Abstract

A survey of freshwater fishes was conducted in Kerala part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve during 1993-95. The major river systems - Kabani, vythiripuzha, Chaliyar, Kunthi and Bhavani were visited and fishes collected using conventional and traditional methods. Phyusical features of the habitat were qualitatively assessed. Water quality parameters were estimated using standardtechniques. Dietaryanalyses of the most common species were made. A questionnaire survey was conducted among the tribals to understand the traditional fishing methods and to assess their dependence on fish resources. A total of 91 species were recorded from the rivers in Kerala part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Kabani and Vythiripuzha harbours 58 species followed by Chaliyar with 50. Twenty four species were recorded from Bhavani and 10 from Kunthi river. Two new species of fishes, Pangio bashai and Homaloptera menoni were described from Chalikkal and Muthikkulam respectively. New additions to the freshwaters of Kerala and range of extensions were also recorded. Freshwater fishes in the area included 25 species endemic to Western Ghats and five endangered ones. Water quality parameters were within the optimal ranges in most of the areas. The dietary analyses of selected fishesrevealed that majority of them were benthic insectivores. The tribals of the area depend heavily on the fish resources for own consumption. Fishing methods employed by the tribals are largely destructive to the aquatic system. Major threats to the aquatic fauna in general and the fishes in particular are the unscientific and non-sustainable methods of fishing and pollution due to biotic factors