Ichthyfaunal diversity of Chilika lake-the southern sector

Abstract

hilika lake designated Ramsar site of international importance is situated in the humid tropical climatic zone of Odisha, on the east coast of India. It has both marine and freshwater ecological stands being a lagoon. The lagoon has four distinct ecological stands based on salinity profile viz. southern zone, central zone, northern zone, and outer channel. The information on the fish faunal diversity of the southern sector of Chilika Lake, which is the relatively deeper and stabilized with least fluctuations in salinity levels, remains to be scanty. It is in this context that the present study was conceived and undertaken over the period 2010-2011. Fish samples were collected from four selected sampling stations viz. Samal, Taltala, Birds Island and Palur Canal Outfall during pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon. A total of 26 fish species belonging to 22 genera, 18 families and 6 orders were collected and documented. The Fish fauna of this sector was dominated by the order Perciformes (57.69 %) with 15 species followed by Siluriformes (15.38 %) with 04 species, Cyprinodontiformes (11.53%) with 3 species, Clupeiformes (7.69%) with 02 species, Pleuronectiformes and Tetradontiformes (3.84%) with 01 species each. The fishes were categorized as mullets, air breathing fishes, cat fishes, ornamental fishes, thread fin fishes and bloch