Journal
of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 November 2020 | 12(15):
17077–17092
ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print)
doi: https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.6249.12.15.17077-17092
#6249 | Received 01 June 2020 | Final received 11
September 2020 | Finally accepted 04 November 2020
Fish diversity in streams/rivers
of Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu,
India
K. Kannan 1 & J.A. Johnson 2
1,2 Wildlife Institute of India, #18,
Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001,
India.
1 Present address: Department of
Animal Health and Management, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu 630003, India.
1 kanna.k84@gmail.com, 2 jaj@wii.gov.in
(corresponding author)
Editor: Rajeev Raghavan, Kerala
University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS), Kochi, India. Date
of publication: 26 November 2020 (online & print)
Citation: Kannan, K.
& J.A. Johnson (2020). Fish diversity in streams/rivers of Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu, India. Journal of
Threatened Taxa 12(15): 17077–17092. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.6249.12.15.17077-17092
Copyright: © Kannan & Johnson 2020. Creative
Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
JoTT allows unrestricted use, reproduction,
and distribution of this article in any medium by providing adequate credit to
the author(s) and the source of publication.
Funding: Department of Science
and Techology, New Delhi
(Grant No:SR/FT/LS-094/2007 dt.
July 23, 2009).
Competing interests: The authors
declare no competing interests.
Author details: K. Kannan is a fish biologist, working on
ecology and biology of freshwater and marine fishes. Presently, he is working
as UGC Dr. D. S. Kothari Post-Doctoral Fellow in Alagappa
Univeristy, Karaikudi,
India. His research interests include fish taxonomy, ecology, molecular
systematics and fish stock assessment. J.A.
Johnson has been working on taxonomy, ecology and biology of Indian
fishes. His research included species distribution patterns, community
structure, spatio-temporal changes in resource (food
and space) partitioning among co-existing species, conservation of rare and
threatened species, e-flow assessment and effects of human disturbance on
aquatic resources. Currently he is co-ordinating the
freshwater fish monitoring project under MoEFCC’s
Long-term Ecological Observation (LTEO) programme.
Author contribution: K. Kannan-—involved in field
sampling, data collection and data analysis; J.A. Johnson—involved in filed
sampling, Supervision, data analysis, image preparation and manuscript drafting
Acknowledgements: The principal investigator (PI)
is thankful to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife
Warden, Tamil Nadu and the Field Director, Kalakad-Mundanthurai
Tiger Reserve, Tirunelveli for providing necessary permission to carry out this
work (No.WL5/23465/2010 dated 28.08.2010).
The PI extends his gratitude to the forest range officers of KMTR and
his supporting staff for their assistance in field sampling. We also thank Shri K. Krisha
Prasad from Osmania University, Hyderabad for providing an image of Puntius bimaculatus. The
PI would like to thank the Director, Dean and Research Coordinator, Wildlife
Institute of India (WII) for their support and encouragement. The financial support from the Department of
Science and Technology, New Delhi under Fast Track Young Scientist scheme is
sincerely acknowledged.
Abstract: This article describes fish diversity in streams and
rivers of Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR),
Tamil Nadu. Fifty species of fishes
belonging to 10 orders, 15 families, and 32 genera are recorded. Seven species, Garra
joshuai, G. kalakadensis,
Haludaria kannikattiensis,
Hypselobarbus tamiraparaniei
Mesonemachilus tambraparniensis,
Neolissochilus tamiraparaniensis,
and Dawkinsia tambraparniei
are strictly endemic to this protected area. The minnows, Devario
aequipinnatus, Garra
mullya, and G. kalakadensis
are widely distributed in KMTR streams.
High species diversity (H’=2.81) was recorded in Gadana
River, whereas low species diversity (H’=0.61) was registered in Poonkulam area.
Bray-Curtis similarity analysis showed that sites along the headwater
streams have similar faunal assemblage.
Result of regression analysis revealed that there is a significant
pattern explained between stream order and species richness (r2=0.86;
p<0.05). Among 50 species, four (Garra kalakadensis,
G. joshuai, Dawkinsia
tambraparniei, and Tor malabaricus) are listed in threatened categories of
IUCN Red List. Important threats faced
by endemic species and their management strategies are discussed.
