Two fresh water fish species in Western Ghats

KOZHIKODE:  Fresh studies carried out by Ichthyologists have revealed that two fresh water fish species endemic to the Western Ghats are on the verge of extinction. Species, Hemibagrus Punctatus and Barbodes Wynaadensis have been enlisted as critically endangered by the International Union for conservation of Nature (IUCN) in its fresh redlist of species published on November 10, 2011. Earlier, two fish species -- Puntius pookodensis, endemic to Pookode lake in Wayanad and Horalabiosa Arunachalami found at Panniyar stream in Santhamparai in the Idukki district -- was listed as critically endangered by the International conservation group in its redlist on freshwater biodiversity published in September this year.According Shaji P P, Principal Scientific Officer KSBB, environmental conditions are threatening the existance of these species. “They are also facing large scale exploitation in its habitat. The present data show that more and more efforts are needed to save these precious species,” he said.Two fresh fresh water fish species -- Hemibagrus punctatus and Barbodes wynaadensis -- included in new critically endangered list has been endemic to Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Hemibagrus punctatus known from three locations from the western ghats has not been recorded since late 1990s.