Punjab Univ. J. Zool., Vol. 30 (2), pp. 073-079, 2015 ISSN 1016-1597 (Print) ISSN 2313-8556 (online) 24-PUJZ-51056201/15/0073-0079 Copyright 2015, Dept. Zool., P.U., Lahore, Pakistan *Corresponding author: mmiqbal5@yahoo.com Original Article Diversity of indigenous fish species in Konoskhaihaor, Northeast Bangladesh Mohammed Mahbub Iqbal*, Mehedi Hasan Kanon, Mohammad Amzad Hossain, Abul Hossain, Shamima Nasren, Md. Jahidul Islam, Md. Arifur Rahman Department of Fish Biology and Genetics, Sylhet Agricultural University (MMI, MHK, MAH, SN, MAR), Sylhet-3100, Bangladesh; Department of Marine Science and Fisheries, Noakhali Science and Technology University (AH), Noakhali, Bangladesh; Department of Aquatic Resource Management, Sylhet Agricultural University (MJI), Sylhet-3100, Bangladesh (Article history: Received: October 22, 2015; Revised: December 25, 2015) Abstract The present study was executed to assess the indigenous fish assemblage of Konoskhaihaor for 9 months from May 2014 to January 2015. The Konoskhaihaor area covers 104.50 acres of land containing 6 small to large beels. In the monsoon the haor remains under water. A total of 37 fish species belonging to 7 orders including prawns were identified. Among the 37 species 5 were vulnerable, 7 endangered, 1 critically endangered, 3 exotic, 20 not threatened and 1 not evaluated according to IUCN, Bangladesh, 2000. The Shannon-Weaver diversity index was found highest (3.12) in June and lowest (2.9) in January. Margalef richness index was found highest (3.02) in July and lowest (2.70) in December. On the other hand, Pielou’s evenness index was lowest (0.82) in three su ccessive months i.e., in October, November and January and highest (0.88) in April. The fish species of Konoskhaihaor found to be evenly distributed. Simpson dominance index were found to be highest (0.94) in April and lowest (0.91) in January. The diversity indices only evenness index was found to be significant (<0.05) among the months. It revealed from the survey that 8 indigenous species which were previously available but not found for 3 to 12 years in the study area. As 5 vulnerable, 7 endangered and 1 critically endangered fish species were available in the study area that is why it is needed to be conserved these species in situ to keep for the use of future generation. Key words: Konoskhaihaor, indigenous fish species, biodiversity, northeast Bangladesh To cite this article: IQBAL, M.M., KANON, M.H., HOSSAIN, M.A., HOSSAIN, A., NASREN, S., ISLAM, M.J. AND RAHMAN, M.A., 2015. Diversity of indigenous fish species in Konoskhaihaor, Northeast Bangladesh. Punjab Univ. J. Zool., 30(2): 73-79. INTRODUCTION angladesh is the fourth largest producer of inland fisheries in the world, after China, Myanmar and India (FAO, 2014). According to (DoF, 2014) total fish production in Bangladesh was 34.10 Lakh metric tons. Fish is an excellent source of protein and an important item in the diet of the people of Bangladesh (Pearson and Musummuddin, 1968). Fish muscles are as an easily digestible, rich source of animal protein (Khan et al., 2013, Islam, 2001) and contain low carbohydrates (Lagler et al., 1976). Fishes are considered as good resources to poor and low income groups in terms of nutrition and economics (Hossain et al., 2015). Extensive use of chemicals, fertilizers and insecticides have been ruining natural breeding and feeding grounds, exploitation of wild brood fishes are major causes of decreasing fish availability (Azher et al., 2007; Ahmed et. al., 2004). Among 260 freshwater fish species 56 species are critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable (IUCN, 2000). A haor is a wetland ecosystem with a bowl or saucer shaped shallow depression (Alam, 2004; Bio- ecological Zones of Bangladesh, 2002; Bennett et al., 2007) and constitutes size from a few to several thousand hectares (Bio-ecological Zones of Bangladesh, 2002; Alam and Hossain, 2007). The Konoskhaihaor area of approximately 104.50 acres is located at Dowarabazar upazilla in Sunamgonj district and surrounded by about 7 villages named Tengratila, Ajobpur, Shantipur, Buzhna, Nondigaon, Kadamtoli and Nurpur under the B