Diversity of Catfishes from Northern Western Ghats, Maharashtra, India
Blog by Dr. Tejas Patil Kolhapur district is one of the important part of the Western Ghats. Here the catfish diversity along with IUCN category is discussed. Total of 16 species of catfishes were recorded. These species are belonging to the 6 families Bagridae, Siluridae, Clariidae, Schilbidae, Sisoridae and Heteropneustidae. Among the families Bagridae was dominant showing 6 species whereas Siluridae with 4 species, Schilbidae and Sisoridae representing with 2 species, Clariidae and Heteropneustidae with 1 species. As per the IUCN red list, Out of 16 species 4 species are Near Threatened, 2 species are Vulnerable, 1 species is Endangered, 1 species has Data Deficient and 8 are Least concern. Maximum numbers of catfish species were recorded from Panchganga river. The number of catfishes itself revealed that, the rivers of Kolhapur district provide desirable habitat for the catfishes. Catfishes plays cru...