158
17 Triplophysa microps
18 Triplophysa naziri
19 Chaniformes Channidae Channa puctata
20 Channa gachua
21 Siluriformes Sisoridae Glyptothorax punjabensis
22 Glyptothorax stocki
23 Glyptothorax sufii
24 Glyptothorax naziri
25 Mastacembelif
ormes
Mastacemb
elidae
Mastacembelus armatus
Table 4.4: Comparison between fish of River Swat and River Panjkora
S/No Fish name River Swat River Panjkora
1 Chela cachius (Hamilton) √
2 Salmophasia bacaila (Hamilton) √
3 Salmophasia punjabensis (Day) √
4 Aspidoparia morar (Hamilton) √
5 Amblypharyngodon mola (Hamilton) √
6 Barilius pakistanicus (Mirza and Sadiq) √ √
7 Barilius vagra (Hamilton) √ √
159
8 Barilius modestus (Day) √ √
9 Barilius nasseri (Mirza, Rafiq & Awan) √
10 Devario devario (Hamilton) √
11 Rasbora daniconius (Hamilton) √
12 Labeo diplostomus (Heckel) √
13 Labeo calbasu (Hamilton) √
14 Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton) √
15 Puntius sophore (Hamilton) √
16 Puntius conchonius (Hamilton) √
17 Puntius ticto (Hamilton) √
18 Puntius chola (Hamilton) √
19 Naziritor zhobensis (Mirza) √
20 Tor macrolepis (Heckel) √
21 Tor putitora (Hamilton) √ √
22 Crossocheilus diplocheilus (Heckel) √ √
23 Garra gotyla (Gray) √ √
24 Schizothorax esocinus (Heckel) √ √
25 Schizothorax plagiostomus (Heckel) √ √
26 Orienus plagiostomus (Heckel) √
160
27 Racoma labiate (Mc Clelland and
Griffith)
√ √
28 Carassius auratus (Linnaeus) √
29 Cyprinus carpio (Linnaeus) √ √
30 Cyprinion watsoni (Day) √
31 Ctenopharyngodon idella (Valenciennes) √ √
32 Schistura alepidote (Mirza and
Banarescu)
√ √
33 Schistura naseeri (Ahmad and Mirza) √
34 Schistura prashari (Hora) √ √
35 Schistura curtistigma (Mirza and
Nalbant)
√
36 Schistura macrolepis (Mirza and
Banarescu)
√ √
37 Triplophysa naziri (Ahmad and Mirza) √ √
38 Triplophysa choprai (Hora) √
39 Triplophysa microps (Steindachner) √ √
40 Acanthocobitis botia (Hamilton) √
41 Glyptothorax punjabensis (Mirza &
Kashmiri)
√ √
42 Glyptothorax stocki (Mirza and Nijssen) √ √
161
43 Glyptothorax suffi (Bashir and Mirza) √ √
44 Glyptothorax cavia (Hamilton) √
45 Glyptothorax naziri (Mirza and Naik) √ √
46 Glyptosternon reticulatum (Mc Clelland
& Griffith)
√
47 Glyptosternon maculatum (Regan) √
48 Gagata cenia (Hamilton) √
49 Gagata pakistanica (Mirza) √
50 Mystus bleekeri (Day) √
51 Clupisoma naziri (Mirza & Awan) √
52 Clupisoma garua (Hamilton) √
53 Eutropiichthys vacha (Hamilton) √
54 Onchorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) √
55 Salmo trutta fario (Linnaeus) √
56 Channa puctata (Bloch) √ √
57 Channa gachua (Hamilton) √ √
58 Mastacembelus armatus (Lacepede) √ √
59 Xenentodon cancila (Hamilton) √
60 Chanda nama (Hamilton) √
162
61 Colisa fasciata (Hamilton) √
62 Colisa lalia (Hamilton) √
Table 4.5: Economically important Major edible fish fauna of River Swat
S/No Fish name
1 Labeo diplostomus (Heckel)
2 Labeo calbasu (Hamilton)
3 Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton)
4 Tor macrolepis (Heckel)
5 Tor putitora (Hamilton)
6 Schizothorax esocinus (Heckel)
7 Orienus plagiostomus (Heckel)
8 Racoma labiata (Mc Clelland and Griffith)
9 Cyprinus carpio (Linnaeus)
