Need to document freshwater fish species in waterbodies, say conservationists

Recently, a food taxon called Rhinomugil corsula (locally known arsenic Paravai Kendai) was sighted astatine the Maruthur irrigation vessel adjacent Melur successful Madurai district. Once prevalent successful Vaigai river, this taxon has astir died successful the stream system. This stray sighting of a taxon successful a waterbody that has nary nonstop nexus with the stream shows that a survey should beryllium conducted to grounds taxon recovered successful autarkic waterbodies, accidental researchers.

Madurai Nature Cultural Foundation (MNCF), which has been documenting freshwater fishes successful waterbodies astir the district, accidental that successful 2024, they recorded 62 freshwater food taxon successful the Vaigai River basin, of which 11 were exotic species. Of these, 4 taxon listed successful the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, including Kelaart’s Snakehead, Butter catfish and Sareng catfish, were besides documented.