Fundamentals Of Fish Taxonomy

Tropical countries exhibit a rich variety of fauna and flora. Our country is no exception and the rich biological wealth is our prized possession. India's fauna and flora has attracted the attention of Naturalists from times immemorial and the interest in exploring and knowing the diversity is undiminished even now. Life forms today have acquired the potential for commercial exploitation. A rapid erosion with fears that at least 10% of all species will become extinct over the next few decades as per findings of the IUCN has sounded the warning bells. This has led to the adoption of an International Convention on Biological. Diversity (CBD) by India and most other countries. This convention obliges the participating countries to inventorise their biodiversity and this has in turn generated an awakening of the values of Taxonomy; because correct identification of the fauna and flora forms the basis for all future remedial action and measures. It is a happy augury that more and more colleges, institutes, students and teachers in our country have taken interest to know the different aspects of Taxonomy. In fact the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India have initiated an All India Coordinated Project on Taxonomy (AICOPTAX) to train researchers and representatives of NGO bodies on identification of different animal and plant groups. The National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Lucknow under a world bank aided National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP) has undertaken Germplasm Inventorisation and Gene Banking of freshwater fishes on an all India basis. I had the privilege to participate in a training program at Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi in March 2001 when I found to my great pleasure the eagerness, enthusiasm and inquisitiveness of many students, teachers and scientists to know the different aspects offish taxonomy. This prompted me to write this small book. I am thankful to Dr. A. G Ponniah, Director of NBFGR and Dr. E. G Silas, Vice Chancellor, Kerala Agricultural University (Retd.), and also a former colleague of mine in ZSI, for giving me an opportunity to join this workshop. M/s Narendra Publishing House were eager to bring out this book and I deeply appreciate their interest.