The document summarizes the state fish of different states and union territories of India. It provides the scientific name, common name, key characteristics and habitat of the state fish for each state/UT. Some of the state fish included are Striped Murrel for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Golden Mahseer for Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand, Carnatic Carp for Karnataka, Karimeen/Pearlspot for Kerala, Butterflyfish for Lakshadweep, and Flathead Grey Mullet for Goa. The document aims to promote conservation of state fish biodiversity in India.

1. STATE FISHES OF INDIA
B. BHASKAR
Striped Murrel- AP&TS
Haryana-Calbasu
Mahanadi Mahseer-Odisha
West Bengal-Hilsa-
Lakshdweep-Butterfly fish
Kerala-Pearlspot
Karnataka-Carnatic carp
Goa--Flathead Grey Mullet

2. Introduction
• Fresh-water, brackish-water and marine-water are main
resource of fish flora and fauna total 3231 numbers of fish
species were found in India.
• Due to various threats such as habitat loss, pollution,
overexploitation, human activities and etc. Fishes numbers is
declining day by day.
• ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBFGR),
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, in 2006 compiled a list of State Fish
States.
• The concept involves integration of key stakeholders in the
conservation plan where 21 States/UT’s became partners with
NBFGR in developing strategies for conservation and
enhancement of their selected State Fish to achieve success in
real-time conservation.
• Objective of the State Fish: is to let the State adopt the Fish and
conserve their biodiversity.

3. Introduction
Aim of the introduction of State Fishes:
 To conserve their biodiversit
 To enhancement of their selected state fish to achieve success in
real - time conservation
• For the conservation of commercially important fishes National
Bureau of Fish Genetic Resource, (ICAR-NBFGR) Lucknow has
conceptualised the “state fish” concept to conserve fish species
(Sugunan, 2011).
• Different states of India have declared their state fish based on
the abundance, preference and importance in the day to day
life of the people.
• Out of 28 states, 21 have already declared their state fishes
which are Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Goa,
Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka,
Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram,
Nagaland, Odisha, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh,
Uttarakhand, Sikkim and West Bengal. This will help in
conserving the biodiversity.

4. Striped Murrel Channa straitus (Bloch,
1793)- State fish of AP& Telangana
State/
UT
Common
Name,
State Fish
Classification Characteristics
Scientific Name, Author
& Year
Andhra
Pradesh&
Telangana
State
Striped Murrel
Channa
straitus(Bloch,
1793)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anabantiformes
Family: Channidae
Genus: Channa
Species: striata
Habitat – freshwater; brackishwater; inhabit
mainly in swamps
· Colour- dark black brown, Body sub-
cylindrical and head depressed
· Large mouth with sharp visible teeth around
4-7 canine teeth on lower row
· A large head reminiscent of a snake's head;
deeply-gaping; very large scales
· Feeds on fish, crustaceans, earthworms,
tadpoles etc.
· Breeding period- June to August and October
to December and breeds mainly in rivers and
ponds, Maximum length- 90 cm
· Conservation status: Less concern

5. Golden Mahseer Tor putitora (Hamilton, 1822)- State fish of the
Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir,
Uttarakhand
Arunachal
Pradesh,
Himachal
Pradesh,
Jammu &
Kashmir,
Uttarakhand
Golden
Mahseer
Tor
putitora
(Hamilton,
1822)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Genus: Tor
· Habitat –freshwater
· Colour- Body Golden and fins reddish
· Omnivorous, feeds on fish and mouth
is small, terminal among Tor species
· Head is blunt, oval and small
· Breeding period- It is a multiple
spawner; spawning season coincides
with the onset of rains during May to
September with two peaks (May-June
and August-September)
· Breeds mainly in middle and lower
ranges of rivers and streams
· Maximum length- 275 cm
· Conservation status: Endangered

6. Carnatic Carp : Barbodes carnaticus (Jerdon, 1849)
state fish of Karnataka
Karnataka
Carnatic Carp :
Barbodes carnaticus
(Jerdon, 1849)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidea
Genus: Barbodes
Habitat – Freshwater; Benthopelagic
· Large pools and riffles of rapid rivers and
streams
· Colour- Golden brown to purple brown · Feed
on allochthonous fallen leaves and seeds
· Lower lip with an interrupted labial fold
· ‘V’ shape forked tail and small head and small
scales
· Lateral dark band present which separates a
darker colour dorsally to a lighter colour
ventrally
· Breeding period July-August
· Maximum length- 60 cm
· Conservation status: Less concern

