Fish Fauna of Asan River and Its Tributaries, Western Doon Valley, Dehradun (Uttarakhand), with Conservation Status of Species and Threats - Aquatic Ecosystem: Biodiversity, Ecology and Conservation - page 231

India
Throughout. Assam, Bihar, Ganges, Brahmaputra,
Mahanadi and Cauvery river systems where it is
widespread in the Cauvery watershed,
Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttar
Pradesh and West Bengal. Kashmir Valley (prob-
ably introduced).

Diagnostic Characters
D. 3-4/8, P. 1/14-16, V. 1/8, A. 2-3/5, C. 18-19,
30-33.
Body oblong; head small, barbels two pairs,
rostral pair short and maxillary longer than the
eye; lateral line complete. Body silvery with a
prominent fi ngerlike dark spot over the caudal
peduncle.

Elsewhere
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal and
Pakistan. Colombia, Mexico, Puerto Rico and
Singapore (introduced).

Maximum Length
42.0 cm; weight 1.4 kg.

Distribution

Habitat and Ecology
Generally inhabits lakes and streams. Feeds on
worms, crustaceans, insects and plant matter. A
prolifi c spawner that can tolerate low water
temperatures.

Uttarakhand
Garhwal Division: Dehradun, Haridwar, Pauri and
Tehri districts; Kumaon Division: Nainital and
Udham Singh Nagar districts. Rajaji National Park.

Conservation Status
IUCN Red List, least concern.

India
Throughout north of Krishna river system.

Remarks
Being one of the hardiest barbs, undemanding
and beautiful, it is very popular among aquarists.
It can be kept in groups of fi ve or more individu-
als with other small fi shes.
Of no fi shery interest; kept in aquaria.

Elsewhere
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and
Pakistan.

Habitat and Ecology
Adults occur in rivers, streams, lakes and back-
waters and are salinity tolerant. They form
schools in groups of four or fi ve to several dozen.
They feed on aquatic insects, fi sh, algae and
shrimps. They spawn in running waters among
submerged boulders and vegetation.

8. Puntius sarana sarana (Hamilton, 1822)
Cyprinus ( Cyprinus ) sarana Hamilton, 1822.
Fish. Ganges : 307-310, 388 (type locality:
ponds and rivers of the Gangetic systems of
Bengal).

Conservation Status
IUCN Red List, least concern.

English Names
Olive Barb, Olive Carp.

Remarks
The generic status of the fi sh is still unclear and
keeps fl ipping between Barbodes and Puntius .
Of minor fi shery interest; popular among
anglers for its size; smaller ones with limited
demand in aquarium trade.

Local Names
Bhangan, Khami, Khangan, Phuta, Phutia,
Pothia.

Localities Surveyed
Asan River at Herbertpur and Bairagiwala near
Herbertpur.
Small stream, culvert No. 28/2, Ridapur near
Sahaspur; small stream, culvert No. 19/2,
Selakui.

9. Puntius sophore (Hamilton, 1822)
Cyprinus ( Puntius ) sophore Hamilton, 1822. Fish.
Ganges : 310-311, pl. 119, fi g. 86 (type locality:
ponds and rivers of the Gangetic provinces).