o_19ko2dt161ng2j4e1tgnoqv1s45a.pdf

STATE OF KNOWLEDGE ON FRESHWATER FISHES OF MALAYSIA
As for Tasik Bera and Tasik Chini, the ichthyofauna diversity and it contributions to fisheries
have been documented by Mizuno & Furtado (1982). This was followed ten years later by the
study on the swamp ichthyofauna of North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest (NSPSF) (Ng et al.
1992, 1994). The study marks the beginning of a fresh era for the freshwater fish research in
Malaysia, particularly for Peninsular Malaysia.
In the late 1990s, a study was initiated to document the fish diversity of a small pocket of peat
and freshwater swamp forest in the Pondok Tanjung Forest Reserve, Perak. In the five months
of short-period samplings (December 1997 to April 1998), 42 fish species were recorded
(Mansor et al. 1999) and the number has now increased to 50 species (A. Ahmad unpubl.).
More focus was given to document the freshwater fish fauna of peat swamp related ecosystems.
Zakaria-Ismail (1999) reported about 33 species of freshwater fish in Nenasi Forest Reserve,
Pahang. Another study recorded 46 species in Southeast Pahang Peat Swamp Forest (SEPPSF).
The most recent survey in SEPPSF, conducted along Sungai Bebar and Sungai Serai, yielded
approximately 58 species, thus bringing the total fish species known to SEPPSF to 65 species
(Ahmad et al. 2005).
Studies on the freshwater fish species in several major islands in Peninsular Malaysia yielded
surprising results. Penang Island’s ichthyofauna was documented by Alfred (1963) in which
Neolissocheilus hendersoni (previously known as Acrossocheilus hendersoni Herre) was
described. The species is endemic to Penang and Langkawi Islands. The Tioman Island’s
ichthyofauna has been surveyed by several researchers and the latest results were published
by Ng et al. (1999). Fourteen species were reported to inhabit the many streams and creeks on
the island. Despite its relatively low diversity, two species occurring there: Sundoreonectes
tiomanensis (loach) and Clarias batu (catfish) are not found elsewhere. While Clarias batu is
common along streams (Lim & Ng 1999), the loach is confined to a single cave situated in the
island’s interior.
In 2002, Malayan Nature Society (MNS) together with several other institutions organized a
scientific and heritage expedition to the island of Langkawi. Together with previous collections,
a checklist of the freshwater fish was prepared. At least 24 species were recorded, while three
others are additional to the ones already known for Peninsular Malaysia (Ahmad & Lim in
prep).
Inventory studies were also conducted in states parks such as Endau-Rompin (Zakaria-Ismali
1987, Ng & Tan 1999), Perlis State Park (Ahmad et al. 2001, Samat et al. 2002, Ahmad &
Samat 2005), Penang National Park (Ahmad et al. 2002, Ahmad et al. 2004), small streams
and headwaters in Pahang (Zakaria-Ismail 1993) and Johor (Lim et al. 1990), small isolated
swamps in Terengganu (Kottelat et al. 1992). Ng & Tan (1999) recorded two new catfish
species from Sungai Kahang while several new species were described from the freshwater
swamps at Kuala Berang, Terengganu (Kottelat & Lim 1993).
In Sabah, there were no other major studies except for the work of Inger & Chin (1962).
Localised surveys were conducted while others were more ecological in approach. Samat &
Chin (1996) produced a checklist of the balitorid fishes, comprising 19 species and briefly
discussed the biogeography, taxonomy, species composition and ecomorphology. A study on
the balitorid loach, Gastromyzon is currently on-going (K.K.P. Lim, pers. comm.). Studies
conducted at Danum Valley (Martin-Smith 1998, Martin-Smith & Tan 1998) yielded several
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