Studies on fish diversity of Wainganga river around Desaiganj region Dist. Gadchiroli (Maharashtra)

The present investigation aims to study the ichthyofaunal diversity of Wainganga river at Wadsa, district, Gadchiroli. The study was carried out during November, 2022 to March, 2023. The study revealed the presence of 28 fish species belonging to 10 orders, 15 families and 22 genera. The members of order Cypriniformes were dominated by 10 species. However the Siluriformes were dominated by 08 species. Orders Ophiocephaliformes and Osteoglossiformes were represented with 02 species each and Synbranchiformes, Anabatiformes, Beloniformes, Anguilliformes, Cichliformes and Perciformes orders were represented by one species each. The 15 families of fishes noted during the study were Cyprinidae, Chichlidae, Mastacembellidae, Anabantidae, Channidae, Bagridae, Claridae, Heteropneustidae, Siluridae, Pangasiidae, Sisoridae, Belonidae, Notopteridae, Anguillidae and Nandidae. The order Cypriniformes was represented by the eight genera that were Catla, Labeo, Cirrihinus, Cyprinus, Ctenopharyngodon, Rasbora, Hypophthalmichthys and Abramis. The order Siluriformes was represented by six genera that were Mystus, Clarias, Heteropneustes, Wallago, Pangasius and Bagarius. However orders Synbranchiformes, Anabatiformes, Beloniformes, Anguilliformes, Cichliformes, Ophiocephaliformes Osteoglossiformes and Perciformes were represented by single genera Mastocembalus, Anabas, Xenentodon, Anguilla, Oreochromus, Ophiocephalus Notopterus and Nandus respectively.