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Fishes: Uttarakhand Nature Handbook

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UTTARAKHAND NATURE HANDBOOK
A guide for naturalists, eco-tourists and students
2012

ISBN: 978-81-211-0850-8 uttarakhand Nature handbook

A guide for naturalists, eco-tourists and students
Book Concept by Rajiv Bhartari

Edited by Sanjay Sondhi

Authors
Amit and Neha Verma: Birds
Anchal Sondhi: Trees
J A Johnson: Fish
Parag Dhakate: Mammals
Sanjay Sondhi: Amphibians, Arthropods, Butterflies,
Lizards and Moths
Satya Priya Gautam: Snakes, Turtles and Crocodiles

Book Design by Anne Feenstra, Anam Sami,

Kushal Lachhwani, Rakesh Baidya

Artwork :
for Cover and Back by Shabnam Saifi an initiative by
Ecotourism Wing
Printed by Abhimanyu Gahlot
Forest Department, Uttarakhand
Published by Uttarakhand Forest Department and Bishen
Singh Mahendra Pal

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in
any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permis-
sion of the copyright owner. Applications for such permission, with a statement of the purpose and extent of the
reproduction should be addressed to the Publisher. edited by Sanjay Sondhi
Foreword
 Acknowledgement
The idea of a book covering a variety of fauna and flora came from Rajiv Bhar-
tari, CCF Eco-tourism. Not only did he conceptualize the book, but he also pro-
vided constant feedback on the shape the book was taking. Without his support
and encouragement, this book would not have seen the light of day.

Numerous authors provided content for various sections of the book. We are
grateful to Amit and NehaVerma, Anchal Sondhi, J. A. Johnson, ParagDhakate,
and SatyaPriyaGautam for their contributions.

Many people have contributed photographs for the book. We are grateful to
AmitVerma , Anchal Sondhi, AnupSah, AparajitaDatta, AtulDhamankar, Ash-
ish Kothari, BivashPandav, ChandanJani, Dhananjai Mohan, DharmendraKan-
dal, IshanAgarwal, J. A. Johnson, KarthikVasudevan, K. Ramesh, Manoj Nair,
MerwynFernandes, Nanak Dhingra, Otto Pfister, Pankaj Kumar, Raka Singh,
RohanPandit, Sachin Rai, SailiPalande, Sanjay Sondhi , SatishPhadke, SatyaPri-
yaGautam, SujathaPadmanabhan, T.R.A.Arunthavaselvan, Yash Sondhi and
VidyaAthreya for generously contributing their photographs. We would like to
acknowledge Centre for Environment Education, Ahmedabad for the use of
their animal sketches.

We would like to thank BivashPandav, Dhananjai Mohan, KarthikVasudevan,

Manoj Chandran, V. P. Uniyal and Y. Jhala for reviewing various sections of the
book and providing their valuable suggestions.

We are grateful to the design team from archI, especially Anne Feenstra,
AnamSami and Kushal Lachhwaniand who ensured they pushed the envelope,
when it came to the design of the book, and came up with something really spe-
cial. We thank ShabnamSaifi for her lovely artwork for the cover.

AbhimanyuGehlot, Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh provided valuable techni-

cal inputs and suggestions on the technical issues of size and printing.

We hope the efforts of the entire team have resulted in a book that will be used
and remembered, in the jungles of Uttarakhand!

