Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2017; 5(4): 1318-1320

E-ISSN: 2320-7078
P-ISSN: 2349-6800
JEZS 2017; 5(4): 1318-1320
Studies on fish fauna of River Kunhar at Rara
© 2017 JEZS site Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Received: 20-05-2017
Accepted: 21-06-2017

Khalid Usman Khalid Usman, Hameed Ur Rehman, Rukhsana Gul, Khalid Pervaiz,
Department of Zoology, Hakim Khan and Sana Naseem
Hazara University Mansehra,
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,
Pakistan Abstract
The present study was carried out to explore fish fauna of River Kunhar at Rara site, Khyber
Hameed Ur Rehman Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan from March, 2013 to February, 2017. Collection of fish fauna was done with the
Department of Chemistry, help of local fisherman and various fish gears. All the collected fish specimens were identified with the
Kohat University of Science and help of fish identification keys. The identified fish species comprising2 Orders, 3 Families, 5 Genera’s
Technology, KPK, Pakistan and 7 Species. In the current survey Cyprinidae was the largest Family which was represented by 4
Species; Nemacheilidae and Sisoridae were represented by only one species each respectively. From the
Rukhsana Gul current survey, it can be concluded that River Kunhar at Rara site inhabits very rich ichthyofauna.
Department of Chemistry,
Kohat University of Science and
Keywords: Water, Rivers, Rara, Fish, Family, identification, anthropogenic
Technology, KPK, Pakistan

Khalid Pervaiz 1. Introduction

Fisheries Research & Training Fishes indicate tremendous differing qualities in their morphology, in the living spaces they
Institute, Government of the involve and in their life history. Not at all like the other every now and again reported
Punjab, Lahore Pakistan. vertebrates, fishes are an assorted gathering [1]. Among the sea-going fauna, fishes are a
Hakim Khan
standout amongst the most critical essentials and assume a key part in the abundance of
Department of Genetics, numerous countries as they have been a found as a consistent thing in the eating routine of
Hazara University Mansehra, numerous countries [2]. In Pakistan diverse reviews were completed to think about the fish
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. biodiversity in various zones [3]. The aim of the research work was to find out fish fauna of
River Kunhar at Rara site KPK, Pakistan.
Sana Naseem
Department of Zoology,
University of Gujrat, Pakistan 2. Materials and Methods
2.1 Fish Collection
Fishes were collected from River Kunhar at Rara site (Fig. 1) with the help of a local
fisherman’s using various types of catch-up instrument like hand nets, cast nets and hooks
from March 2013-Febuary, 2017. After collection proper photographs were taken from
different angles for proper identification and then preservation with 10% formalin, since
formalin decolorizes the fish color on long preservation.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1 Fish Collection
Fishes were collected from the various river Kunhar at Naran site with the help of a local
fishermen’s using various types of catch-up instrument like hand nets, cast nets and hooks
from March 2013-Febuary, 2017. After collection proper photographs were taken from
different angles for proper identification and then preservation with 10% formalin, since
formalin decolorizes the fish color on long preservation.

2.2 Fish Preservation and Identification

Collected fishes were preserved and after the preservation these fishes were brought to the
Research laboratory for proper identification. Fishes were properly identified in the laboratory
by using keys of fish’s identification Jayaram [4], Mirza and Sadhu [5] and Mirza [6]. All the
Correspondence fishes were preserved for longer time off period in a kettle jar by using 10% of formalin
Khalid Usman solution.
Department of Zoology,
Hazara University Mansehra,
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
~ 1318 ~
Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies

the largest Family which was represented by 4 Species;