10 Ctenopharyngodon idella (Valenciennes)
11 Clupisoma naziri (Mirza & Awan)
12 Clupisoma garua (Hamilton)
13 Eutropiichthys vacha (Hamilton)
14 Onchorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum)
15 Salmo trutta fario (Linnaeus)
163
16 Mastacembelus armatus (Lacepede)
Table 4.6: Minor edible fish fauna of River Swat
S/No Fish name
1 Naziritor zhobensis (Mirza)
2 Crossocheilus diplocheilus (Heckel)
3 Garra gotyla (Gray)
4 Carassius auratus (Linnaeus)
5 Glyptothorax punjabensis (Mirza & Kashmiri)
6 Glyptothorax stocki (Mirza and Nijssen)
7 Glyptothorax suffi (Bashir and Mirza)
8 Glyptothorax cavia (Hamilton)
9 Glyptothorax naziri (Mirza and Naik)
10 Glyptosternon reticulatum (Mc Clelland & Griffith)
11 Glyptosternon maculatum (Regan)
12 Mystus bleekeri (Day)
13 Xenentodon cancila (Hamilton)
164
25.8
20.96
53.22
Economically Important Fish Fauna of River Swat
Major Edible FishesMinor Edible fishesNon Edible Fishes
Fig. 4. 66 Economically Important Fish Fauna of River Swat
Table 4.7: Specific Ichthyodiversity in River Swat
S/
No
Fish Name River upper
Swat
Lower Swat Total
1 Chela cachius (Hamilton) - Not Found
2 Salmophasia bacaila (Hamilton) - 03 03
3 Salmophasia punjabensis (Day) - 27 27
4 Aspidoparia morar (Hamilton) - Not Found -
5 Amblypharyngodon mola
(Hamilton)
- Not Found -
6 Barilius pakistanicus (Mirza and
Sadiq)
132 205 337
7 Barilius vagra (Hamilton) 12 28 40
165
8 Barilius modestus (Day) 26 87 113
9 Barilius naseeri (Mirza, Rafiq &
Awan)
206 - 206
10 Devario devario (Hamilton) - Not Found
11 Rasbora daniconius (Hamilton) - 02 02
12 Labeo diplostomus (Heckel) - 35 35
13 Labeo calbasu (Hamilton) 04 11 15
14 Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton) - 08 08
15 Puntius sophore (Hamilton) - 21 21
16 Puntius conchonius (Hamilton) 23 101 124
17 Puntius ticto (Hamilton) - 134 134
18 Puntius chola (Hamilton) - 43 43
19 Naziritor zhobensis (Mirza) - Not Found
20 Tor macrolepis (Heckel) - 02 02
21 Tor putitora (Hamilton) - 12 12
22 Crossocheilus diplocheilus
(Heckel)
20 107 127
23 Garra gotyla (Gray) 15 102 117
24 Schizothorax esocinus (Heckel) 02 01 03
25 Schizothorax plagiostomus 15 216 231
166
(Heckel)
26 Oreinus plagiostomus (Heckel) 45 10 55
27 Racoma labiata (Mc Clelland and
Griffith)
22 08 30
28 Carassius auratus (Linnaeus) 60 106 166
29 Cyprinus carpio (Linnaeus) 02 113 115
30 Cyprinion watsoni (Day)
31 Ctenopharyngiodon idella
(Valenciennes)
- 02 02
32 Schistura alepidote (Mirza and
Banarescu)
18 05 23
33 Schistura naseeri (Ahmad and
Mirza)
Not Found -
34 Schistura prashari (Hora) 17 36 53
35 Schistura curtistigma (Mirza and
Nalbant)
17 29 46
36 Schistura macrolepis (Mirza and
Banarescu)
01 01
37 Triplophysa naziri (Ahmad and
Mirza)
11 06 17
38 Triplophysa choprai (Hora) Not Found 09 09
39 Triplophysa microps 330 - 330
167
(Steindachner)
140 Acanthocobitis botia (Hamilton) 15 14 29
41 Glyptothorax punjabensis (Mirza
& Kashmiri)
- 21 21
42 Glyptothorax stocki (Mirza and
Nijssen)
- 04 04
43 Glyptothorax suffi (Bashir and
Mirza)
- 01 01
44 Glyptothorax cavia (Hamilton) - 03 03
45 Glyptothorax naziri (Mirza and
Naik)
- Not Found
