India
Checklist of Endemic Freshwater Fish Species
This list of freshwater fish species found exclusively in India is based on the taxonomy used in FishBase 2004 (2004). For further details on possible inaccuracies in the list see Sources & Caveats.
FishBase 2004: a global information system on fishes. DVD. WorldFish Center - Philippine Office, Los Banos, Philippines. Published in May 2004.
The current version of this electronic database is accessible here.
OC = a FishBase occurrence record suggests a specimen from another country outside normal stated range ( these vary widely in reliability from obvious misidentifications to being almost certainly correct)
Horaichthys setnai (Adrianichthyidae) Malabar Ricefish
Parambassis dayi OC (Ambassidae) Day's Glassy Perchlet
Parambassis thomassi (Ambassidae) Western Ghat Glassy Perchlet
Amblyceps tenuispinis (Amblycipitidae)
Aplocheilus kirchmayeri (Aplocheilidae) Goa Panchax
Arius gagorides OC (Ariidae)
Arius satparanus OC (Ariidae)
Badis assamensis (Badidae)
Badis blosyrus (Badidae)
Badis kanabos (Badidae)
Dario dario (Badidae)
Batasio travancoria (Bagridae) Malabar Batasio
Hemibagrus maydelli (Bagridae) Krishna Mystus
Hemibagrus punctatus (Bagridae) Nilgiri Mystus
Horabagrus nigricollaris (Bagridae) Black Collared Catfish
Mystus canarensis (Bagridae)
Mystus malabaricus (Bagridae) Jerdon's Mystus
Mystus montanus (Bagridae) Wynaad Mystus
Mystus oculatus (Bagridae) Malabar Mystus
Pseudobagrus chryseus (Bagridae)
Rita chrysea (Bagridae) Mahanadi Rita
Rita gogra (Bagridae) Gogra Rita
Rita kuturnee (Bagridae) Deccan Rita
Sperata aorella (Bagridae)
Aborichthys elongatus (Balitoridae) Redtailed Squirrel Loach
Aborichthys garoensis (Balitoridae)
Balitora mysorensis (Balitoridae) Slender Stone Loach
Bhavania australis (Balitoridae) Western Ghat Loach
Homaloptera manipurensis (Balitoridae)
Homaloptera menoni (Balitoridae)
Homaloptera montana (Balitoridae) Anamalai Loach
Homaloptera pillaii (Balitoridae)
Indoreonectes evezardi OC (Balitoridae)
Longischistura bhimachari (Balitoridae)
Longischistura striata (Balitoridae)
Mesonoemacheilus guentheri (Balitoridae)
Mesonoemacheilus herrei (Balitoridae)
Mesonoemacheilus pambarensis (Balitoridae)
Mesonoemacheilus pulchellus (Balitoridae)
Mesonoemacheilus triangularis (Balitoridae) Batik Loach
Nemacheilus anguilla (Balitoridae) Black Line Loach
Nemacheilus barapaniensis (Balitoridae)
Nemacheilus carletoni (Balitoridae)
Nemacheilus chindwinicus (Balitoridae)
Nemacheilus devdevi OC (Balitoridae)
Nemacheilus doonensis (Balitoridae)
Nemacheilus drassensis (Balitoridae)
Nemacheilus gangeticus (Balitoridae)
Nemacheilus guttatus (Balitoridae)
Nemacheilus himachalensis (Balitoridae)
Nemacheilus kaimurensis (Balitoridae)
Nemacheilus keralensis (Balitoridae)
Nemacheilus kodaguensis (Balitoridae)
Nemacheilus menoni (Balitoridae)
Nemacheilus monilis (Balitoridae)
Nemacheilus mooreh OC (Balitoridae)
Nemacheilus nilgiriensis (Balitoridae)
Nemacheilus pavonaceus OC (Balitoridae)