Sanjay and Anchal Sondhi

Titli Trust
 Birds | xx

FISHES
xx | Uttarakhand Naturalist’s Handbook
Fishes
by Dr. J A. Johnson
Fish are gill breathing, cold blooded
animals that live in water. They do not
have limbs, but instead have fins and a
tail that helps them swim. To know more
about some of the fish in Uttarakhand,
read on….
Compared with life in air, conditions
under water are severe restraints and
it is tempting to regard aquatic life as
a serious of struggles to overcome ad-
verse condition. The major challenges
based by aquatic fauna are: density of
water; low level of oxygen; balance of
salt and body fluids and poor light
for vision. Fishes are evolved differ-
ent mechanism to live in these adverse
conditions. They are the first success-
ful vertebrate originates from Sea and
slowly invaded in to inland aquatic
habitats. It may have been in existence
since the beginning of the Ordovician
period about 400 million years ago.
Human community depend this re-
source mainly for food and some ex-
tent recreational purpose. They are the
best known species of aquatic organ-
isms and the only major food source
harvested from natural populations.
Indeed many region people depend
on freshwater fishes for their animal
protein needs. In addition to food,
it also used for traditional medicine,
source of essential oils and vitamins,
protein supplement, recreational fish-
ing (sports) and aquarium trade. In
ecological sense, it plays a great role
in maintaining aquatic food chain and
food webs and exists at or near the top
of the food chain. It also involves in
recycling the nutrients, purification of
water, maintains the ecosystem func-
tion and can serve as indicators of a
balanced aquatic ecosystem. In order
to respecting its ecological services,
documenting the local knowledge on
fish resources in nearby aquatic habi-
tats is very essential.
Fishes | xx
The challenges of conserving freshwa-
ter fish species are discouraging when
compared to attention focussed for
terrestrial habitat. The reasons behind
are poor knowledge on aquatic ecosys-
tem, relatively unmanageable, shared
by multiple users and highly vulner-
able to human interventions. The
combination of major threats to fresh-
water fishes includes, multiple dams
in the upstream, pollution, inter-ba-
sin transfers, alien introductions, all
mainly due to a growing global human
population. Conservation of species
diversity at local, regional and land-
scape scales has received increasing
attention as human disturbance and
modification of ecosystems increase.
Our understanding of the magnitude
of species decline is not clearest for
vertebrates in running water. In India,
many rivers and streams have been
profoundly modified by urban and
agricultural development, impound-
ment, channelization, Hydro-electric
projects and pollution.
Fish Diversity in India
India is recognised as one of the
megadiversity countries in the world
and it also has three important bio-
diversity hotspots areas; they are: the
Western Ghats, the Himalayas and
Eastern Himalayas. It has a unique fish
assemblage structure, which harbours
more endemic and evolutionarily sig-
nificant species. Freshwater fish fauna
of India consists of 930 known species
xx | Uttarakhand Naturalist’s Handbook
with largest number of genera rep-
resenting 65% of the total genera of
primary freshwater fishes of the world
(Jayaram, 1999). It stands 3rd rank in
inland fishery resources. It includes
223 endemic species, 128 mono-
typic genera and 5 endemic families
(Notably: Psilorhynchidae, Parapsilo-
rhynchidae).
Fish diversity in Uttarakhand
state
The state Uttarakhand is blessed with
plenty of natural beauty, including
ice covered Himalayan Peaks and
centre of beauty is many freshwater
streams and snow fed rivers all along
the landscape. The head water of the
holy river Ganges such as Alaknada
and Bhagirathi rivers take origin from
Garwal Himalaya and the other ma-
jor tributaries like Ramganga and
Kali river drain along the Kumayan
region of Uttarakhand region. Fish
species associated with these rivers are
well documented by many research-
ers since 1882 on wards (Atkinson,
1882; Menon, 1942; Lal and Chat-
terjee, 1962; Singh, 1964; Pant, 1970;
Badola et al., 2005; Uniyal and Ku-
mar, 2006; Badola, 2009). Based on
the literature, this region has about
125 species of fishes, covering Garwal
Himalaya (76 species of fishes) and
Kumaon region (96 species). The im-
portant game fishes reported from this
regions are: golden mahseer (Tor puti-
tora), silver mahseer (Tor tor), goonch
(Bagarius bagarius), Mully (Wallago
attu), murrels (Channa spp.) and snow
trout (Schizothorax spp.).
Fishes | xx
Fish Identification
Fish identification is somewhat differ-
ent from identifying birds, which usu-
ally have body colours and distinctive
patterns. So do same fish, but with
many of the characteristic points are
much more restrained, for example:
number of rays in fins, lateral line
scales, lateral transverse scales, body
shape etc. For making easy identifica-
tion, one can start familiar with some
of unique body parts of fishes: colour,
General Morphology and body parts of a bony fish
pattern and shape. Distribution range
information also gives a basic idea
about particular species. Before mov- • Body covered with scales and no
Characteristic features of scales on head
ing into the identification user should
familiar with the general morphology Cyprinidae • Body scales are dome shaped with
and body parts of a fish. The general smooth margin
morphology and major body parts Cyprinidae are generally called carp • Dorsal fin composed of soft branched
are described in illustration (Figure family, it includes mahseers, snow rays, anterior ray unbranched
1). Traditionally, fish identification trout, barbs, barils, danio, minnow, • Usually moveable upper jaw
and classification are carried out on etc. They are highly diverse groups oc- • Short barbels some time present
the basis of some morphometric and cupie in all possible aquatic habitats along the corner of mouth
meristic traits. It is also necessary to fa- such as streams, rivers, lakes, ponds, • No teeth on jaws, but pharyngeal
miliarize with characteristic features of canals etc. The followings are the ma- teeth are present along gill arch.
some important group fishes occur in jor genus under this family: Tor, Schi-
the reason. The major groups of fishes zothorax, Labeo, Cirrhinus, Barilius,
