THE STUDY ON FRESH WATER FISH DIVERSITY AND THEIR ABUNDANCE IN WARANGAL DISTRICT, TELANGANA STATE, INDIA

V. Rajani*

ABSTRACT

Fishes are one of the important elements in the economy of many nations as they have been a stable item in the diet of many people. Freshwater fishes are important livelihood of poor people as it contains the important protein. Fishes are an integral part of freshwater various fresh water ecosystems. Fishes play an important role in energy flows, nutrient cycling and maintaining community balances fresh water ecosystems. The present study was carried out during the study period from June 2016 to May 2018 at Velair Lake, Warangal District, Telangana State, India. A Total of 28 species of fishes belonging to 6 orders have been identified, such as order Cypriniformes 13 Species falling under 8 genera, Order Siluriformes 7 Species falling under 5 genera, order Osteoglossiformes 1 Species falling under one genera, order Channiformes 2 Species falling under one genera, order Perciformes 4 Species falling under 3 genera and order Antherniformes 1 Species falling under one genera. Order wise percentage composition is Cypriniformes (46%), Siluroformes (25%), Osteoglossiformes(4%), Channiformes (7%), Perciformes (14%), and Anthrniformes (4%).The study thus states about the Lake has good potential of fish species and is still in a position to set a good example of conservation and sustainable management.

Keywords: Fish Fauna, Velair Freshwater Lake.