Nemacheilus petrubanarescui (Balitoridae)
Nemacheilus reticulofasciatus (Balitoridae)
Nemacheilus rueppelli (Balitoridae) Mongoose Loach
Nemacheilus shehensis (Balitoridae)
Nemacheilus singhi (Balitoridae)
Nemacheilus tikaderi (Balitoridae)
Nemachilichthys shimogensis (Balitoridae)
Neonoemacheilus morehensis (Balitoridae)
Physoschistura elongata (Balitoridae)
Schistura altipedunculatus (Balitoridae)
Schistura denisoni OC (Balitoridae)
Schistura manipurensis (Balitoridae)
Schistura montana (Balitoridae) Mountain Loach
Schistura nagaensis (Balitoridae)
Schistura prashadi OC (Balitoridae)
Schistura rendahli (Balitoridae)
Schistura sijuensis (Balitoridae)
Schistura tirapensis (Balitoridae)
Travancoria elongata (Balitoridae)
Travancoria jonesi (Balitoridae) Travancore Loach
Triplophysa kashmirensis OC (Balitoridae)
Triplophysa marmorata OC (Balitoridae) Kashmir Triplophysa Loach
Triplophysa shehensis (Balitoridae) Tilak Triplophysa Loach
Channa aurantimaculata (Channidae) Orangespotted Snakehead
Channa bleheri OC (Channidae) Rainbow Snakehead
Channa diplogramma (Channidae) Giant Indian Snakehead
Channa theophrasti (Channidae)
Garo khajuriai (Chaudhuriidae) Garo Spineless Eel
Pillaia indica (Chaudhuriidae) Hillstream Spineless Eel
Etroplus canarensis (Cichlidae) Canara Pearlspot
Clarias dayi (Clariidae) Malabar Clariid
Clarias dussumieri (Clariidae) Valenciennes Clariid
Horaglanis krishnai (Clariidae) Indian Blind Catfish
Dayella malabarica OC (Clupeidae) Day's Round Herring
Botia macrolineata (Cobitidae)
Botia striata (Cobitidae) Zebra Loach
Enobarbichthys maculatus (Cobitidae) Whitley Loach
Lepidocephalichthys arunachalensis (Cobitidae)
Lepidocephalichthys menoni (Cobitidae) Tilak Loach
Lepidocephalus coromandelensis (Cobitidae)
Pangio bashai (Cobitidae)
Pangio goaensis (Cobitidae) Indian Coolie-loach
Pangio longipinnis (Cobitidae)
Amblypharyngodon chakaiensis (Cyprinidae)
Aspidoparia ukhrulensis (Cyprinidae)
Barbodes bovanicus (Cyprinidae) Bowany Barb
Barbodes carnaticus (Cyprinidae) Carnatic Carp
Barbodes wynaadensis OC (Cyprinidae)
Barilius bakeri (Cyprinidae) Royal Danio
Barilius canarensis (Cyprinidae) Jerdon's Baril
Barilius cocsa (Cyprinidae)
Barilius dimorphicus (Cyprinidae)
Barilius dogarsinghi OC (Cyprinidae) Manipur Baril
Barilius evezardi (Cyprinidae) Day's Baril
Barilius gatensis (Cyprinidae) River-carp Baril
Barilius lairokensis (Cyprinidae) Ngawa
Barilius radiolatus (Cyprinidae) Gunther's Baril
Chela dadiburjori OC (Cyprinidae) Dadio
Chela fasciata (Cyprinidae) Malabar Hatchet Chela
Cirrhinus fulungee (Cyprinidae) Deccan White Carp
Cirrhinus macrops (Cyprinidae) Hora White Carp
Crossocheilus periyarensis (Cyprinidae) Periyar Lattia
Devario acuticephala (Cyprinidae)
Devario assamensis (Cyprinidae)
Devario fraseri (Cyprinidae) Fraser's Danio
Devario horai (Cyprinidae)
Devario manipurensis (Cyprinidae)
Devario naganensis (Cyprinidae) Naga Danio
Devario neilgherriensis (Cyprinidae) Peninsular Danio
Devario yuensis (Cyprinidae)
