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BIODIVERSITY OF FISH FAUNA OF RIVER KHIALI AT DISTRICT CHARSADDA, KHYBER PUKHTOONKHWA, PAKISTAN

Saud Iqbal*, Madam Lubna

The present day study was conducted at River Khiali, District Charsadda to find out ichthyo- diversity of the River. The collection of ichthyo was from May, 2022 to August, 2022. During study fishes were collected by different technique i.e. cast net, rectangular nets and other legal effort. During this investigation time 13 species were collected and identified. These species belonged to 4 orders including Cypriniformes, Channiformes, Siluriformes, and Mastacembeliformes. The order further consists 5 families including Cyprinidae, Channidae, Bagridae, Sisoridae, Mastacembelidae. Order Cypriniformes is the dominant and richest order of the river, including Tor putitora, Ctenopharyngodon idella, Puntius ticto, Puntius conchonius, Barilius pakistanicus, Barilius vagra, Barilius modestus, Cyprinus carpio and Crossocheilus diplochilus. Order Channiformes has single family channidae represented by single specie which is Channa punctata. Order Siluriformes has 2 families namely Bagridae, and Siluridae represented by single specie Mystus bleekeri and Ompak Pabda respectively. Family Mastacembelidae comprises single specie named Mastacembelus armatus. It was concluded that River Khiali at District Charsadda has got high fish biodiversity and has got potential to be utilized for culturing various other cold water fishes.