The present study deals with diversity and abundance of fish species in Ayyanakere lake, Chikmagalore district, Karnataka during April 2008 to March 2009. A total of 13 species recorded from Ayyanakere lake, of which 10 are indigenous and remaining 3 species are exotic including Catla catla, Labeo rohita and Oreochromis mossambica. Among the 13 species 3 species are cultured in the water body. Out of 10 wild fish species found in the lake 7 species are most abundant species, they are Notopterus notopterus, Mystus cavacius, Oreochromis reba, Puntius conchonius and Puntius jerdoni. Rest of the species were less abundant and rarely found. Among orders, 6 species belongs to Cypriniformes, 4 species belongs to the Siluriformes, 2 species belongs to perciformes and one belongs to Osteoglossiformes. The family Cyprinidae dominated the other groups in the fish fauna in the lake. As far as biodiversity status (IUCN) is concerned, one species endangered (7.7%), four species of low risk near threatened (30.76%), one species at lower risk least concerned (7.7%), 5 species of vulnerable (38.46%) and remaining two are included under the category of not assessed (15.38%)
