Need to document freshwater fish species in waterbodies, say conservationists

Recently, a fish species called Rhinomugil corsula (locally known as Paravai Kendai) was sighted at the Maruthur irrigation tank near Melur in Madurai district. Once prevalent in Vaigai river, this species has almost died in the river system. This stray sighting of a species in a waterbody that has no direct link with the river shows that a study should be conducted to record species found in independent waterbodies, say researchers.

Madurai Nature Cultural Foundation (MNCF), which has been documenting freshwater fishes in waterbodies around the district, say that in 2024, they recorded 62 freshwater fish species in the Vaigai River basin, of which 11 were exotic species. Of these, four species listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, including Kelaart’s Snakehead, Butter catfish and Sareng catfish, were also documented.