Esomus barbatus (Cyprinidae) South Indian Flying Barb
Garra bicornuta (Cyprinidae) Tunga Garra
Garra elongata (Cyprinidae)
Garra hughi (Cyprinidae) Cardamon Garra
Garra kalakadensis (Cyprinidae)
Garra lissorhynchus (Cyprinidae) Khasi Garra
Garra litanensis (Cyprinidae)
Garra manipurensis (Cyprinidae)
Garra mcclellandi (Cyprinidae) Cauvery Garra
Garra menoni (Cyprinidae)
Garra naganensis OC (Cyprinidae) Naga Garra
Garra periyarensis (Cyprinidae)
Garra rupecula (Cyprinidae) Mishmi Garra
Garra surendranathi (Cyprinidae)
Gymnocypris biswasi (Cyprinidae)
Horalabiosa joshuai (Cyprinidae)
Horalabiosa palaniensis (Cyprinidae)
Hypselobarbus curmuca (Cyprinidae) Curmuca Barb
Hypselobarbus dobsoni (Cyprinidae) Krishna Carp
Hypselobarbus dubius (Cyprinidae) Nilgiris Barb
Hypselobarbus jerdoni (Cyprinidae) Jerdon's Carp
Hypselobarbus kolus (Cyprinidae) Kolus
Hypselobarbus kurali (Cyprinidae)
Hypselobarbus lithopidos (Cyprinidae) Canara Barb
Hypselobarbus micropogon (Cyprinidae) Korhi Barb
Hypselobarbus periyarensis (Cyprinidae)
Hypselobarbus pulchellus (Cyprinidae) Chameen
Hypselobarbus thomassi (Cyprinidae) Red Canareese Barb
Labeo kawrus OC (Cyprinidae) Deccan Labeo
Labeo kontius (Cyprinidae) Pigmouth Labeo
Labeo nigrescens (Cyprinidae) Karnataka Labeo
Labeo rajasthanicus (Cyprinidae)
Labeo udaipurensis (Cyprinidae)
Lepidopygopsis typus (Cyprinidae) Peninsular Hilltrout
Neolissochilus dukai OC (Cyprinidae)
Neolissochilus spinulosus (Cyprinidae)
Osteobrama bakeri OC (Cyprinidae) Malabar Osteobrama
Osteobrama bhimensis (Cyprinidae) Bhongi
Osteobrama dayi (Cyprinidae)
Osteobrama neilli (Cyprinidae) Nilgiri Osteobrama
Osteobrama vigorsii (Cyprinidae) Bheema Osteobrama
Osteochilichthys brevidorsalis (Cyprinidae) Kantaka Barb
Osteochilus godavariensis (Cyprinidae)
Osteochilus longidorsalis (Cyprinidae)
Osteochilus nashii (Cyprinidae) Nash's Barb
Osteochilus thomassi (Cyprinidae) Konti Barb
Parapsilorhynchus discophorus (Cyprinidae)
Parapsilorhynchus elongatus (Cyprinidae)
Parapsilorhynchus prateri (Cyprinidae) Deolali Minnow
Parapsilorhynchus tentaculatus (Cyprinidae) Khandalla Minnow
Parluciosoma labiosa (Cyprinidae) Slender Rasbora
Puntius ambassis OC (Cyprinidae)
Puntius arenatus (Cyprinidae) Arenatus Barb
Puntius arulius (Cyprinidae) Arulius Barb
Puntius chalakkudiensis (Cyprinidae)
Puntius coorgensis (Cyprinidae)
Puntius crescentus (Cyprinidae)
Puntius deccanensis (Cyprinidae) Deccan Barb
Puntius denisonii (Cyprinidae) Red-line Torpedo Barb
Puntius fasciatus OC (Cyprinidae) Melon Barb
Puntius fraseri (Cyprinidae) Dharna Barb
Puntius manipurensis (Cyprinidae)
Puntius melanampyx OC (Cyprinidae) Black-banded Barb
Puntius melanostigma (Cyprinidae)
Puntius morehensis (Cyprinidae)
Puntius mudumalaiensis (Cyprinidae)
Puntius muzaffarpurensis (Cyprinidae)
Puntius nangalensis (Cyprinidae)
Puntius narayani (Cyprinidae) Narayan Barb
Puntius ophicepahlus (Cyprinidae) Channa Barb
Puntius parrah (Cyprinidae) Parrah Barb
Puntius roseipinnis (Cyprinidae) Pondicherry Barb
Puntius sahyadriensis (Cyprinidae) Khavli Barb
