Use of threatened species in research – be it for taxonomy, biology or population studies, has always invoked much debate.
As a result, the Species Survival Commission of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) developed a set of guidelines entitled ‘IUCN Policy Statement on Research Involving Species at Risk of Extinction’ with special reference to scientific collecting of threatened species.

A recent IUCN assessment of the conservation status of freshwater taxa of the Western Ghats, involving more than 40 freshwater biodiversity experts, including 15 ichthyologists, listed a number of threats affecting the freshwater taxa of the region and their habitats2. Interestingly, none of these ichthyologists considered research on taxonomy and biology as threats to the fish fauna of the Western Ghats, as opined by Daniels3,4. It is unfortunate that Daniels, selectively quotes, conveniently overlooks many facts and figures, while criticizing an article published in another journal5. This note presents the opinions and views of a group of ichthyologists working in the Western Ghats, including several authors of the article(s) which has been falsely criticized by Daniels3,4.