7. Magur/Walking catfish Clarias batrachus
(Linnaeus, 1758)- State fish of Bihar
Bihar
Magur/Walki
ng catfish
Clarias
batrachus
(Linnaeus,
1758)
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Clariidae
Genus: Clarius
Habitat – Freshwater and
Brackishwater, Demersal, Confined
to stagnant, muddy water · Colour-
Olive to dark brown or purple to
black above, blue green on the sides
and white below, with white specks
on their rear side · Omnivorous and
feed on insect larvae, earthworm,
plant debris etc.
· Body compressed posteriorly,
Upper jaw a little projecting
· Spine of pectoral fins rough on its
outer edge and serrated on its inner
edge · Breeding period- Rainy
season by excavated nest

8. Kalbasu/ Calabasu-Labeo calbasu
(Hamilton, 1822) –State fish of Haryana
Haryana
Kalbasu/
Calabasu
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidea
Genus: Labeo Habitat – Freshwater and Brackishwater,
Demersal
· Colour- Blackish with occasionally the
upper lobe of the caudal fin is white
· Feeds on plants, filamentous algae and
diatoms
· Small, inferior mouth surrounded by fleshy
lips, Four pairs of barbels
· Breeding period May-September
· Adults occur in rivers and ponds; in slow-
moving waters of river
· Maximum length- 90 cm
· Conservation status: Endangered
Labeo calbasu
(Hamilton,
1822)

9. Karimeen/Pearlspot Etroplus suratensis
(Bloch, 1790)- State fish of Kerala
Kerala
Karimeen/Pearlspo
t Etroplus
suratensis (Bloch,
1790)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cichiliformes
Family: Cichlidae
Genus: Etroplus
Habitat – Brackishwater;
Benthopelagic
· Large rivers, reservoirs, lagoons and
estuaries
· Colour- Black and green
combination, they have prominent
light-coloured spots and dark vertical
banding · Feed on filamentous algae,
plant material and insects
· Body profile is more rounded, The
tail fin is not lobed
· Distinctive spot at the pectoral fin
· Mouth terminal, cleft small, snout
spout like, Lips thin. Jaws equal
· Lateral line interrupted or abruptly
ceasing
· Breeding period- Prolonged
breeding season from December-
February and June-July
· Maximum length- 40 cm
· Conservation status: Less concern

10. Butterflyfish Chaetodon decussatus (Cuvier,
1829)- Lakshadweep
Laksha-dweep
Butterflyfish
Chaetodon
decussatus
(Cuvier, 1829)
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Acanthuriformes
Family: Chaetodontidae
Genus: Chaetodon
Habitat – Brackishwater;
Benthopelagic
· Large rivers, reservoirs, lagoons and
estuaries
· Colour- Black and green
combination, they have prominent
light-coloured spots and dark vertical
banding · Feed on filamentous algae,
plant material and insects
· Body profile is more rounded, the tail
fin is not lobed
· Distinctive spot at the pectoral fin
· Mouth terminal, cleft small, snout
spout like, lips thin, jaws equal
· Lateral line interrupted or abruptly
ceasing
· Breeding period- Prolonged breeding
season from December-February and
June-July
· Maximum length- 40 cm
· Conservation status: Less concern

11. Pengba Osteobrama belangeri (Valenciennes,
1844)-State fish of Manipur
Manipur
Pengba Osteobrama belangeri
(Valenciennes, 1844)
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order:
Cypriniformes
Family:
Cyprinidae
Genus:
Osteobrama
Habitat – Freshwater,
Benthopelagic
· Omnivore in nature
· Colour- Silvery grey with black
dorsal surface. Pelvic and anal fin
orange
· Breeding period- June-July
· Maximum length- 38 cm
· Conservation status: Near
threatened

12. Ngahvang/Burmese Kingfish Semiplotus modestus
Day, 1870)- State fish of Mizoram
Mizoram Ngahvang/Burmese
Kingfish Semiplotus
modestus Day, 1870
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Genus: Semiplotus
· Habitat – Freshwater, Benthopelagic
· Colour- Silvery grey with black dorsal
surface. Pelvic and anal fin orange.
· Voracious grazer, open pores are present
on either side of the snout.
· Last dorsal spine osseous and serrated
posteriorly.
· Branched dorsal rays and pelvic rays.
· Breeding period June- September
· Maximum length- 20 cm.
· Conservation status: Data Deficient

