Fish Diversity of Ulu Tungud, Meliau Range, Sandakan, Sabah

Additional surveys on ichthyofauna of Ansuan River, Meliau River, Tungud River and several unnamed streams within the vicinity of Ulu Tungud Forest Reserve, Meliau were carried out from 14th December to 21st December 2004. Nineteen species belonging to five families were recorded. The fish fauna was dominated by Cyprinidae (47%) followed by Balitoridae (36%) and other families. Rasbora cf. sumatrana (Cyprinidae) and Nemacheilus olivaceus (Balitoridae) when present were the most abundant species. Several specimens of the fishes from the genus Gastromyzon and Glaniopsis were yet to be identified to the species level . The surveyed areas were relatively disturbed by human activities particularly logging and plantations but most of the streams and rivers visited during the survey having relatively clear water and good visibility. Voucher specimens were currently deposited at the Ichthyological Collections at General Biology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, University Malaysia Terengganu (UMT).

We wish to thank, Mr. Tay Soon Poh and Alladin bin Mujnabi of TSH Resources Berhad for providing the facilities and accommodation during the field trip, the Sabah Forestry Department and their staffs especially Mr. Postar and Mr. Masuari for their field assistances and support during fish sampling. This study was partly funded by Global Environmental Center and UMT short term grant (Vot 54142) to the author.

General description of the study sites visited at the recent ichthyofauna survey.

Site 1. 15-Dec-04. Sg. Meliau - upstream of TSH nursery - a medium size stream about 15-25m wide; rocky bottom, fast flowing water, clear and cold water

Site 2. 15-Dec-04. Sg. Meliau - downstream at IJM plantation - downstream of concrete crossing of Sg. Meliau; medium size stream about 25m wide; fast flowing water, slightly sedimented, gravel and sandy bottom

Site 3. 16-Dec-04. Sg. Tungud - upstream of TSH basecamp - small creek about 3-5m wide, pebbles and rocky bottom; fast torrential headwater stream, clear and cold water

Site 4. 16-Dec-04. Sg. Tungud - at main tributary near TSH basecamp - a medium size stream about 15-25m wide; rocky bottom, fast flowing water, clear and cold water

Site 5. 17-Dec-04. unnamed stream within TSH Acacia plantation - a small stream about 3-5m wide; soft gravel and coarse sandy bottom; slow moving, clear and cold water under riparian shades

Site 6. 17-Dec-04. unnamed stream within IJM oil palm plantation - a small stream about 3-5m wide; mainly rocky and coarse sandy bottom; slow moving, clear and cold water partly exposed to direct sunlight

Site 7. 17-Dec-04. Sg. Ansuan - at middle reach of a large size stream about 25-30m wide; rocky bottom downstream, gravel and pebbles upstream, fast flowing water, clear and cold water


Checklist of fish species collected on the recent survey of Ulu Tungud Forest Reserve, Meliau, Sabah

Anguillidae
1. Anguilla malgumora Kaup 1856

Cyprinidae
2. Barbodes balleroides (Valenciennes 1842)
3. Garra borneensis (Vaillant 1902)
4. Hampala sabanus Inger & Chin 1962
5. Lobocheilos bo (Popta 1904)
6. Nematabramis everetti Boulenger 1894
7. Osteochilus waandersii (Bleeker 1852)
8. Rasbora cf. sumatrana (Bleeker 1852)
9. Schismatorhynchus holorhynchos Seibert & Tjakrawidjaja 1998
10. Tor tambra (Valenciennes, in Cuvier & Valenciennes 1842)

Balitoridae
11. Gastromyzon cf. danumensis Chin & Inger 1989
12. Gastromyzon sp. undet. 1
13. Gastromyzon sp. undet. 2
14. Glaniopsis sp. undet. 1
15. Glaniopsis sp. undet. 2
16. Homaloptera stephensoni Hora 1932
17. Nemacheilus olivaceus* Boulenger 1894

Sisoridae
18. Glyptothorax cf. major (Boulenger 1894)

Osphronemidae
19. Betta cf. unimaculata Chin 1990

* was observed by author