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The present study was conducted to generate a primary database on the ornamental fish diversity in
Ghargharia river flowing in Coochbehar district of West Bengal. Forty six indigenous ornamental
fish species belonging to 11 orders, 21 families and 29 genera were identified and documented.
Among the orders, Cypriniformes represented the largest diversity accommodating 11genera and 16
species and the genus Puntius ranked first among all the genera in terms of its numerical strength
with 5 species. Out of 46, 19 species were detected with high ornamental value and 10 species were
explored having potentially high ornamental values as well as commercial prospect. 11 species
were found abundant, while 7 were commonly occurring and rest 28 were found rare in river
Ghargharia. Therefore anthropogenic activities, commonly predominant in the natural water
resources resulting in fish population decline seems to be operating in this case also needs
immediate redressal so as to minimise the threats being operated on the aquatic life. At the same
time conservation strategies must be adopted to sustain the huge potencial ornamental fish diversity
in the natural resources like Ghargharia river and others. 
Keywords: potential ornamental fish, biodiversity, relative abundance, Ghargharia river.