Cyprinoidei are a suborder of the fresh water fishes of the order Cypriniformes, under superorder Ostariophysi of which 250 genera and 2500 species are known to exist all over its range. Of the families known of this suborder, Cyprinidae is by far the most abundant and dominant in respect of species proliferation and also in successfully occupying niches over-running other groups. The suborder is found in Eurasia (as far east as the Wallace’s Line) North America (as far South as Guatemala) and in Africa where they are plenty. They are absent from South America, Australia and Madagascar. Cyprinidae is divided into five subfamilies: Schizothoracinae, Cultrinae, Hypophthalmichthyinae, Rasborinae and Cyprininae. The last mentioned subfamily with 24 genera is the economically important group comprising the major carps, Mahseers and other fishes of cultivable nature. This paper deals with the genus Puntius Hamilton only.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR K C Jayaram
Dr. K.C. Jayaram, former joint director, Zoological Survey of India has been active in freshwater fish taxonomy and Zoogeography since 1947. He has covered many river systems for their fish fauna such as Brahmputra, Cauvery, Krishna and Mahanadi through intensive surveys. His work on the Cauvery fish Fauna is a comprehensive first-time account of the fish fauna of the entire river system. This work served as the basis for an integrated research programme on the same river funded by the ministry of Environment and Forests. Eleven post-graduate colleges and six Universities participated in this three year programme. Dr. Jayaram was the director of this project and results are under publication under his executive editorship. He is a member of many scientific committees and his advice is sought after in biodiversity, river ecology matters specially in respect of the fish fauna. He is a D.Sc. of Madras University and a Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy, Allahabad, Zoological Society of India, Bhubaneshwar and Madras Science Foundation, Chennai. He was awarded the prestigious Pitambar Pant National Environment Fellowship by the Ministry of Environment and Forests and is currently studying the eco-status of the Deccan Mahseer fishes. He has trained and guided a number of students who occupy important positions. He has to his credit about 120 papers including several monographs published in India and abroad. His earlier book on the same subject was universally acclaimed and ran out of print fast. He is considered on of the leading authorities on the freshwater fish fauna of the Indian region.
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