Diversity of Edible Fishes at Rhound Stream District Dir Lower, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan

The present study was conducted from April through September 2013 to find out the edible fishes of Rhound Stream at District Dir Lower Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Different types of nets and of various mesh sizes, and hooks were used for collecting fishes. During the study period, ten edible fish species were identified. Taxonomically, the collection was embodied to three orders, Cypriniformes, Channiformes and Mastacembeliformes and three families. The most abundant family was Cyprinidae represented by 7 genera and 8 species while Mastacembelidae and Channidae each were represented by only one species. The collected fish species were Schizopyge esocinus, Raconma labieta, Cyprinion watsoni, Cyprinus carpio, Crossocheilus diplocheilus, Garra gotyla, Puntius ticto, Puntius sophore, Channa punctatus, and Mastacembelus armatus. Our study revealed that Rhound stream is having rich edible fish fauna. If proper stocking is carried out, it can harbor more fish quantity and species, and may become the back bone area's economy.