reported in this region are belonging Garra and Puntius. The important sa-
to the family Cyprinidae, Bagridae, lient features of this family are:
Sisoridae and Channidae. In order to
identify some important freshwater
fishes inhabiting in Himalayan waters,
this section descries the salient fea-
tures of major freshwater family and
also major identification characters of
common freshwater fishes.
Key identification characters for family Cyprinidae
xx | Uttarakhand Naturalist’s Handbook
Characteristic features of
Bagridae
Members of this family are commonly
called as catfishes, because of presence
of long barbels around the mouth.
They are more ancient and widely dis-
tributed group, occurs in south and
south east Asia and Europe. Members
of this family are predatoary carni-
vores, feed on aquatic insects, worms
and fishes. The major genus under this
Key identification characters for family Bagridae
Characteristic features of
Sisoridae
Sisoridae fishes are another family of
catfishes, generally inhabits in rapids
and pools of high mountain streams
and rivers. The fish which inhabit in
high altitude are usually having adhe-
sive pad on the thoracic region. The
members of this family are Bagarius,
Glyptothorax, Glyptosternum, Sisor and
Hara. The identification features of
this family are:
Fishes | xx
family are: Mystus, Aorichthys, Batasio
and Rita. The important salient fea-
tures of this family are:
• Scales absent
• Long barbels around the mouth
• Dorsal and pectoral fins with well
developed spine
• Anal fin base short with few rays
• A short membranous out growth
occur after the dorsal fin, called
adipose fin
• Teeth present on jaws.
Key identification characters for family Sisoridae
Characteristic features of ally inhabits in low land streams,
Channidae rivers, reservoirs, lakes and ponds.
The salient features of this family are:
This group of fishes is called snake- •Head with large head scales on top
headed and they can able to take at- •Long dorsal and anal fins
mospheric oxygen for respiration, •Caudal fin round
hence they also called as air-breathing •Large mouth and Jaws with teeth.
fishes. This family has only on genus
Channa represented in India and there
are six valid species were reported
from Indian waters. They are gener-
• No scales on the body
• Adhesive apparatus on the thoracic
often present
• Paired fins (pectoral and pelvic fins)
placed horizontally
• Pectoral fin with strong spine with
serrations
• Barbles on upper jaw strong base,
whip like with broad base
• Eyes small, placed on the dorsal sur-
face of head.
Key identification characters for family Channidae
xx | Uttarakhand Naturalist’s Handbook
Family: Cyprinidae
1. Golden Mahseer Tor putitora
Maximum Size: 2.7 meters; 54 Kg.
IUCN status: Endangered
Plate|21
Large size fish, it can be easily differentiated by large size scales on the body; head
longer than the depth of body. Body colour: in adults, flanks are golden orange
to yellow which fades into silvery white on belly. Fins are yellow in colour. Two
pairs of short barbles present along the corner of the mouth and mouth is move-
able. It differs from all other mahseer by presence of large head, narrow and
long body. It prefers large rocky pools and rapids and it feeds on worms, insects,
molluscs and small fishes. This species is distributed in Alaknanda, Nandakini,
Pindar, Mandakini, Bhagirathi, Bhilangana, Gular, Ganga, Yamuna, Tones, Na-
yar, Himwal, Khohi, Song rivers of Garwal region and Kosi, Ramganga, Sarju,
Gomati, Gagas, Gori, Lohwadi, Dhauli Kali rivers of Kumaon region (Badola,
2009).
Family: Cyprinidae
2. Silver Mahseer Tor tor
Maximum Size: 1.5 meters; 68 kg.
IUCN status: Near Threatened
Plate|21
Large size fish, it can be easily differentiated by large size scales on the body and
small head (length of the head shorter than depth of body). Body colour: adults
dorsal greyish with silver shine on scales up to middle of the body, flanks and
belly silvery white. It differs from all other mahseer by presence of small head in
proportion with body length and depth. Fins are yellow in colour. Two pairs of
short barbles present along the corner of the mouth and mouth is well moveable.
It prefers large rocky pools and rapids and it feeds on worms, insects, molluscs
and small fishes. This species is common in central Himalyan and sub-basins of
Yamuna, but rare in streams/ rivers of Uttarakhand. However, this species was
reported from Alaknanda and Bhagirathi basins of Garwal region and Kosi and
Ramganga rivers of Kumaon region (Talwar and Jhingran, 1991). viciousness
crude.
Fishes | xx
Family: Cyprinidae
3. Stone Sucker Garra gotyla
Maximum Size: 15 cm.
IUCN status: Least concern
Plate|21
Body cylindrical, head flattened on under surface, snout rounded with well de-
veloped proboscis with a median lobe and mouth small, located ventral surface
of the head, around the mouth a sucker like structure present, scales moderate
size, breast and belly often naked. Head and body greenish black, with yellow-
ish colour on scales and belly dull white in colour. It has habit of sticking to the
rocky substratum in the streams and feeds mainly on unicellular algae and detri-
tus. It is very common and wildly distributed in streams and rivers of Himalaya.
This species is distributed in Alaknanda, Bhagirathi, Bhilangana, Gular, Ganga,
Yamuna, Nayar, Himwal, Khohi, Song rivers of Garwal region and Kosi, Ram-
ganga, Sarju, Gagas, Suyal, Sarada and Gaula rivers of Kumaon region (Badola,
2009).
Family: Cyprinidae
4. Baril Barilius bendelisis
Maximum Size: 22 cm
IUCN status: Least concern
Plate|21
Body laterally compressed, body marked with 12 dark bands (bands are clearly
visible in young, and not clear in adults) and scales small. Mouth wide and
placed at terminal position. Colour: Body silver with fine black dots, fins are
orange. It inhabits in fast flowing streams/ rivers and also in low land streams.
It feeds on fallen terrestrial insects and other drifted animal matters. Barilius
bendelisis is very common and wildly distributed in streams and rivers of Hima-
laya. It was reported in Alaknanda, Nandakini, Pindar, Mandakini, Bhagirathi,
Bhilangana, Gular, Ganga, Yamuna, Tones, Nayar, Himwal, Khohi, Song riv-
ers of Garwal region and Kosi, Ramganga, Sarju, Gomati, Gagas, Suyal, Gori,
Lohwadi, Kali rivers of Kumaon region (Badola, 2009).
xx | Uttarakhand Naturalist’s Handbook Fishes | xx