46 Glyptosternon reticulatum (Mc
Clelland & Griffith)
01 - 01
47 Glyptosternon maculatum
(Regan)
158 - 158
48 Gagata cenia (Hamilton) - 02 02
49 Gagata pakistanica (Mirza) - 08 08
50 Mystus bleekeri (Day) - 14 14
51 Clupisoma naziri (Mirza &
Awan)
- 29 29
52 Clupisoma garua (Hamilton) - 42 42
53 Eutropiichthys vacha (Hamilton) - 16 16
168
54 Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) 05 - 05
55 Salmo trutta fario (Linnaeus) 15 - 15
56 Channa punctatus (Bloch) - 24 24
57 Channa gachua (Hamilton) - 05 05
58 Mastacembelus armatus
(Lacepede)
- 53 53
59 Xenentodon cancila (Hamilton) - 07 07
60 Chanda nama (Hamilton) - 02 02
61 Colisa fasciata (Hamilton) - Not Found
62 Colisa lalia (Hamilton) - Not Found
TOTAL 1171 1715 2886
4.4.1 Statistical Analysis of Data
Results of the Biodiversity Calculator of the Simpson and Shannon-Wiener Indexes
Dataset Totals
Total Number of Organisms: 2886
Total Number of Species: 62
Average population size: 46.55
Decimal Accuracy: 4
Total Number of Regions: 1
Total Number of Region Sets: 1
169
Alpha Biodiversity [α]
Simpson Index (D) = 0.0580
Simpson Dominance Index (1-D) = 0.942
Reciprocal Simpson Index (1/D) = 17.34
Shannon Index 4.62
Berger-Parker Dominance Index 0.1168
Inverted Berger-Parker Dominance Index 8.564
Margalef Richness Index 7.656
Menhinick Index 1.154
Rényi Entropy/Hill Numbers (r=0,1,2,∞) 62, 24.69, 17.24,≈∞
Buzas and Gibson's Index 0.3967
Gini Coefficient 0.7035
12/11/2019 Results of the Biodiversity Calculator of the Simpson and Shannon-Wiener Indexes
170
Chapter 5
Discussion
River Swat is an important river of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province as well as of Pakistan.
It has a very long stretch of about 250 Km from its origin in the lofty mountains of Chitral and
Kalam to its confluence with River Kabul at Nisatta in District Charsaddah. It is a unique water
body to have a great diversity of temperature regimes from very cold to warm. Its water
temperature fluctuates from below freezing point to 350 C. Similarly, its topography is also
greatly variable from very high mountains to hilly areas and then a run in plain areas. Bottom
conditions too vary a lot from rocky, pebbly and gravelly bottom conditions to sandy bottom in
plain area.
These diverse environmental and topographical conditions have made this river a heaven
for the animal diversity including fish. It is clear from the fact that about a total of 95 fish species
have been reported from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Butt, 1986; Mirza, 2007;) out of which 62
(65.2%) species are found in River Swat. Mirza and Bhatti (1999) had reported 179 fish species
and Sandhu (2017) has reported 195 fish species from all over Pakistan. If we compare the
ichthyodiversity of River Swat with the ichthyodiversity of Pakistan, it is about 32% of the total
fish diversity of Pakistan which shows how much diverse are the fish fauna of river Swat.
To completely identify the fish fauna of this river efforts have been made since 19 th
century when McCleland (1842) described the fish fauna of the River Swat for the first time.
