Diversity and Distribution of Ichthyofauna in the Inland Waters of Sudan: A Review
Mutasim Yousif Mohamed Abdalla
*
Khashm El-Girba Fisheries Research Station, Fish and Aquatics Researches Centre, Animals Resources Researches Corporation, Sudan.
Ahmed El Bedawi Adam
Fisheries and Aquaculture Consultant, Ministry of Animal Resources and Fisheries, Khartoum State, Sudan.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Previous studies of the freshwater fish diversity and composition in Sudan were reviewed; A total number of 132 fish species belonging to 68 genera and 27 families were identified from the rivers, lakes and wetlands in Sudan, showing a significant increase in species richness compared to previous reports. The majority of these species belonged to families such as Cyprinidae, Mormyridae, Mochokidae and Cichlidae; The White Nile exhibited the highest biodiversity and richness of species, with 120 fish species (91%), followed by Lake Nubia (41%) and the Blue Nile (36%). Seasonal rivers (Atbara and Dinder Rivers) showed relatively low diversity, representing 20% and 14.4% of the total recorded number of species respectively; while Um Dafoug rainwater reservoir showed the lowest species diversity, representing only 9.8% of the total number of species recorded in Sudan inland waters.
Keywords: Ichthyofauna, inland waters, biodiversity, Blue Nile, Lake Nubia, main river Nile, White Nile