DISTRIBUTION AND CONSERVATION STATUS OF FISH SPECIES IN RIVER TUIRIAL IN MIZORAM: PIONERING DETAILED TAXONOMIC STUDY

Abstract

Ichthyofaunal surveys in the River Tuirial at different locations from the headwaters to the downstream region in the province of Mizoram, done as a pioneering work (since updated), revealed the occurrence of 39 species of fishes belonging to 30 genera, 8 sub-families, 15 families and 6 orders for the whole stretch of the surveyed river from upstream to downstream region during the entire period of study. These include 28 fish species under Cypriniformes, 5 species under Siluroiformes, 3 species under Anabantiformes and 1 species each under Angulliformes, Beloniformes and Synbranchiformes. Conservation status and Distrubution of each species have been dealt with in the present paper.