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ramzan Mirza from Govt College Lahore who has published more than
200 research papers on fish diversity of different water bodies of Pakistan, has also started his
work from investigating the fauna of river swat. His first study was about the taxonomy of the
hill stream fishes of Swat and Kaghan (Mirza, 1962).
171
Present work is also a continuation of this chain of research work in which not only the
fishes were collected from the whole length of this river but after their identification a pictorial
key has been developed for identification of those species.
During present work fishes which were collected from upper part of River Swat were
Triplophysa microps, Triplophysa naziri, Schistura alepidota, Schistura prashari, Schistura
curtistigma, Crossocheilus diplocheilus, Carassius auratus, Cyprinus carpio, Garra gotyla,
Glyptosternon reticulatum, Glyptosternon maculatum, Schizothorax plagiostomus, Schizothorax
esocinus, Orienus plagiostomus, Racoma labiata, Acanthocobitis botia, Oncorhynchus mykiss,
Salmo trutta fario, Puntius conchonius, Barilius pakistanicus, Bariliu modestus, Barilius
naseeri, Barilius vagra and Labeo calbasu ( Table 4.7).
Most of the fish species present in the upper region are similar to fauna of lower swat like
Triplophysa microps, Schistura alepidota, Schistura prashari, Schistura curtistigma,
Crossocheilus diplocheilus, Carassius auratus, Garra gotyla, Schizothorax plagiostomus
Schizothorax esocinus, Orienus plagiostomus, Racoma labiata, Acanthocobitis botia, Puntius
conchonius, Barilius pakistanicus, Barilius naseeri, Barilius vagra and Labeo calbasu but fishes
like Barilius naseeri, Oncorhynchus mykiss, Salmo trutta fario, Glyptosternon maculatum and
Glyptosternon reticulatum are only confined to upper river Swat as these fishes can survive in
very highly oxygenated cold water. This is in agreement with many authors (Nelson, 2016; Ali,
2012; Mirza, 2007;) who have confirmed the presence of trouts only in very cold waters.
Glyptosternon is also confined to upper cold regime of River Swat although one specimen was
found from Matta (Hasan et al., 2013) in a perineal tributary in a collection in 2010. It was
considered that the fish had started expanding its range of distribution, but it was never found
172
again in this area in following collections. It seems that the fish might had brought by strong
flood downstream and was surviving in some way.
In the present study an effort was made to collect all possible fish species from the whole
stretch of River Swat. According to the results, fauna comprised of seven orders, eleven families,
38 genera and 62 species (Table 4.2). Order Cypriniforms was proved to be the largest groups of
fishes with two families and nine sub families. About 64.5% fish species belong to this order in
present study (Fig. 4.63). This is the same observation as described by Munshi and Srivastava
(1988), Talwar and Jhingran (1991) and recently Nelson (2016) for the whole Indian region.
The orders which are least common (1.6% species diversity) are Mastacembeliformes and
Beloniformes as they were represented by only a single species each. Ishaq et al (2014) has also
presented the similar information about River Swat.
As for as the diversity of families is concerned the maximum diversity lies in order
Siluriformes which is represented by three families (27.3%) in River Swat namely Sisoridae,
Bagridae and Schilbidae whereas order Cypriniformes is represented only by two families
(18.2%) i.e. Cyprinidae and Nemacheilidae. This is a unique observation because most
researchers have described former as most diverse order in all respects (Akhtar et al., 2014;
Ishaq et al., 2014). One of the reasons might be the low temperature of the water here which
support silurids (catfishes) more as compared to cyprinids. Another reason might lie in the
feeding habits of the fishes as most catfishes are carnivorous and cold waters generally do not
have high productivity and hence can’t support herbivorous fishes which are more represented in
Cypriniforms.
Statistical analysis of the diversity data of River Swat shows that it has a very high
diversity. Values of diversity indices like Simpson’s diversity index ( D= 0.058), Simpson
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Dominance index (0.942) and Simpson Reciprocal Index (17.34) show a very high fish diversity
both in terms of richness and evenness. Similarly, Shannon Index is a measure of evenness and
abundance. Its value (4.62) confirms the high and evenly distributed fish diversity in River Swat.