Keywords: Agasthyamalai, Pisces, Poonkulam, Tamiraparani, Western Ghats.
INTRODUCTION
Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) is one of
the important biodiversity rich areas in southern Western Ghats forming an
important watershed for the perennial east flowing Tamiraparani
River. Since this reserve has many
perennial streams and rivers, this protected area is popularly known as River
Sanctuary (Johnsingh & Viickram
1987). The watershed area has very rich
fish fauna with notable endemic and globally threatened species. Information on fishes of this region emerged
in 1950s with the description of two new species Garra
joshuai and Dawkinsia
tambraparniei (Silas 1953). Later, Johnsingh
& Viickram (1987) provided the first
comprehensive list of fishes (33 species) of the Mundanthurai
Sanctuary with illustrations. This
checklist covered the fishes from dams and associated rivers in Mundanthurai Sanctuary, and gave an insight into the
ichthyological diversity of this region.
Subsequently, four new species Garra
kalakadensis (Remadevi
1992), and Haludaria kannikattiensis
Arunachalam & Johnson 2002, Hypselobarbus
tamiraparaniei Arunachalam et al. 2014 and Neolissochilus tamiraparaniensis
Arunachalam et al. 2017 were described from this region. In addition to taxonomy, ecology and biology
of fishes of this region have also been studied in recent years (Johnson &
Arunachalam 2010, 2012; Kannan et al.
2013, 2014). Despite this, the diversity of fishes in KMTR is probably
underestimated, because many streams/ rivers of KMTR had not been explored in
the past. Further, comprehensive
information on fish in KMTR is still in an emerging stage. Hence, the present paper is an attempt to
provide an updated status of the fish diversity and assemblage structure
associated with different streams/ rivers of KMTR.
MATERIALS
AND METHODS
Study Area
Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve is located in the
southern end of Western Ghats in Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu. This reserve comprises of four wildlife
sanctuaries, namely, Kalakad, Mundanthurai,
Nellai, and Kanyakumari, covering a total area of
about 1,601km2. It lies
between 8.4166—8.8833 0N & 77.1666 —77.9166 0E with
altitude ranging from 50m to 1,868 m at the highest point, Agasthyamalai
Peak. This area represents diverse
vegetation types and the core zone of the reserve is considered as one of the
important rainforest areas in the country (Johnson & Kannan 2012). The rich and dense forest types are important
watershed areas for many streams and rivers.
The major perennial river, Tamiraparani
originates from Poonkulam at the base of Agasthyamalai (Image 1) and flows through the core zone of
the tiger reserve. Along its course,
several major tributaries such as Servalar, Manimuthar, Pachiyar, Gowthalaiar, Gadana, and Ramanadhi rivers join delete the river Tamiraparani. In the present study, 25 streams covering
different streams/ rivers within the KMTR were sampled for species diversity
and the survey was carried out between January 2011 and March 2012. The location of sampling sites in KMTR is
presented in Figure 1.
Fish sampling
Fish sampling was performed in
different habitats such as pools, riffles, runs, and cascades within 100m reach
based on the methods of Angermeier & Schlosser
(1989) and Johnson & Arunachalam (2009).
These reaches were selected based on regular pattern of morphology such
as pools and riffles and also special scales covering different stream
orders. Fishes were collected using monofilamentous gill nets of different mesh sizes (8 to 32
mm), drag and scoop nets. Sampled fishes
were examined, counted, photographed and released back to the system. Gill nets were also set during night along
the habitat to obtain nocturnal catfishes.
In addition to netting, hooks and lines were also used for collecting
Anguillid and Mastacembelid fishes. Few specimens of unidentified taxa were
preserved in 10% formalin and the species were confirmed using standard
taxonomic literature (Jayaram 2010).
Current valid species names follow the Catalogue of Fishes (Fricke et
al. 2020) and conservation status follow the IUCN Red List of Threatened
Species (2020). At each sampling
location, altitude and GPS coordinates were recorded. In addition, stream order
classification was obtained for all sampling reach based on Strahlar’s
method (Strahlar 1957).
