Taxonomic Notes on Puntius species of South India

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 BJM GOVT. COLLEGE, CHAVARA, KOLAM DT, KERALA, INDIA

2 Bishop Moore. College,Mavelikara, Aleppey Dt, Kerala, India

Abstract

Puntius, the most common cyprinids of south India, are widely used as ornamental and food fishes; they are abundantly distributed in diverse freshwater bodies of Kerala and adjacent states of India.  Various taxonomic studies have been conducted on them during the last decade; discovery, description, redescription, splitting of taxa etc._ are more common in it compared to other taxa; it may be due to the unique species richness and high variability prevailing in the genus.   Even though a lot of research works had been done on the genus, a consolidated account of all the species of Puntius is currently lacking; it is an endeavour for solving this difficulty.  An account of all currently recognised Puntius species of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Pondicherry, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are included; their essential taxonomic details such as diagnostic characters and current status are inserted; a brief account of insufficiently known and forgotten fishes also entailed

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