Proc.Zool.Soc.India. 15 (1) : 1 - 11 : (2016) ISSN 0972-6683 : INDEXED AND ABSTRACTED 1 FISH FAUNA OF TEHSIL MENDHAR, DISTRICT- POONCH, JAMMU REGION, J & K STATE, WITH A NEW RECORD OF BOTIA BIRDI, OMPOK PABDA AND GLYPTOTHORAX PUNJABIENSIS FROM POONCH DISTRICT SARSHAD HUSSAIN AND S.P.S DUTTA* Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology, GDC Mendhar, email: sarshad2007@gmail.com *UGC Emirates Fellow, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Jammu, Jammu, email: duttasps@gmail.com Received - 02.01.2016 Accepted - 10.03.2016 ABSTRACT Fish survey in lentic and lotic water bodies of Tehsil Mendhar, District Poonch has revealed the presence of 21 fish species belonging to 04 orders, 07 families and 16 genera. There is a dominance of Cypriniformes (17 species) followed by Siluriformes (2 species) and Mastacembelliformes and Perciformes (one species each). Among the enlisted fishes Botia birdi, Ompok pabda and Glyptothorax punjabiensis are the new records for Poonch District. Maximum monthly perennial contribution, sometimes 100%, in fish catches is shared by Schizothorax richardsonii. Fishing methods commonly employed include rod and hook, cast net, wall gill net, hand net, pot trap, hand picking, baskets, buckets, poisoning (bleaching powder, extract of Euphorbia royalaena, seed powder of Xanthoxylum alatum), electric shocking, light traps and dynamiting and grenading. Decline in fish diversity and conservation measures in the area have also been discussed. Key Words: New record, Poonch District, Botia birdi, Ompok pabda and Glyptothorax punjabiensis INTRODUCTION Action plan for fish exploitation and fishery development in any area requires fish resources assesment. Ichtyofaunistic survey in District Poonch has earlier been conducted by Das and Nath (1965, 1971), Sharma and Sharma (1974), Nath (1969, 1973, 1981a,b, 1984 and 1986), Guglani (2000) & Dutta (2003). However, there is no detailed analysis of fish fauna of Tehsil Mendhar, District Poonch. Extensive fish survey in Tehsil Mendhar has been undertaken to provide a base line data to the state fishery department to explore the possibilities of aquaculture potentials in this Himalayan region. Earlier, state fishery department, without detailed fish survey in Tehsil Mendhar, has stalked exotic carps viz., Cyprinus carpio communis, Hypopthalmichthyes molitrix and Ctenopharyngodon idellus in fish ponds and among these fishes Cyprinus carpio communis, has entered in Mendhar stream and has an adverse impact on indigenous fish fauna. Fish survey has revealed the new records of Botia birdi, Glyptothorax punjabensis and Ompok pabda for Poonch District. Fishing methods commonly employed in by fishermen the area have also been reported. The information generated will be of great help to state fishery department and scholars working in the field of fish systematics Topography Mendhar Tehsil located at 33°: 36' N and 74°:07'E is bowl shaped and enclosed on all sides by off shoots of Rattan Pir Ridge which is a western off shoot of Pir Panjal range of outer Himalaya. The area is drained by Mendhar nullah (Fig 1a & b), an important tributary of Poonch River, having a length of about 30 (1)