Puntius setnai (Cyprinidae)
Puntius shalynius (Cyprinidae) Shalyni Barb
Puntius sharmai (Cyprinidae)
Puntius sophoroides OC (Cyprinidae)
Rohtee ogilbii (Cyprinidae) Vatani Rohtee
Salmostoma acinaces OC (Cyprinidae) Silver Razorbelly Minnow
Salmostoma belachi (Cyprinidae) Belachi
Salmostoma boopis (Cyprinidae) Boopis Razorbelly Minnow
Salmostoma horai (Cyprinidae) Hora Razorbelly Minnow
Salmostoma kardahiensis (Cyprinidae)
Salmostoma novacula (Cyprinidae) Novacula Razorbelly Minnow
Salmostoma orissaensis (Cyprinidae) Orissa Razorbelly Minnow
Salmostoma untrahi (Cyprinidae) Mahanadi Razorbelly Minnow
Schismatorhynchos nukta (Cyprinidae) Doublemouth Tor Barb
Schizothorax huegelii (Cyprinidae)
Schizothorax kumaonensis (Cyprinidae) Kumaon Snowtrout
Schizothorax niger OC (Cyprinidae)
Semiplotus manipurensis (Cyprinidae)
Thynnichthys sandkhol (Cyprinidae) Sandkhol Carp
Tor kulkarnii (Cyprinidae) Dwarf Mahseer
Tor mussullah (Cyprinidae) Humpback Mahseer
Tor progeneius (Cyprinidae) Jungha Mahseer
Eleotris andamensis (Eleotridae)
Setipinna brevifilis OC (Engraulidae) Short-hairfin Anchovy
Setipinna phasa OC (Engraulidae) Gangetic Hairfin Anchovy
Erethistoides montana OC (Erethistidae)
Laguvia manipurensis (Erethistidae)
Acentrogobius griseus (Gobiidae) Gray Goby
Bathygobius ostreicola (Gobiidae)
Callogobius seshaiyai (Gobiidae)
Sicyopterus griseus OC (Gobiidae) Clown Goby
Yongeichthys tuticorinensis (Gobiidae)
Dermogenys brachynotopterus (Hemiramphidae)
Hyporhamphus xanthopterus (Hemiramphidae) Red-tipped Halfbeak
Heteropneustes longipectoralis (Heteropneustidae)
Macrognathus guentheri OC (Mastacembelidae) Malabar Spinyeel
Macrognathus malabaricus (Mastacembelidae)
Macrognathus morehensis (Mastacembelidae)
Pristolepis marginata OC (Nandidae) Malabar Leaffish
Pisodonophis boro (Ophichthidae) Rice-paddy Eel
Pseudosphromenus dayi (Osphronemidae) Brown Spike-tailed Paradise Fish
Psilorhynchus microphthalmus (Psilorhynchidae)
Clupisoma bastari (Schilbeidae) Bastar Garua
Eutropiichthys goongwaree (Schilbeidae) Goongwaree Vacha
Neotropius khavalchor (Schilbeidae) Khavalchor Catfish
Pseudeutropius buchanani (Schilbeidae)
Pseudeutropius mitchelli (Schilbeidae)
Silonia childreni (Schilbeidae) White Catfish
Johnius gangeticus (Sciaenidae) Gangetic Bola
Ompok goae (Siluridae)
Ompok malabaricus (Siluridae) Goan Catfish
Pterocryptis indicus (Siluridae)
Pterocryptis wynaadensis (Siluridae) Malabar Silurus
Silurus morehensis (Siluridae)
Gagata itchkeea OC (Sisoridae) Deccan Nangra
Gagata sexualis OC (Sisoridae)
Glyptothorax anamalaiensis (Sisoridae)
Glyptothorax brevipinnis (Sisoridae)
Glyptothorax coheni OC (Sisoridae)
Glyptothorax dakpathari (Sisoridae)
Glyptothorax davissinghi (Sisoridae)
Glyptothorax garhwali OC (Sisoridae)
Glyptothorax housei (Sisoridae)
Glyptothorax kapuri (Sisoridae)
Glyptothorax lonah (Sisoridae)
Glyptothorax madraspatanum (Sisoridae)
Glyptothorax nelsoni (Sisoridae)
Glyptothorax saisii (Sisoridae)
Glyptothorax striatus OC (Sisoridae)