Wahab and Yousafzai (2017) reported 10 cyprinids from River Panjkora, a major
tributary of River Swat, including Barilius vagra, B. pakistanicus, Garra gotyla, Tor putitora,
Crossocheilus diplocheilus, Schizothorax esocinus, S. labiatus, S. plagiostomus, Cyprinus carpio
and Carassius auratus. In present study 25 species have been reported from River Panjkora
(Table 4.3). Although Carassius auratus is found in River Swat but in Panjkora it was not found
in present study. Similarly, presence of Schizothorax labiatus is in doubt as no one has reported
it earlier from Pakistan. It might have been confused/missed with Racoma labiata. Hence the
presence of Schizothorax plagiostomus as most abundant species is similar to the present study.
Some fish species in River Swat are of special taxonomic interest like that of Indus
Golden Mahasher Tor putitora and Tor macrolepis. These two species are very similar and fish
taxonomists have questions about their status. The seasoned and most renowned taxonomist Prof.
Dr. M. Ramzan Mirza considers it Tor macrolepis (Mirza and Sandhu, 2007; Sandhu and
Ambreen, 2017) whereas Director, Pakistan Museum of Natural History (PMNH), Dr. M. Rafiq
describes the species as Tor putitora (Rafiq and Javed, 2002). As for as the species’ morphology
is concerned it is generally very difficult to differentiate as the minor difference between the two
is only in the count of lateral line scales. In Azad Kashmir an identification work has been done
at molecular level (Khaliq et al., 2015) to decide the status of golden Mahasher but it remained
indecisive as they had analyzed only one gene which doesn’t gave clear idea about the
classification.
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Comparison of the diversity of River Swat with other big rivers of the area was also an
aim of the present study. Although River Panjkora is a tributary of River Swat but it itself is
quite a big river with a reasonable fish diversity. Its fish diversity (Table 4.3) is very pronounced
and 25 fish species have been reported so far from this river and its tributaries (Hasan et al.,
2015). River Punjkora shares all the fish species with River Swat except Cyprinion watsoni
which belongs to family Cyprinidae, sub family Cyprininae and it seems to be restricted in this
river. However, sub family Barbinae is present in River Panjkora as Cyprinus carpio is found
here. The reason of its absence from River Swat might be the difference in environmental
factors and topography but actual reasons need to be investigated in future studies.
River Kabul is another big river of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Its total length is 700
Km out of which 560 Km flows in Afghanistan. Two recent works have been done to investigate
the ichthyofauna of River Kabul by Khattak et al (2015) and Suleman et al (2016). Former have
reported 25 species and later 22 species most of which are overlapping. Comparison shows that
most of the fish fauna is similar to that of River Swat except for eight species which are unique
to River Kabul and are not present in River Swat. Among them Hypophthalmicthys molitrix and
Labeo rohita belong to family Cyprinidae whereas four fishes Ompak bimaculatus, Wallago attu,
Separata sarwari and Bagarius bagarius belong to family Siluridae. A single species each from
family Cobitidae and family Heteropneustidae is also found namely Botia birdi and
Heteropneustes fossilis respectively. This alteration is due to great difference in ecology of both
the rivers. Not only temperature but bottom conditions, water flow speed, water volume, oxygen
contents, CO2 level, turbidity, minerals etc. are different between these rivers.
175
Floods are natural catastrophes which cause major changes in all environmental factors
which in turn affect the organisms living in the aquatic ecosystem (Godlewska et al., 2003).
During flooding, young fishes generally die in large number because flooding season follows
breeding seasons of most warm water fish (Nehring and Miller, 1987). Therefore, young fishes
are susceptible to damage in floods as their swimming capacity is poor and size is too small
(Harvey, 1987). River Swat has also faced the highest flood in the history in July, 2010. Water
discharge reached 355,000 cusecs (Akhtar et al., 2014) and the whole of KP province suffered
major physical and economic loses.
In the present study some species loss was also observed after the mighty flood.
Collection made in 2011 and afterward depicts that some species which were reported earlier
were missing in the River Swat after flooding. Among them a cyprinid of the subfamily
Cultrinae Chela cachius is a beautiful fish which has been lost now.
