SPECIES DIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION STATUS OF ICHTHYOFAUNA OF MASEH AND KHAIRAN STREAMS OF KANGRA DISTRICT, HIMACHAL PRADESH, INDIA.

Present research article deals with fish faunal diversity and their conservation status in Maseh and Khairan streams of Beas River in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. Ten fish species were recorded from the streams. Out of which, 6 species viz., Pethia ticto, P. conchonius, Opsarius bendelisis, Mastacembelus armatus, Salmostoma bacaila were common in both the streams, whereas, Barilius vagra was present in Maseh stream and Xenontodon cancila, Crossocheilus latius diplocheilus and Acanthocobitis botia were present in Khairan stream only. All the fish species belongs to Least Concern category as per IUCN. These streams provide refuge to large number of indigenous fish population, but are also undergoing major habitat alterations due to various man-made stressors. So proper conservation of diversity of the region is necessary before it is vanished. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]