Exploring Ichthyofaunal Richness and Conservation in Selected Water Bodies of Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Fish exhibit remarkable biodiversity and are distributed across a wide range of aquatic environments. Their distribution is strongly influenced by Eco physiological factors such as habitat type, nutrient availability, and other environmental conditions. In the present study, a variety of fish species were recorded from different water bodies, contributing to the documentation and conservation of the ichthyofauna of the selected regions, as well as highlighting their potential economic importance. The survey was conducted in three Districts i.e. Kohat, Karak and Bannu, all of which demonstrated considerable fish diversity. Among the recorded taxa, 14 belonged to the family Cyprinidae, followed by Cichlidae, Channidae, Siluridae, and Balitoridae, respectively. Cyprinidae is the largest fish family, comprising about 10% of all known fish species and nearly 25% of freshwater fishes. Members of this family are ecologically diverse, occupy a wide range of habitats, utilize varied food resources, and exhibit numerous adaptive traits.