Family: Cyprinidae
5. Rosy Barb Puntius conchonius
Maximum Size: 14 cm.
IUCN status: Least concern
Plate|21
Small barb, laterally compressed body, mouth terminal. Body has a round black
dot on the posterior region of the body. First ray of dorsal fin is strong with ser-
rations. Males are shiny pink colour, fins are black, females are silvery white in
colour. It inhabits in lowland streams, rivers, canals and ponds, where it feeds on
detritus, filamentous algae and worms. This species is distributed in Gular, Gan-
ga, Yamuna, Tones, Nayar, Himwal, Khohi, Song rivers of Garwal region and
Kosi, Ramganga, Suyal, Sarada, Gaula rivers of Kumaon region (Badola, 2009).
well developed wipe like barbels, absence of adhesive pad on the thoracic region
and body colour: body brown colour with three or four black bands around
the body and number of yellow dots all along the body. Ventral surface of the
body white in colour. Pectoral and dorsal fins are aided with strong and serrated
spins. It inhabits in large pools and rapids in Himalayan rivers. This species was
reported from Gular, Ganga, Yamuna, Nayar, Song rivers of Garwal region and
Kosi, Ramganga, Sarada, Dhela, Bore, Feeka, Jhakra and Baigul rivers of Ku-
maon region (Badola, 2009).
Family: Bagridae
8. Gangetic Mystus Mystus cavasius
Maximum Size: 40 cm.
IUCN status: Least concern
Plate|22