Data Analysis
Information on fish diversity and
their distribution pattern were extracted by adopting different univariate
indices, Shannon diversity index and evenness index. Calculation of these indices followed the
methods of Padhye et al. (2006). The indices were used to compare species
distribution, richness, diversity, and equitability across the study
streams. Quantitative data of species
along with their abundance were used for construction of dendrogram to
understand the similarity of fish assemblage structure between the streams. This was done using Bray-Curtis similarity
index based on non-transformed species abundance data (Anderson 2001; Padhye et al. 2006) in PAST program. Further, the patterns of species distribution
in KMTR streams was examined using simple linear regression model, where stream
order and altitude were used as independent variables and species richness as
dependant variable.
RESULTS
Diversity and assemblage
structure
A total of 50 species of primary
freshwater fishes belonging to 10 orders, 15 families, and 32 genera were
recorded from the study area (Table 1 & Images 2–6). Among the species, Devario
aequipinnatus, Garra
mullya, Garra
kalakadensis, Garra
joshuai, and Rasbora
dandia were commonly present across the study
streams. The Malabar Mahseer Tor malabaricus was recorded from Myeelar,
Pambanar, Gowthalyar, Vaalayar streams, and also in Ingikuli
river. Of 50 species, seven species
namely, Garra kalakadensis,
G. joshuai, Haludaria
kannikattiensis, Hypselobarbus
tamiraparaniei, Mesonemachilus
tambraparniensis, Neolissochilus
tamiraparaniensis, and Dawkinsia
tambraparniei are endemic to KMTR and Tamiraparani River basin.
Among these endemic species, Dawkinsia
tambraparniei is the only species with a wide
distribution range in middle and lower reaches of Tamiraparani
River basin and the rest are restricted to the headwaters of Tamiraparani (i.e., within KMTR). The exotic species Oreochromis mossambicus was recorded in the lower reach of Gadana and Tamiraparani rivers at
Papanasam region.
Total number of species, Shannon
diversity, and evenness index for each stream are given in Table 2. Maximum number of species were recorded in Gadana River, (S=30), followed by Papanasam
site (S=30), whereas low number of species were recorded in Poonkulam
(Tamiraparani origin) in the upstream and Elumbenodai Stream (two species in each). In the entire study area, cyprinids were the
dominant members of the assemblage structure, comprising 12 genera and 23
species. High values for the Shannon
diversity index were registered in Gadana (H’=2.81), Papanasam (H’=2.78), and Servalar
(H’=2.62), whereas low value was registered in Poonkulam
(H’=0.61). The evenness index of species
equitability was high in Nalumukkuyar (E=0.97)
followed by Palavarathod and Aielar
(E=0.96 in both) whereas the site Chinnapullar and Vaalyar had comparatively uneven distribution of species
(0.74 and 0.77, respectively). Cluster
analyses of species composition in KMTR showed that two distinct clusters and
two separate lines were formed based on the Bray-Curtis similarity (Figure
2). The sites along the headwater
streams had more similar faunal assemblage and they were grouped together in
cluster ‘A’. The sites in the middle
reach of the river with rich diversity sites such as Papanasam,
Gadana, Servalar, Naraikkad, and Nambiyar had more
similar faunal assemblages and they were grouped in cluster ‘C’. The streams namely Vaalayar
and Poonkulam (headwater) had distinct species
assemblage and they did not cluster with other sites (line ‘B’ & ‘D’ in
Figure 2). The result of regression
analysis revealed that there is a strong significant pattern explained between
stream order and species richness (r2=0.86; p<0.05). The study site with higher stream order had
more species (Figure 3a). Similarly in
the case of regression result on altitude vs. species richness a weak
relationship explained between altitude and species richness (r2=0.19;
p<0.05). Sites located at lower
elevation such as Gadana, Papanasam,
and Servalar had more number of species than higher
elevation sites (Figure 3b).
Threatened species
Current status of KMTR fishes
were compared with IUCN Red List data (IUCN 2020) and of 50 species four
species are listed under threatened categories (Garra
kalakadensis, G. joshuai,
Dawkinsia tambraparniei,
and Tor malabaricus). Apart from those, two species namely Labeo pangusia and Ompok bimaculatus
are listed in the Near Threatened category. Distributions of these threatened species in
KMTR are presented in Table 3. These
threatened species constitute about 8% of the species inhabiting KMTR region.
