The fish samples were collected from October 2017 to June 2018 in Nuwa River from four sampling stations by using cast net, bamboo fish trap and mosquito nets. Environmental parameters: water temperature, dissolved Oxygen (DO), CO2, pH, hardness and water velocity were analyzed during each field visit. Eight fish species were collected in present study. The most copious species were Schizothorax plagiostomus, and Schistura multifaciatus. Shannon-Weiner fish diversity index and species richness recorded were highest at station I and lowest at station III, similarly, evenness index was highest at station I and lowest at station III. The water volume, water depth, and the availability of substrates were found to be major influential factors for the weight and length of the fishes. The redundancy analysis (RDA) portrayed that environmental variables like dissolved oxygen, free- carbon dioxide, and pH were found to be pivotal variables to shape the fish assemblage structure of Nuwa River. The cluster analysis delineated that similarity between fish species subsided as the distance of sites turgid.

We assessed the correlation of fish assemblages with habitat and environmental variables temporally from July and October, 2019 and January and April, 2020 across 5 study sites in the Phewa Khola stream of Mangsebung Rural Municipality, Ilam, Nepal. We sampled 3571 fish representing 13 species, belonging to 3 orders, 4 families, and 9 genera. ...

Globally, urban expansion has led to habitat fragmentation and altered resource availability, thus posing significant challenges for wildlife. The Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) is a critically endangered species experiencing population decline due to illegal trade and habitat degradation. This study analyzed variables affecting habitat occupancy of Chinese pangolins using a single‐season occupancy model across 134 study grids (600 m × 600 m) in peri‐urban areas of Dharan Sub‐Metropolitan City, eastern Nepal. We identified termite mounds as a significant key factor (top model with AICwt = 1) in the detection probability of Chinese pangolin burrows (β_{Termite mounds} = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.07 to 1.89). Additionally, the Human Disturbance Index (HDI) emerged as the key variable for habitat use occupancy (AIC = 231.96, AICwt = 0.309), indicating a significant negative impact (β_HDI = −6.555, 95% CI = −11.324 to −1.7723). We observed a mean HDI of 0.475 ± 0.04 in the grids where Chinese pangolins were detected, with higher HDI values correlating with reduced Chinese pangolin occupancy. For the long‐term conservation of Chinese pangolins in urban landscapes, it is crucial to reduce anthropogenic activities and implement conservation measures to protect suitable habitats with abundant termite mounds.

The freshwater bodies of Nepal host a great deal of fish diversity; however, the molecular study of Nepalese fish is still in its early stages. Conservation management tactics require knowledge of the real species composition, often impeded by descriptions of intermittent species based on traditional taxonomy. Catfish, one of the most overfished taxa on the planet, are abundant and heavily exploited in the eastern region of Nepal. Hence, actual catfish diversity in this region needs to be examined using a combined morphological and molecular DNA barcoding approach. In this study, we sequenced the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene in Nepalese fish species for the first time and used it for molecular identification. Altogether, 99 specimens representing 29 species belonging to 21 genera and 8 families were successfully barcoded. They were found to be 98.5–100% identical to the known sequences deposited in the GenBank and BOLD databases. Of these, two species, Amblyceps arunachalense and Erethistoides sicula, were recorded for the first time in Nepal. Out of 29 species, one species was found to be Endangered, one species under Vulnerable, two species under Near Threatened, one species under Data Deficient, and 24 species under Least Concern. The intraspecific genetic distances within species ranged from 0 to 5%. The highest intraspecific genetic distances (Kimura 2‐parameter) were found among the individuals of two species, namely, E. sicula (4%) and Glyptothorax telchitta (5%), indicating the presence of putative (sub)species. The interspecific genetic distances among the catfishes in eastern Nepal ranged between 8.47% (between Glyptothorax trilineatus and G. cavia) and 26.38% (between Amblyceps arunachalense and Chaca chaca). The GC content at the 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd positions of the codons was found to be 42.4%, 49.3%, and 43.8%, respectively. These findings will support future initiatives for fish resource inventory, monitoring, and management. It is also an important input to the DNA barcode library of catfish in the eastern region of Nepal.

Altogether 99 specimens catfishes collected from the Eastern Region of Nepal (ERN), representing 29 species belonging to 21 genera and eight families were successfully barcoded employing mitochondrial COI gene sequence analysis showing 98.5-100% identity with both GeneBank and BOLD databases. Of these, two species i.e. Amblyceps, arunachalense and Erethistoides sicula were recorded for the first time from Nepal. Out of the 29 species, one species was found to be Endangered, two species under Near Threatened,one species under Vulnerable, one species under Data Deficient and 24 species under Least Concern category. The intra-specific genetic distances within species ranged from 0 to 5%. The highest intraspecific K2P and p-distances were found among the two species viz., E. sicula (4%) and Glyptothorax telchita (5%), indicating the presence of putative species. The inter-specific genetic distances ranged from 0 to 17%. GC content at 1st, 2nd and 3rd codon was found to be 42.4, 49.3 and 43.8%, respectively. The findings of the study will definitely support the upcoming initiatives on fisheries resource management and conservation in the region. It also forms an important input towards the DNA barcode library of catfishes of the eastern region of Nepal. Keywords: Barcoding, Fish diversity, Freshwater, Hills, Lowland, Streams