In a rare study on river Krishna’s aquatic life and bio-diversity, a fisheries development officer and two faculty members of zoology have found 109 types of fresh water species in the second longest river of South India.
The study was concentrated on ichthyofaunal diversity of 250 km stretch of the river from Krishna village in Makthal area, where tributary Bheema confluences Krishna, and Somasila village in Kollapur of Mahabubnagar district. Among the 109 species found during the study, 5 species are found to be in abundance , while 31 are scanty and 19 species are very rare.
According to the researchers, the 109 species belong to 7 orders, 19 families and 46 genera. Researchers -- FDO of Gadwal B. Laxmappa, Assistant Professor of Zoology at M.V.S. Government Arts and Science College of Mahabubnagar B. Ravinder Rao and Assistant Professor of Zoology at M.A.L.D. Government Arts and Science Degree College of Gadwal D. Venkata Sivanarayana, stated that several studies were conducted on river Krishna but almost all of them were carried out in Western Ghats and none in Telangana area.
They claimed that their study had found more species than any other such previous exercises carried out on various rivers in the country so far. A study conducted in the past had found 51 fish species in river Krishna at Wai and Dhoom reservoirs in Maharashtra and another study had reported 57 fish species in Indrayan, a tributary of Bheema. Another research had found 62 species in Kuttanad river in Kerala, they explained.
Speaking to The Hindu , B. Laxmappa said they had taken up the study in January 2012 and concluded it in December last year. “With the help of local fishermen we have collected the species from the river along 15 villages of Mahabubnagar. We have also collected the fish from local fish markets and engaged some fishermen in our endeavour to trace the rare species”, he stated.
Source : The Hindu
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