13. Mahanadi Mahseer Tor mahanadicus
(David, 1953)- State fish of Odisha
Odisha Mahanadi
Mahseer Tor
mahanadicus
(David, 1953)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Genus: Tor
· Colour- Silvery green or greyish green
dorsally with pinkish sides replaced by
greenish good above and light olive green
below, lower fin reddish yellow
· Head small, broadly pointed
· Dorsal profile is more arched than ventral
· Lips with continuous labial fold
· Caudal fin deeply forked
· 2 pairs of barbels
· Omnivorous
· Breeding period- July to November
· Maximum length- 152 cm
· Conservation status: Endangered

14. Pabda Ompok bimaculatus (Bloch,
1794)- State fish of Tripura
Tripura Pabda Ompok
bimaculatus
(Bloch, 1794)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Siluridae
Genus: Ompok
· Habitat – Freshwater and Brackishwater,
Demersal
· Omnivore in nature
· Colour- Brown, usually marmorated body
with conspicuous round black blotch above
pectoral base
· Two pairs of barbels; maxillary barbels
reaching pelvic fins or anal fins;
mandibulary barbels minute
· Dorsal and pelvic fins small; anal fin long;
pectoral fins well developed; vomerine
teeth in 2 patches
· Breeding period- June-July
· Maximum length- 45.0 cm
· Conservation status: Near threatened

15. Chital Chitala chitala
(Hamilton, 1822)-State fish of Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Chital
Chital Chitala
chitala
(Hamilton, 1822)-
State fish of Uttar
Pradesh
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order:
Osteoglossiformes
Family:
Notopteridae
Genus: Chitala
Species: chitala
Common name:
Chitol/ Indian knife
fish/Feather back
· Habitat – Freshwater; Demersal · Colour- Dorsal
portion is coppery green colored and silvery at sides
and below. · Carnivorous and predator
fish · Dorsal profile is highly ·
Maximum length- 120 cm.
convex. · Anal fin is long and
confluent with caudal fin. · Pectoral
fins are reduced. · 15 silvery bars
present on each side of dorsal ridge. ·
5-9 small black spots near the end of
the caudal fin. · Breeding period- June
and July by building nest.
Conservation status: Endangered

16. Hilsa Tenualosa ilisha (Hamilton, 1822)-
State fish of West Bengal
West Bengal
Hilsa Tenualosa
ilisha (Hamilton,
1822)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Clupeiformes
Family: Clupeidae
Genus: Tenualosa
Species: ilisha
Common name: Hilsa/
Ilisha
· Habitat – Freshwater; Brackishwater
· Colour- Silver shot with gold and
purple
· Belly with 30 to 33 scutes
· Distinct median notch in upper jaw
· A dark blotch behind gill opening
· Feeds on plankton by filtering
· Breeding period- January to February
- March
· Breeds mainly in rivers
· Maximum length- 42 cm to 60 cm
· Conservation status: Less concern

17. Flathead mullet Mugil cephalus (Linneaus,
1758)-State fish of Goa
Goa
Flathead
mullet Mugil
cephalus
(Linneaus,
1758)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Mugiliformes
Family: Mugilidae
Genus: Mugil
Habitat – marine; freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic
· Found oncoastal waters, often entering estuaries and rivers , sometimes far-
up-river, lagoons and hypersaline environments · Colour- Olive-green dorsally,
sides silvery shading to white ventrally · Feed on detritus, micro-algae and
benthic organisms
· Body stout, cylindrical in cross-section, slightly
compressed; head broad and flattened and well developed
adipose eyelid
· Upper lip thin and without papillae, lower lip with outer
row of small unicuspid teeth, Lateral line absent
· Breeding period- autumn and winter months
· Maximum length- 100 cm
· Conservation status: Less concern

