Fish Diversity of Chambal River, Rajasthan State - Aquatic Ecosystem: Biodiversity, Ecology and Conservation - page 267

Fig. 15.3 View of Chambal River

catch followed by other types of fi shes. Among
cyprinids Catla catla (Hamilton) and Labeo
rohita (Hamilton) were dominant in fi sh catch,
whereas Sperata seenghala (Hamilton) and
Silonia silondia (Hamilton) were dominant
among catfi shes. A mullet ( Rhinomugil corsula )
locally known as natera is a fi sh of shallow, clean
water, which was common around Kota, but the
pollution of the river between Kota Barrage and
Keshoraipatan probably has forced its distribu-
tion downstream. This fi sh is observed in good
numbers along the banks of the river. Hussain
( 1992 ) refers to this fi sh as a preferred food
species of the smooth-coated otter. Though fi sh-
ing is banned within the sanctuary limits, it was
observed to be frequent at a number of places and
was reportedly rampant outside the protected
areas. Fish diversity was fair in Rana Pratap
Sagar Reservoir. Fish diversity was less in down-
stream to Kota Barrage up to Keshoraipatan due
to low level of water and pollution. The substrate
of the river ranges from mud and silt to sand and
rock. The Chambal River has very little amount
of water in most of the parts between Kota and
Palighat. The river is very deep at the confl uence

point of Kali Sindh at Batawada and Parbati
River at Palighat. Fish diversity was fair at these
points. Fifty-four species of fi shes were reported
from the Chambal River. Cypriniformes (27 spp.)
was the dominant order of fi shes followed by
Siluriformes (12 spp.) and Perciformes (5 spp.).
List of the fi shes with classifi cation is given
below:
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Osteoglossiformes
Family: Notopteridae
Genus: Notopterus Lacepede
1 . Notopterus notopterus (Pallas, 1769)
Genus: Chitala Fowler
2 . Chitala chitala (Hamilton, 1822)
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Genus: Barilius Hamilton
3 . Barilius bendelisis (Hamilton, 1807)
Genus: Salmophasia Swainson
4 . Salmophasia bacaila (Hamilton, 1822)
5 . Salmophasia balookee (Sykes, 1839)
6 . Salmophasia phulo (Hamilton, 1822)
Genus: Rasbora Bleeker
7 . Rasbora daniconius (Hamilton, 1822)