Ichthyofaunal diversity of Ramgarh Lake, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh

Survey of Fishes in the proposed area of Ramgarh Lake was done in the month of January, 2025. Investigation revealed the occurrence of 21 native and 4 exotic species of fin fishes (total 25) belonging to 6 orders and 10 families. The details of the species recorded in the lake were- Osteoglossiformes (Notopteridae- Notopterus notopterus, Chitala chitala), Cypriniformes species (Cyprinidae- Catla catla, Labeo rohita, Labeo bata, Labeo gonius, Cirrhinus mrigala, Cirrhinus reba, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Ctenopharyngodon idella, Aristichthys nobilis, Cyprinus carpio, Oxygaster bacaila, Puntius sarana), Siluriformes (Mystus tengara, Mystus vittatus, Sisoridae- Bagarius bagarius; Pangasidae- Pangasius pangasius, Clariidae- Clarias batrachus; Heteropneustidae- Heteropneustes fossilis), Perciformes (Channidae- Channa punctatus, Channa striatus, Channa marulius, Synbranchiformes (Mastacembelidae- Mastacembelus armatus, Beloniformes (Belonidae-Xenantodon cancila). Though commercially important fishes are being cultured in Ramgarh Lake, importance of small indigenous freshwater fishes (SIFs) present in this water body for sustained nutritional security of poor people residing in nearby localities may not be overlooked.