DISCUSSION
Previous studies on ichthyofauna
of this region covered different isolated patches. Silas (1953) listed nine species of fishes
including two new species Garra joshuai and Dawkinsia
tambraparniei from the headwaters of Tamiraparani. Johnsingh & Viickram (1987)
listed 33 species of fishes from Mundanthurai
Sanctuary, primarily from Papanasam lower & upper
dam and Servalar & Manimuthar
dams. Of the 33 species, four
species, Homaloptera
brucei (restricted to eastern Himalayan), Garra
lissorhynchus (restricted to eastern Himalaya), Barbodes carnaticus
(restricted to Cauvery River drainages), and Nemachilus
pulchellus were misidentifications of Bhavania annandalei,
Garra mullya,
Neolissochilus tamiraparaniensis,
and Mesonemachilus tambraparniensis,
respectively. Later, Remadevi (1992) also listed 19 species from Kalakad Sanctuary and Arunachalam et al. (2000) listed 14
species from Nambiyar River. Thus, the present list of 50 species
represents a complete updated account on fishes of KMTR.
Interestingly, the record of a
viable population of Malabar Mahseer in streams such as Pampanar,
Gowthalaiar, Karayar, and Valayar in KMTR is additional information to this
area. This mahseer was described by Jerdon (1849) as Barbus
malabaricus from the mountain streams of Malabar
regions of India. Menon (1992)
synonymised this species with Tor khudree without
any explanation. Indra (1993), however,
considered this species as a valid subspecies as Tor khudree
malabaricus.
Recently, Silas et al. (2005) confirmed the validity of T.
malabaricus as a separate species using
molecular techniques. This species is
reported from rivers Balamore in Kanyakumari
District, Tamil Nadu and Kallada River in Kerala
(Silas et al. 2005). Though, the
presence of this species in Tamiraraparini River was
reported by various workers under different names (as Barbus
malabaricus by Johnsingh
& Viickram 1987; as Tor khudree
malabaricus by Johnson 1999; Tor malabaricus by Johnson & Arunachalam 2012), the
distribution of Tor malabaricus in an east
flowing river is questionable. In this
context, a separate investigation on identity of this species using molecular
techniques is in progress.
Moreover, recently the genus Horalabiosa was synonymised with genus Garra by Yang et al. (2012) based on molecular data
without any discussion on Horalabiosa’s
morphological features. Other workers
have also followed the same synonymy (Kottelat 2013; Bleher 2018). We,
however, strongly suspect that the chance of sampling error as juvenile Garra are morphologically similar to Horalabiosa (Kottelat
2020). Further, combined molecular and
morphological investigation on the validity of genera Horalabiosa
and Garra is necessary.
The patterns of diversity
explained in the present study revealed that sites falling in the lower
altitude with large stream size had high diversity of fish. The study sites Gadana,
Papanasam, and Servalar are
large size rivers (6th order streams) and located at the foot-hills
of Western Ghats, which had high Shannon diversity index (H’=2.81; H’=2.78;
H’=2.68, respectively) comparted to study sites located high elevation with
small stream channel (2nd order stream). High diversity of fishes found in Gadana, Papanasam, and Servalar rivers are mainly due to the size of the channel
and tributary effect (Horwitz 1978; Vannote et al.
1980; Minshall et al. 1985), as these are
6th order river channel with many tributaries in the upstream. In general, main river channel will have high
species richness than head waters (Schlosser 1991; Pusey et al. 1993). Similar type of patterns have been reported
in east flowing streams of Western Ghats (Johnson 1999; Johnson &
Arunachalam 2010). Further, the
regression plot fitted with species richness vs altitude suggest that altitude
is covariate for temperature, which may be a key environmental variable
associated with fish species distribution in the KMTR streams. Similar observations of longitudinal gradient
in species diversity and assemblage structure have been reported from other
mountainous regions (Horwitz 1978; Oberdorff et al. 1993, 1995; Godinho et al. 2000; Silvano et
al. 2000; Ostrand & Wilde 2002; Grenouillet et al. 2004).
An exotic fish Oreochromis mossambicus
was recorded from Gadana and Tamiranaparani
rivers at Papanasam.