Mirza (2007) has reported Naziritor zhobensis but this fish has not been collected from
any part of River Swat again neither before flooding nor after. It seems that the fish was reported
from this area by mistake. Although during other projects my students have captured it from
River Kurram, from North Waziristan and from South Waziristan in last three years which have
a connection with River Zhob and its catch from Waziristan shows that fish has started
expanding its area of distribution downstream.
Mirza (2007), from lower swat and Rafiq and Javed (2002), from Mingora have reported
Schizopyge esocinus/ Schizothorax esocinus from this river. This fish was present in very little
number and only two specimens from Barikot were collected before flooding but now it has not
been caught in any catch. It seems this very important edible species has been lost due to damage
to its habitat.
176
Schistura naseeri and Triplophysa choprai have also been reported from upper River
Swat (Mirza, 2007; Rafiq and Javed, 2002) and many specimens were collected from Barikot
and Chakdara by me in 2004 but now these species seems to be eliminated from this river as they
are not present in catches after floods.
Three species of family Siluridae namely Glyptothorax sufii, Glyptothorax cavia and
Glyptothorax naziri were reported by previous workers from River Swat and were also collected
by one of my students but after the floods of 2010 they are not present in any catch. Similarly,
Xenentodon cancilla (family Belonidae) was collected in 2004 but after floods it has been
disappeared from the river.
Two very beautiful ornamental fishes of family Belontidae namely Colisa faciata and
Colisa lalia were reported by Mirza (2007) from below Mingora i.e. lower part of River Swat but
they are no more present in the river now. Being very small in size and delicate in nature these
beautiful aquarium fishes are no more present. Flood deposits heaps of alluvial soil which might
have completely damaged the breeding grounds of these valuable ornamental species.
Fish is a gift from nature and nutritionally and medicinally it is very important for human
health. Its meat is very digestible (about 85%) and 379 grams of common carp’s flesh contains
approximately 9.25 grams of Nitrogen (lagler et al., 1962). In other words, we require about 410
grams of Fish flesh for obtaining 10 grams proteins. In present study it was observed that some
of the fishes are edible and some are nonedible. Although all the fishes are edible but generally
in Pakistan people don’t like to eat small sized fish (Haq et al., 2014). Amongst the fishes
reported from River Swat 16 species (Table 4.5) which means 25.8% of the total diversity (Fig.
4.66) can be classified as major edible species as they grow to marketable size which people like
177
to buy and eat. These fishes include Labeo calbasu, Labeo diplostomus, Cirrhinus mrigala, Tor
putitora, Tor macrolepis, Schizopyge/Shizothorax esocinus, Orienus plagiostomus, Racoma
labiata, Cyprinus carpio, Ctenopharyngodon Idella, Oncorhynchus mykiss, Salmo trutta fario,
Clupisoma garua, Clupisoma naziri, Eutropiicthys vacha and Mastacembelus armatus.
There are some other fishes which are generally considered non- edible due to their small
size but still in some areas people like to eat them because of their very soft flesh. As these fishes
are of small size, they are eaten as a whole and have high nutritional value (Table 4.6). People
consider their meat sweater and soft. These fishes include 13 species viz. Cyprinion watsoni,
Naziritor zhobensis, Crossocheilus diplocheilus, Garra gotyla, Carassius auratus, five species of
genus Glyptothorax, two species of genus Glyptosternon and Mystus bleekri. These species make
about 21% of the total fishes of the area (Fig.4.66). It is quite clear that the river has a great
economic potential as almost half of the fish species are edible and could solve the issue of the
protein deficiency and food security which are major issues of the third world countries.
