Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

STUDY OF ICHTHYOFAUNAL DIVERSITY OF MURRUM SILLI RESERVOIR, DHAMTARI DISTRICT, INDIA

Harshad Kumar and Divya K. Minj

Abstract

The present study was conducted in the Murrum Silli Dam to observe the biodiversity of fish in the Dhamtari District. Murrum Silli Dam is embanked on the Sillari River, located in the Dhamtari District, Chhattisgarh, India. The total capacity of the reservoir is 165,340,000 m3 with a surface area of 25 km2. The fish samples were collected by netting method for the biodiversity study of fish from Janurary 2022 to june 2022. In this study, a total of 42 species under 34 genera, 16 families, and 7 orders were recorded. The order Cypriniformes dominated with a total of 20 species, followed by Siluriformes (8 species), Perciformes (5 species), Anabantiformes (5 species), Synbranchiformes (2 species), Clupeiformes and Osteoglossiformes (1 species each). Fishes have been classified based on their conservation Status and commercial importance. Out of the total species recorded, 17 species were ornamental in nature and 3 species were in the vulnerable category.