The New Finfi sh Genetic Resource Discoveries from Indian Waters – Need for Enhancing Taxonomy Capacity

Abstract

India is rich in diversifi ed biological resources and ranks among the top ten species-rich nations with four global
biodiversity hotspots. I ndian fi sh fauna is highly diverse and explorations and germplasm inventories of ichthyodiversity
are being updated with several new discoveries. However, both geographical and taxonomic knowledge
gaps exist, as many regions especially the far-fl ung and inaccessible pockets are either under- or unexplored, and
many taxonomic groups remain poorly studied. During the last two decades, much information on fi shes from the
Indian regions have been generated and added to the catalogue of Indian fi shes due to the advent of integrated
taxonomical approach. Increasing number of new species every year, shows that much more of the diversity yet
remains to be discovered and documented. Continuous extensive surveys and explorations are warranted in areas
such as deep-sea habitats, islands, subterranean regions, caves and hill streams for unravelling the hidden diversity