This species was introduced in south Indian reservoirs in 1950s by
fishery department (including reservoirs of KMTR) to improve reservoir fishery
production (De Silva et al. 2004). Now
it is well established in rivers, canals, irrigation tanks and downstream of Tamiraparani River, below the reservoirs. This species is not established in the upper
reaches of KMTR (above reservoirs) due to presence of natural obstacles like
high water falls and rocky cascades.
Although, the endemic fishes are
present inside the protected area, there are few threats to these species. The important threats faced by these endemic
species are: habitat degradation due to tea garden operation, entry of
household waste from human settlements in some parts of KMTR and entry of
chemical contaminations from tea garden.
These activities may render the stream habitat not suitable for highly
specialized fishes like Garra joshuai and G. kalakadensis,
ultimately leading to reduction in endemic fish population. In order to conserve these threatened fishes,
proper waste management mechanism should be placed in the tea garden
areas. Further, the study on population
status of endemic species is essential for conserving threatened species.
Table 1. List of fish species
recorded from streams/rivers of Kalakad-Mundanthurai
Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu.
Rivers/Streams Fish species |
Aielar |
Poonkulam |
Sophar |
Palavarathod |
Ullar |
Selampanodai |
Elumbenodai |
Myeelar |
Pampanar |
Gowthalyar |
Karayar |
Chinnapullar |
Vaalayar |
Thailar |
Nalumukkuyar |
Kakachiodai |
Manimuthar |
Thalayani |
Kallar |
Thooneyar |
Naraikkad |
Nambiyar |
Servalar |
Papanasm |
Gadana |
Cyprinodontiformes Aplocheilidae Aplocheilus lineatus |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
- |
+ |
- |
+ |
Cypriniformes Cyprinidae Bangana dero |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
+ |
+ |
Cirrhinus reba |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
- |
Dawkinsia filamentosa |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
+ |
- |
- |
+ |
- |
- |
+ |
+ |
+ |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
+ |
+ |
Dawkinsia tambraparniei |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
+ |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
- |
+ |
+ |
+ |
Garra mullya |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
- |
- |
+ |
+ |
+ |
- |
+ |
- |
- |
+ |
+ |
+ |
Garra joshuai |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Garra kalakadensis |
+ |
- |
- |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
- |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
+ |
- |
- |
- |
Haludaria kannikattiensis |
- |
- |
+ |
+ |
+ |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Hypselobarbus tamiraparaniei |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
+ |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Labeo calbasu |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
- |
Labeo fimbriatus |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
- |
Labeo rohita |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
- |
Labeo pangusia |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
+ |
+ |
Neolissochilus tamiraparaniensis |
+ |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
- |
- |
+ |
+ |
+ |
- |
+ |
+ |
- |
- |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
- |
- |
+ |
- |
+ |
Pethia punctata |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
+ |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
+ |
+ |
Puntius sophore |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
+ |
- |
- |
+ |
Puntius amphibius |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
Puntius bimaculatus |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
- |
- |
+ |
+ |
- |
- |
+ |
Puntius chola |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
+ |
- |
- |
+ |
Puntius dorsalis |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
- |
- |
+ |
+ |
- |
- |
+ |
Puntius vittatus |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
+ |
Systomus subnasutus |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
- |
- |
+ |
+ |
- |
+ |
+ |
Tor malabaricus |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
+ |
+ |
- |
+ |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Danionidae Amblypharyngodon microlepis |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
- |
+ |
+ |
Devario aequipinnatus |
+ |
- |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
- |
- |
+ |
+ |
- |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
- |
- |
- |
Esomus thermoicos |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
Rasbora dandia |
+ |
- |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
- |
- |
+ |
+ |
+ |
- |
- |
+ |
- |
- |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
- |
Rasbora caverii |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
+ |
- |
- |
+ |
Salmostoma balookee |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
+ |
+ |
Salmostoma boopis |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
- |
+ |
Balitoridae Bhavania annandalei |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
- |
- |
+ |
+ |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
+ |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
- |
- |
Nemacheilidae Mesonoemacheilus tambaraparniensis |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
+ |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
+ |
+ |
+ |
- |
- |
- |
Cobitidae Lepidocephalichthys thermalis |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
+ |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
- |
+ |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Siluriformes Bagridae Mystus armatus |
+ |
- |
+ |
+ |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
+ |
+ |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
Mystus montanus |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
- |
+ |
Mystus seengtee |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
- |
- |
Mystus vittatus |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
+ |
- |
+ |
+ |
Siluridae Ompok bimaculatus |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
+ |
+ |
Ompok malabaricus |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Anguilliformes Anguillidae Anguilla bengalensis |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
- |
+ |
Synbranchiformes Mastacembelidae Mastacembelus armatus |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
+ |
+ |
Cichliformes Cichlidae Etroplus suratensis |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
- |
+ |
+ |
+ |
Pseudetroplus maculatus |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
- |
- |
Oreochromis mossambicus |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
+ |
Gobiiformes Gobiidae Glossogobius giuris |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
+ |
+ |
Anabantiformes Channidae Channa gachua |
- |
- |
+ |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Channa striata |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
- |
Perciforms Ambassidae Chanda nama |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
+ |
Beloniformes Belonidae Xenentodon cancila |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
- |
+ |
Table 2. Geomorphological
features, species richness, Shannon index and evenness index recorded in
streams/rivers of Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve,
Tamil Nadu.