Nemacheilidae and Sisoridae were represented by only one
species each respectively. The selected species were
Schizothorax plagiostomus, S. esocinus, S. labiatus, Gara
gotyla, Schisturanalbanti, Triplophysa kashmirensis and
Glyptothorax Punjabensis. Rehman et al in (2016a) analyze
the Ichthyofauna of dandy dam North Waziristan organization
of FATA, KPK, Pakistan and reported 5 species [7]. In the
current study only 7 species of the fish were observed. The
results of the both studies shown similarities. In the previous
work only 5 species were recorded but the present study
presented by 7 species. Rehman et al in (2016b) led thinks
about on Dargai dam and announced 5 species [8]. Results of
the previous study and current study reviled that there were a
Fig 1: Map of River Kunhar at Rara site KP, Pakistan. The blue little bit variation in the fish numbering. The variation may be
circle and red arrow show sampling point of Rara. due to the land variation. Rehman et al in (2016c) carried out
research work on the present status of fish on Barganat dam
3. Results and Discussion and recorded 10 species [9]. The results of the present study
The identified fish species comprising 2 Orders, 3 Families, 5 presented only 7 species up to the species level.
Genera’s and 7 Species. In the current survey Cyprinidae was

Table 1: Ichthyofauna in River Kunhar at Rara site KP, Pakistan.

S. No. Order Family Genus Species
1 Cypriniformes Cyprinidae Schizothorax plagiostomus
2 Cypriniformes Cyprinidae Schizothorax esocinus
3 Cypriniformes Cyprinidae Schizothorax labiatus
4 Cypriniformes Cyprinidae Garra gotyla
5 Cypriniformes Nemacheilidae Schistura nalbanti
6 Cypriniformes Nemacheilidae Triplophysa kashmirensis
7 Siluriformes Sisoridae Glyptothorax Punjabensis
Orders 2 Families 3 Genera 5 Species 7

4. Conclusion
From the obtained results it may be concluded that River
Kunhar at Rara site is rich for the Cyprinidae species followed
by Nemacheilidae.

5. Acknowledgement
This work was supported by Higher Education Commission
fellowship. I would like to thanks Hameed Ur Rehman
scientific and technical support. I am also greatly thankful to
my brother Dr. Wahid Raza who help me during fish
collection. This study is a Part of my Doctoral thesis.

6. References
1. Forese R, Paul D. Fish Base 98: Concepts, Design and
Fig 2: Orders wise distribution of Ichthyofauna in River Kunhar at Data sources, Manila. ICLARM. 1998, 66-94.
Rara site KP, Pakistan. 2. Essetchi PK, Guy GT, Valentin ND, Gouliand GBI,
Tidiani K. Fish diversity and its relationships with
environmental variables in a West African basin.
Hydrology. 2003; 505:139-146.
3. Mirza MR. Freshwater fish’s and A.K. Pandian, A.
Pandey, V.K. Dubey and Zoogeography of Pakistan. In:
Bijdragen tot de W.S. Lakra, 2012. Freshwater fish
biodiversity in the Dierknnde. 1975; 45:143-180.
4. Jayaram KC. the fresh water fishes of India Region.
Narendra Publication House, Dheli 110006 (India), 1999.
5. Mirza MR, Sandhu AA. Fishes of the Punjab Pakistan.
Polymer Publications, Lahore, Pakistan, 2007.
6. Mirza MR. Pakistan ki Taazapaniki Machlia, (in Urdu),
Urdu Science Board, 1990, 32-35.
7. Rehman HU, Haseeb A, Raqeeb Ullah, Ahmad I, Wahab
A. Ichthyofauna of dandy dam north waziristan agency of
Fig 3: Families wise distribution of Ichthyofauna in River Kunhar at FATA, KPK, Pakistan. Journal of Entomology and
Rara site KP, Pakistan. Zoology Studies. 2016a; 4:25-27.

~ 1319 ~
Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies

8. Rehman HU, Haseeb A, Wahab A, Khan AZ, Raqeeb

Ullah, Ahmad I. Fish diversity of dargai Pal Dam South
Waziristan Agency, KPK, Pakistan. Journal of
Entomology and Zoology Studies. 2016b; 4:28-29.
9. Rehman HH, Haseeb A, Zarin K, Zareen S, Haleem S.
Current status of fish diversity of Barganat dam north
Waziristan agency, KPK, Pakistan. Journal of
Entomology and Zoology Studies. 2016c; 4:108-115.

~ 1320 ~