Fishes and Macroinvertebrates of Padawan Limestone, Sarawak, Malaysia

Abstract

A survey on fishes and macroinvertebrates was conducted at four streams and a cave passage in the Padawanlimestone area of Sarawak, East Malaysia (Borneo). Eighty-four species, comprising 21 fishes, seven crabs,four prawns, 10 snails and 42 aquatic insects were recorded. The finding adds the total species of fishes andcrustaceans known from limestone areas in Sarawak to 79 and 29, respectively. Padawan limestone has asimilar aquatic fauna with Bau limestone area. Both areas have different species composition from limestonehabitats in the northern region of Sarawak. Padawan limestone area has high conservation value, supporting anumber of endemic and threatened species, including seven crab and six fish species. Two species of semiterrestrialcrabs, Stygothelphusa bidiense and Terrathelphusa kuchingensis are listed as Vulnerable andEndangered, respectively, by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red Lists. It was alsonoted that fishes and a few species of snails serve as important supplement food source for local communitiesliving in the area.