Abstract: The distribution and habitat characters of Schizothoracinae fishes in the middle Yarlung Zangbo River were investigated in April and October, 2015. The results showed that there were six Schizothoracinae fishes distributed in the middle Yarlung Zangbo River, including Schizothorax oconnori, Ptychobarbus dipogon, Schizothorax younghusbandi, Schizothorax waltoni, Schizothorax macropogon, and Oxygymnocypris stewarti. Oxygymnocypris stewarti was only found above Renbu section of the Yarlung Zangbo River, while S. oconnori and S. younghusbandi were found at all sampling sites of the middle Yarlung Zangbo River. RDA model showed that river width, flow velocity and pH were the main factors affecting the distribution of Schizothoracinae fishes in the middle Yarlung Zangbo River. In consideration of overfishing, alien species invasion and cascade hydropower development in the middle Yarlung Zangbo River, the management departments should take actions such as defining conservation regions, forbidding fishing by law and promoting the release of native fish to sustain the effectiveness of habitat of Schizothoracinae fishes.

Key words: index of relative importance, niche breadth, Minjiang River Estuary., niche overlap