Sites |
Stream order |
Altitude (m) |
Number of Species |
Shannon index (H’) |
Evenness index (E) |
Aielar |
3 |
609 |
7 |
1.87 |
0.96 |
Poonkulam |
2 |
609 |
2 |
0.61 |
0.88 |
Sophar |
3 |
600 |
7 |
1.63 |
0.84 |
Palavarathod |
3 |
630 |
7 |
1.87 |
0.96 |
Ullar |
3 |
637 |
8 |
1.77 |
0.85 |
Selampanodai |
3 |
258 |
6 |
1.71 |
0.95 |
Elumbenodai |
2 |
252 |
4 |
1.24 |
0.90 |
Myeelar |
3 |
248 |
4 |
1.28 |
0.93 |
Pampanar |
3 |
291 |
9 |
1.96 |
0.89 |
Gowthalyar |
4 |
300 |
13 |
2.42 |
0.92 |
Karayar |
4 |
300 |
15 |
2.44 |
0.88 |
Chinnapullar |
3 |
300 |
4 |
1.02 |
0.74 |
Vaalayar |
3 |
405 |
6 |
1.39 |
0.77 |
Thailar |
3 |
400 |
6 |
1.53 |
0.85 |
Nalumukkuyar |
3 |
1250 |
4 |
1.34 |
0.97 |
Kakachiodai |
3 |
1230 |
3 |
1.05 |
0.95 |
Manimuthar |
4 |
300 |
8 |
1.95 |
0.94 |
Thalayani |
4 |
300 |
15 |
2.16 |
0.82 |
Kallar |
4 |
150 |
10 |
2.01 |
0.87 |
Thooneyar |
4 |
165 |
7 |
1.81 |
0.93 |
Naraikkad |
4 |
350 |
15 |
2.49 |
0.92 |
Nambiyar |
4 |
350 |
13 |
2.37 |
0.92 |
Servalar |
5 |
300 |
22 |
2.62 |
0.88 |
Papanasm |
6 |
250 |
24 |
2.78 |
0.90 |
Gadana |
6 |
150 |
30 |
2.81 |
0.84 |
Table 3. List of threatened species
and their distribution range within Kalakad-Mundanthurai
Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu.
|
Threatened species |
IUCN status |
Distribution within KMTR |
1. |
Garra kalakadensis |
Endangered |
Aielar, Sophar, Palavarathod, Ullar, Selampanodai, Elumbenodai, Myeelar, Pampanar, Gowthalyar, Karayar, Chinnapullar, Vaalayar, Thailar, Nalumukkuyar, Kakachiodai, Nambiyar |
2. |
Garra joshuai |
Endangered |
Aielar, Poonkulam, Sophar, Palavarathod, Ullar, Selampanodai, Elumbenodai, Myeelar, Pampanar, Gowthalyar, Karayar, Chinnapullar, Vaalayar, Thailar, Nalumukkuyar, Kakachiodai, Manimuthar |
3. |
Dawkinsia tambraparniei |
Endangered |
Gowthalyar, Karayar, Manimuthar, Thalayanai, Kallar, Thooneyar, Servalar, Papanasam, Gadana |
4. |
Tor malabaricus |
Endangered |
Pampanar, Gowthalyar, Karayar, Vaalayar |
For
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