THE ICHTHYOFAUNA OF THE BA RIVER, CENTRAL VIET NAM

By Nguyen Minh Ty
DOI: 10.37550/tdmu.EJS/2026.01.698

This study documents the ichthyofaunal composition of the Ba River basin in Central Vietnam, recording a total of 182 species across 55 families and 15 orders. Perciformes is the most diverse order (20 families, 36.36%), while Cyprinidae is the most diverse family (24 genera, Northern element accounts for 35.84% of species, the Southern element for 59.43%, and the Mekong element for 71.69%.”21.62%). The genus Osteochilus is the most dominant, represented by 6 species (3.30%). In terms of zoogeographic elements, the Northern element accounts for 35.84% of species, the Southern element for 59.43%, and the Mekong element for 71.69%. Characterized by high taxonomic diversity, the basin functions as a biogeographical transition zone where the South China and Indochinese subregions converge. These findings position the Ba River as a pivotal ecological buffer, mediating the distribution of freshwater fish fauna between the Northern and Southern zoogeographic provinces of Vietnam.