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Ornamental Fishes of the Western Ghats of India

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Relation http://eprints.cmfri.org.in/11778/
 
Title Ornamental Fishes of
the Western Ghats of India
 
Creator Anna Mercy, T V
Gopalakrishnan, A
Kapoor, D
Lakra, W S
 
Subject Ornamental Fishes
 
Description India is blessed with a rich diversity of freshwater fishes both in the
Western Ghats and North Eastern Hills. The Western Ghats of India is one
of the 34 - biodiversity ‘hotspot’ areas of the world. The rate of endemism is
well reflected in the case of lower vertebrates especially with regard to fishes.
Of the 300 species of freshwater fishes in the Western Ghats, 155 are
considered ornamental fishes, of which 117 are endemic to the Western Ghats
(Gopalakrishnan & Ponniah, 2000). At present, only a small fraction of the
endemic fish diversity is utilized in ornamental fish trade.
All the ornamental fishes marketed in India are exotic. Eventhough there
are quite a lot of indigenous fishes, having high potential as ornamental
fishes, they have not been properly exploited. The fish fauna of the Western
Ghats include variety of barbs, rasboras, killifishes, glassfishes, catfishes,
catopra, hill trouts, and danios, which are ideal candidates for ornamental
fish industry. They are exceptionally beautiful with a wide variety of bands,
blotches, spots, and colourful fins on their body. In spite of the fact that
the Western Ghats of India is a gold mine of endemic freshwater fishes
suitable for the ornamental fish trade, no concerted efforts have so far been
undertaken for the development of sustainable market for these resources.
Lack of scientific information on these native aquatic fauna is the main
reason for the poor performance of this sector.
 
Publisher National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources
 
Date 2007
 
Type Book
PeerReviewed
 
Format text
 
Language en
 
Identifier http://eprints.cmfri.org.in/11778/1/Ornamental%20Fishes%20of%20the%20Western%20Ghats%20of%20India.pdf
Anna Mercy, T V and Gopalakrishnan, A and Kapoor, D and Lakra, W S (2007) Ornamental Fishes of the Western Ghats of India. National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Kochi. ISBN 81-902951-8-7