Abstract : India is endowed with a vast ichthyofaunal diversity and among the southern states of India, Karnataka is richest in ichthyofaunal diversity and Kerala has the most number of endemic species. Actinopterygii dominates the fish diversity with almost 99% of which 95% are teleosts. This study, for the first time, reports the diversity of Actinopterygii from Yadgiri district, which lies 16º20´-17º45´ N latitude and 76º 4´-77º 42´ E longitudes and has a total area of 2920.75 hectares of water and 2805 hectares of water fishing activities. There are more than 280 lakes in the district, as per the reports of Minor Irrigation Department of the district. This region is generally hot and temperature ranges from 22ºC-45ºC and lakes usually dry up in summer. Second study area Davangere has a total geographical area of 5.97 lakh hectares and 6284 hectares of water. The district lies in the centre of Karnataka between the latitudes 13°5' and 14°50' N and between the longitudes 75°30' and 76°30' E. The second study area has a pleasant weather conditions and water bodies do not dry during summer.
The field work carried on for a year revealed 19 species belonging to 9 families in Yadgiri lakes and 13 species from 6 families of Davangere lakes. Cyprinidae family dominates the lakes of both the districts with 8 species in Yadgiri district lakes and 6 species in Davangere lakes. Yadgiri district lakes had fish diversity of 3 species from Channidae, 2 species Bagridae, 1 species from Clariidae, Cichlidae, Ambassidae Mastacembelidae, Siluridae and Anguillidae each.
Davangere district lakes sustains fishes 2 species each from Channidae and Cichlidae and one species from Clariidae, Bagridae and Notopteridae families. Actinopterygii is found to be the dominant group in the lakes of Davangere. There are fish species which are vulnerable and near threatened whose conservation has to be top priority for sustainable development of human and fisheries which has to combat each other need

Keyword :Actinopterygii, Cypriniformes, Davangere, Ichthyofauna, Perciformes, Yadgiri.