Some fishes especially from genera like Chela, Salmophasia, Salmostoma,
Barilius, Aspidoparia, Devario, Rasbora, Puntius, Schistura, Triplophysa, Acanthocobitis,
Carassius, Cyprinus (coloured varieties), Gagata, Chanda and Colisa are really very beautiful and
could be kept in aquaria (Table 4.1). Aquarium fishes is a big business throughout the world
which was started in Sri lanka (Rao et al., 2013). The trade of ornamental fish is composed of
about 1450 marine fish species and about 4500 freshwater fish species (Alam et al., 2016;
Ahmad,1996). Pakistan is a big importer of ornamental fishes where main markets are located in
big cities like Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Peshawar etc. In Pakistan even, those
species are imported which are found in our waters (Bakhtzada, 2016). As mentioned above 18
genera of aquarium fishes exist in River Swat which if properly managed and harvested could
178
become a big economic activity for the poor people of the area. These fishes could be cultured or
artificially bred and could become a permanent source of income for the public.
Another important issue, although not directly related with the scope of the present study,
is one of the important reasons in fish decline and species loss is illegal and inhuman fishing
methods like poisoning, dynamiting, electrofishing and fishing in local utensils and Jals (nets)
have adverse impact on fish fauna. The above practices affect the water quality and river ecology
and in response disturb the livelihood, social and economic conditions of the community. In
some places the young boys stop water in channels made for irrigation and small streams to catch
fish. This results not only destruction of small fishes in the dried stream but a greater loss to
aquatic creatures. Stopping of water in irrigation canals also causes the destruction of breeding
ground of most of the fishes. The number of brooder fish has been reduced in the river because
of high fishing, therefore, catching undersized fish may be an additional factor in vanishing fish
population. Due to all these factors, “Tor putitora and T. macrolepis” (Mahseers) and
“Schizothorax esocinus” (Thalk) are near to extinction in the river. This is the same observation
made by Ali et al (2010) that Schizothoracines and Mahseer are becoming rarer because of over-
fishing and spawning grounds destruction.
Conclusion
The present study on River Swat concludes that the river keeps a very favourable
set of environmental factors and is supporting a great diversity of fish. Its ichthyodiversity is
highest if compared with other rivers of the province. However, historical flood in 2010,
pollution and habitat loss are causing stress on fish and other aquatic fauna and some species
have apparently disappeared from the river.
179
It is also concluded that the river has a great impact on the economy of the people of the area not
only in terms of irrigation and household utilization but for having a great variety of edible and
ornamental fish species which, if properly managed and utilized, can change the destiny of the
people of the area.
Recommendations
1. Aquaculture is not well developed in the swat. The activities are only present for
Mahasheer culture in Thana and Trout culture in upper part of Swat district. The fish
farming activities are limited in the area. Local people are interested in making fish farm
for additional income generation, but they neither have any guidance nor encouragement
and motivation.
2. To ensure the conservation of natural fish resources Hatcheries for local fish species need
to be developed. These hatcheries may provide seed to local fish farmer as well as stock
in natural water resources.
3. Professional fishermen should be given proper training by fisheries department.
4. Seminars and workshops should also be arranged in schools, colleges and universities to
aware teachers and students about the importance of fish, and their conservation.
5. Laws promulgated for fish conservation need refinement and their implementation in true
spirit is needed.
6. Public walks should be arranged to motivate the people for fish and biodiversity
conservation.
7. Existing management plans for fish reserves need reconsideration as the previous ones
are badly failed.
180
8. Local people and communities need to be involved in the fish management and
conservation strategies for future.
9. Laws to control illegal fishing and use of cruel methods should be updated and with high
penalties more strong law enforcement is required.
10. Total and effective ban on fishing during breeding season should be implemented.
11. Standard size nets should be used to minimize the risk of undersized fish being caught in
the net.
12. Effort for recapitulation of endangered and critical fish species like Mahseer “Tor
macrolepis” and Thalk “Schizothorax esocinus” should be made.
13. Research centers and restocking centers like hatcheries are recommended in Swat for
endangered fish species to ensure their conservation.
14. Water pollution should be controlled to protect the fish habitats destruction.
15. Coordination among government departments, NGOs and law enforcing authorities is
required for the conservation of not only fish fauna but freshwater ecosystem too.
16. Fish taxonomic identification should also be conducted in River Swat based on their
genetics through DNA analysis as future work to overcome the ambiguities in
identification.
181
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