Diversity of freshwater fish under Genus Channa, Snakehead (Teleostei:Channidae) from Dooars region of West Bengal, India

Abstract A survey was conducted on diversity of indigenous freshwater fish under Genus Channa (snakehead) from Dooars region of West Bengal, India and emphasis has been given to their ornamental value and local abundance. During the study, small freshwater fish species has been surveyed covering different parts of Dooars region of West Bengal. Specimens have been collected from different rivers of Dooars region (Cooch behar,Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri district ) and are preserved and identified. Sampling was done on the monthly interval. It has been observed that the study area represent the existance of eight species of genus Channa. Among the recorded eight species, three species, namely Channa andrao (Britz), Channa torsaensis (Dey) and Channa amari(Dey) are highly ornamental. All the eight species are potential to be regarded as ornamental fish. Study on the distribution of fishes in particular biosphere is very important to understand the ecological significance of the species