author(s)
Abhinika Jain, Sharad Surnar, VP Saini and ML Ojha

abstract
This study was conducted to generate the baseline data on the availability of ornamental fish in Wakal River system of Udaipur (Rajasthan). A total of 15 species belonging to 5 orders, 9 families and 15 genera were identified and documented. The family-wise interpretation revealed that Cyprinidae is the largest family and accommodating 6 genera, Mastacembelidae two genera and other 7 families like Balitoridae, Siluridae, Belonidae, Gobiidae, Ambassidae and Belontiidae and Cobitidae represented single member from each. While assessing the potential utilization of the collected fishes, it was realized that 7 species like Pethia conchonius, Devario malabaricus, Rasbora daniconius, Trichogaster lalius, Schistura savona, Acanthocobitis botia, Parambassis lala, were of high ornamental value (i.e. 46.66%), 5 species like Mastacembelus armatus, Macrognathus pancalus, Barilius bendelisis, Salmophasia bacaila, Glossogobius giuris, were potential ornamental fishes (i.e. 33.33%) and rest 3 species (20%) such as Garra gotyla, Xenentodon cancila, Ompok bimaculatus are primarily used as food fish and can also be explored as ornamental fishes. Of the above listed fish fauna O. pabda and P. lala were under ‘Near threatened’ (NT) category. All the 15 identified species listed above are considered as important aquarium fishes in other parts of India.