Hill Stream Fishes Along The Indo-Nepal Border

Taxonomy is the science of classification of organisms including nomenclature. Taxonomy provides a picture of existing biodiversity on the earth along with information needed for entire biology. It provides more information needed for reconstruction of phylogeny of life and ordering systems or classification. It also reveals numerous interesting evolutionary phenomenons and makes them available for casual study. Fish constitutes almost half of the total number of vertebrates in the world living in almost all conceivable aquatic habitats. India is one of the mega-biodiversity countries in the world and occupies the ninth position in terms of freshwater mega-biodiversity. The book “Hill — stream fishes along the Indo — Nepal border” is an outcome of Dr. Mishra’s thesis supplicated for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy of the B.R.A. Bihar University Muzaffarpur. This book describes the 46 recognised hill — stream fish species belonging to 30 genera and 12 families and nine new records to the ichthyofauna of Bihar have been added. The nomenclature of the various genera and species are based on recent revisions. A synoptic key for the identification of fishes has been given to facilitate their identity. Herein are given taxonomic descriptions,  identification keys, biological information for all described hill — stream fishes in addition to socio-economic condition of fishing communities in respect of their fishing appliances and means of livelihood etc. This book will serve as a precious tool for the students of ichthyology and field workers engaged in fish and fisheries.

S.K. Mishra (b. 1952) Narkatiaganj, District-W. Champaran, (Bihar) did his B.Sc. (Hons.), M.Sc. and Ph.D, from Bihar University, Muzaffarpur. He started his career as Lecturer (1977) in Zoology from G.D. College, Begusarai, Bihar (L.N. Mithila University, Darbhanga), shifted to Bihar University, Muzaffarpur (1984), joined as Lecturer in department of Zoology of T.P.V. College Narkatiaganj where he became Reader in 1987 and University Professor in 1993 at an age of 41 years. His curriculum vitae included in world’s who’s who of men and women of distinction, curriculum vitae international and national directory of science communicators-2002. Prof. Mishra has till now guided seven research scholars of which four have obtained Ph.D. degrees and three candidates are in writing stage of their Ph.D thesis. He published 41 research papers in national and international journals, completed two research projects funded by U.G.C., worked as referee of two international journals (Geobios new Reports and Flora and Fauna). Prof. Mishra is the fellow/life member of several learned acedemies such as Academy of Zoology, Agra; Asian Fisheries Society, Philippines, I.B., Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai; Indian Fisheries Association, Mumbai; National Environmental Science Academy, New Delhi; Indian Science Congress Association, Kolkatta; Indian Association of Ichthyologists, Chennai; Inland Fisheries Society of India, Barrackpore; Zoological Society of India, Bhubneshwar etc. He has attended several National and International symposia/conferences and delivered lectures.