Checklist of endemic ichthyofauna of Northeast India

Abstract

North-eastern India is one of the ichthyofaunal hotspots of the country and is characterised by the presence of varied endemic freshwater fishes. Extensive ichthyological field and laboratory studies conducted during 2007 to 2016 in the major river drainages, upland lakes, reservoirs and wetlands revealed the occurrence of 138 fish species which belonged to 54 genera, 18 families and 6 orders, endemic to the region. Of these, the maximum fish endemism was recorded in river Irrawaddy and Chindwin basins (91 species) of Manipur, followed by Assam in the Brahmaputra and Barak valley (29 species), Arunachal Pradesh (26 species), Meghalaya (23 species), Nagaland (14 species), Mizoram (8 species) in Kolodyne river system, Tripura (7 species) and Sikkim (5 species). In view of their economic importance, 58 species were found to have food value, 43 species ornamental value, 27 species both ornamental and food value and 10 species both food and sports value. According to IUCN status (2016), 7.97% of the assessed species are listed in the Endangered category, 24.64% Vulnerable, 10.14% Near Threatened, 0.72% Critically Endangered, 34.06% Least Concern, 18.84% Data Deficient and 3.62% under Not Evaluated category. Many of these endemic fishes can be considered as potential candidate species for freshwater aquaculture in the hilly region, which in turn will help in species propagation, generating livelihood for the people and to conserve germplasm from extinction.