Family: Cyprinidae It is a medium size catfish. Head dorso-ventrally compressed and body laterally
compressed. It can be easily distinguished from other Mystus catfish by presence
of long adipose dorsal fin which start immediately after dorsal fin and presence
6. Alwan Snow Trout Schizothorax richardsonii of long maxillary barbels which run up to anal fin end. In addition to that the
Maximum Size: 60 cm. body muscular bands are clearly visible along the flank. Body silver colour with
IUCN status: Vulnerable yellow shade and head dark grey in colour. It is commonly occur in low land
Plate|22 streams, river and reservoirs. It feeds on worms and aquatic insects. This species
is distributed in lower Ganga and Song rivers of Garwal region and Kosi, Sarada,
Body cylindrical, head flattened on under surface, snout rounded and smooth. Dhela, Bore, Feeka, Jhakra and Baigul rivers of Kumaon region (Badola, 2009).
Suctorial mouth located in ventral surface of head, scales very small. Head and
dorsal region of the body gray, flanks and belly silver white. Large size specimens,
flanks are golden brown colour. It has habit of scrapping the rocky substratum
in the streams and feeds mainly on unicellular algae and detritus. It is very com- Do you know?
mon and wildly distributed in streams and rivers of Himalaya (Jayaram, 1999). There are more than 2,000 fish species
in the Indian subcontinent-that is close
to the number of all other verte
Family: Sisoridae brate species of birds, mammals,
reptiles and amphibians put
together!
7. Goonch Bagarius bagarius
Maximum Size: 2 meters
IUCN status: Near threatened Do you know?
Plate|22
A group of fish is called a “school”!
It is a large size cat fish, head dorso-ventally compressed and ventral region of the
body flat. It can be easily distinguish by other Sisoridae catfishes by presence of
xx | Uttarakhand Naturalist’s Handbook Fishes | xx

Family: Channidae

9. Giant Murrel Channa marulius

Maximum Size: 1.2 meters
IUCN status: Least concern
Plate|22

Body round, head snake like, scales present on head and body. Scales on the head Any guesses?
are large and arranged in rosette. It can be easily distinguish form other species
of Channa by presence of black round eye like blotch on caudal fin. Body yel-
lowish brown, flank yellow with orange shade on scales. Lateral side of the body Question 1: Which is the largest and the smallest fishes in the
marked with 6 broad black stripes. It is inhabits in lowland rivers, reservoirs and world?
ponds, where it feeds on fishes and terrestrial insects. In Uttarakhand, this spe-
cies is distributed in lower Ganga, Kosi, Ramaganga, Sarada, Dhela, Bore, Feeka,
Jhakra and Baigul rivers of Kumaon region (Badola, 2009). Question 2: How do fish breathe under water?

Family: Channidae

10. Dwarf urrel Channa gachua

Maximum Size: 15 cm.
IUCN status: Least concern
Plate|22

It is dwarf size murrel, body devoid of any bands and marking. Body greenish
brown in colour, adult male body is bluish black and fins with red margin. It
inhabits in slow flowing streams and shallow stagnant pools. It feeds on aquatic
insects, crustaceans and small fishes. This species is distributed in lower Ganga,
Gular, Yamuna, Tones, Khohi, Mandal, Song, Rawsan, Suswa rivers of Garwal
region and Kosi, Ramganga, Gaula, Dhela, Bore, Feeka, Jhakra and Baigul rivers
of Kumaon region (Badola, 2009).

See page xx for answers

xx | Uttarakhand Naturalist’s Handbook Fishes | xx

Fishes Fishes

1. Golden Mahseer 6. Alwan Snow Trout 7. Goonch

2. Silver Mahseer 8.Gangetic Mystus

3. Stone Sucker 9. Giant Murrel

4. Baril 5. Rosy Barb 10. Dwarf Murrel

Plate | 21 Plate | 22

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