Survey of fish fauna in rice fields of Mueng district, Nakhon Phanom province

Abstract

Survey of fish fauna in rice fields in Nakhon Phanom Province of Northeastern Thailand were studied during October 2008 - October 2009. From 909 collected specimens, totally, 7 orders, 17 families, 29 genera and 33 species of fishes were recognized. The most dominant order is Cypriniformes (13 species, 39.39% of the total fauna) and the next is Perciformes (10 species, 30.30% of the total fauna) and then Siluriformes (4 species, 12.12%of the total fauna). The most dominant family is Cyprinidae (11 species, 33.33% of the total fauna) and the next is Osphronemidae (5 species, 15.15% of the total fauna) and then Clupeidae with Cobitidae were found equal (2 species, 6.06% of the total fauna). 10 species of air-breathing fishes (Lepidocephalichthys hasselti, Clarias macrocephalus, Monopterus albus, Anabas testudineus, Betta smaragdina, Trichogaster pectoralis, Trichogaster trichopterus, Trichopsis pumila, Trichopsis vittata, and Channa striata) were found and account for 30.30% of all species. Only one species of alien species Oreochromis niloticus has been collected from the area. The result of this study showed importance of rice fields in Mueng District, Nakhon Phanom Province as artificial flood plains for freshwater fishes.