18. Tor mahaseer/Tor barb: Tor tor (Hamilton,
1822)-State fish of Madhya Pradesh
Madhya
Pradesh
Tor
mahaseer/Tor
barb: Tor tor
(Hamilton,
1822)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Genus: Tor
Habitat – Freshwater; Benthopelagic; Potamodromous
· Inhabits rivers and lakes, also in rapid streams with rocky bottom. ·
Colour-Dorsal side is dark grey · Golden to pinkish on flanks and
abdomen is silvery with slightly golden tinge · Below the eyes is light
yellow. · Dorsal, pectoral and anal fins are reddish
yellow in color · Omnivorous and feed on feed on
filamentous algae, chironomid larvae, water beetles
and crustaceans · The body is stout, elongated and
compressed, the ventral profile is more arched than
dorsal profile · Head is comparatively smaller and
pointed , mouth small and inferior · Eyes visible from
below the head, lips are thick and fleshy, running at
angles of mouth · Barbels two pairs and scales large ·
Breeding period- August-September till December
· Maximum length- 200 cm
· Conservation status: Endangered

19. Neolissochilus hexagonolepis (McClelland, 1839)Copper Mahseer or
Chocolet mahseer& locally named as a'Katley's – State fish of
Nagaland and Sikkim
Nagaland&
Sikkim
Neolissochilus
hexagonolepis (Mc
Clelland,
1839)Copper
Mahseer or
Chocolet
mahseer& locally
named as
a'Katley's
Actinopteri (ray-finned
fishes) > Cypriniformes
(Carps) > Cyprinidae
(Minnows or carps) >
Torinae
Etymology:
Neolissochilus: Greek,
neos = new +
Greek,lissos = smooth +
Greek, cheilos = lip
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order:
Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Genus:
Neolissochilus
Adults occur in fast flowing streams and rivers
with rocky bottom, mainly in the middle of
streams. Omnivorous. Adults feed mainly on
filamentous green algae, lesser on chironomid
larvae, crustaceans and water beetles . They
migrate upstream during the breeding season
where spawning takes place on stones and
gravel . Spawning occur from April to October
with a peak in August to September. Males
mature at 9 cm. Flesh is considered delicious
and market demand is great. Omnivorous.
Adults feed mainly on filamentous green
algae, lesser on chironomid larvae,
crustaceans and water beetles : · Habitat –
Freshwater
· Snub nosed mahseer
· Back olive green, silvery white on the belly,
scales above the lateral line coppery coloured,
fins dark gray paling towards the margin
· Breeding period-April to October with a peak
in August to September
· Maximum length- 120 cm
· Conservation status: Endangered

20. Copper Mahseer(Katley's) a State fish of
Nagaland&Sikkim
• Neolissochilus hexagonolepis commonly known as Copper
Mahseer and locally named as a'Katley's a State fish of Sikkim to
highlight the importance of the fish and to give emphasis to its
conservation measures.
• License shall be issued by the Directorate of Fisheries to the
interested individual fishermen or fishermen co-operative societies or
SHGs for fishing in the reservoirs in accordance with the existing
provisions under the Sikkim Fisheries Rules, 1990.
• In the year 1992, ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources
(ICAR-NBFGR), Lucknow had categorized Katley fish as
endangered species. Later on, in the year 2014 the fish was also
categorized as endangered by the IUCN(International Union for
Conservation of Nature).

21. References
1)https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/sikkim-declares-katley-as-state-
fish/article36547120.ece
2) https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Neolissochilus-hexagonolepis
3)
https://www.google.com/search?q=State+wise+map++india+2022&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKE
wj3vY_m1dX7AhUwg2MGHU-tD-sQ2-
cCegQIABAA&oq=State+wise+map++india+2022&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQA1CSD1iSD2DkF
mgAcAB4AIABVYgBpgGSAQEymAEAoAEBqgELZ3dzLXdpei1pbWfAAQE&sclient=im
g&ei=5CyHY_e7J7CGjuMPz9q-2A4&bih=567&biw=1366#imgrc=lM-tNVDcSTkhHM
4) Sugunan, V.V., 2011. Handbook of Fisheries and Aquaculture. Knowl Manag Agric ICAR, New
Delhi, pp.238-274.
5) DoF, 2020. Handbook on fisheries statistics, 2020. Department of Fisheries, Ministry of
Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Govt. of India, New Delhi, p. 176.
6) NFDB, 2006. State fishes of India.
7) ICAR-NBFGR

22. World fisheries Day-Nov21st, &Indian Fish Farmers
day-July 10th,
Thanks to all &B for your Time Acknowledgement to Yaa& Baa