Glyptothorax trewavasae (Sisoridae)
Hara horai OC (Sisoridae)
Hara serratus (Sisoridae)
Myersglanis jayarami (Sisoridae)
Nangra assamensis (Sisoridae)
Nangra carcharhinoides (Sisoridae)
Monopterus eapeni (Synbranchidae)
Monopterus fossorius (Synbranchidae) Malabar Swamp Eel
Monopterus hodgarti (Synbranchidae) Indian Spagetti Eel
Monopterus indicus (Synbranchidae) Bombay Swamp Eel
Monopterus roseni (Synbranchidae)
Microphis insularis OC (Syngnathidae) Andaman Pipefish
Carinotetraodon imitator (Tetraodontidae)
Carinotetraodon travancoricus (Tetraodontidae) Malabar Pufferfish
Additional endemic freshwater fish species that were not included in FishBase 2004 are given below. This list is primarily based on information from the 13 March 2009 version of the Catalog of Fishes database (current version here) and includes species described through 2008. In addition to the 284 endemic freshwater fish species listed above, these additional 71 species total 355 species of freshwater fishes known solely from India.
Amblyceps arunchalensis (Amblycipitidae)
Amblyceps torrentis (Amblycipitidae) 2008
Amblyceps tuberculatum (Amblycipitidae) 2008
Badis tuivaiei (Badidae) 2004
Batasio fasciolatus (Bagridae) 2006
Batasio merianiensis (Bagridae)
Batasio sharavatiensis (Bagridae) 2004
Batasio spilurus (Bagridae) 2006
Mystus seengtee (Bagridae)
Bhavania arunachalensis (Balitoridae) 2007
Homaloptera santhamparaiensis (Balitoridae) 2002
Mesonoemacheilus remadevii (Balitoridae) 2002
Nemacheilus inglisi (Balitoridae)
Nemacheilus periyarensis (Balitoridae) 2005
Neonoemacheilus assamensis (Balitoridae)
Schistura khugae (Balitoridae) 2004
Schistura minutus (Balitoridae) 2006
Schistura nagodiensis (Balitoridae) 2006
Schistura papulifera (Balitoridae) 2007
Schistura reticulata (Balitoridae) 2004
Schistura sharavathiensis (Balitoridae) 2006
Schistura tigrinum (Balitoridae) 2005
Horaglanis alikunhii (Clariidae) 2004
Acantopsis multistigmatus (Cobitidae) 2005
Pangio apoda (Cobitidae) 2007
Barilius chatricensis (Cyprinidae) 2002
Barilius ngawa (Cyprinidae) 2002
Danio jaintianensis (Cyprinidae) 2007
Esomus manipurensis (Cyprinidae)
Garra nambulica (Cyprinidae) 2005
Garra paralissorhynchus (Cyprinidae) 2005
Horalabiosa arunachalami (Cyprinidae) 2001
Puntius assimilis (Cyprinidae)
Puntius ater (Cyprinidae) 2007
Puntius exclamatio (Cyprinidae) 2005
Puntius jayarami (Cyprinidae)
Puntius kannikattiensis (Cyprinidae) 2003
Puntius khohi (Cyprinidae) 2004
Puntius khugae (Cyprinidae) 2007
Puntius meingangbii (Cyprinidae) 2003
Puntius muvattupuzhaensis (Cyprinidae) 2005
Puntius ornatus (Cyprinidae) 2004
Puntius pookodensis (Cyprinidae) 2007
Puntius tambraparniei (Cyprinidae)
Puntius yuensis (Cyprinidae) 2003
Rasbora ornatus (Cyprinidae) 2005
Tor barakae (Cyprinidae) 2003
Tor malabaricus (Cyprinidae) Malabar Mahseer
Conta pectinata (Erethistidae) 2005
Erethistoides senkhiensis (Erethistidae) 2008
Erethistoides sicula (Erethistidae) 2005
Pseudolaguvia ferula (Erethistidae) 2006
Pseudolaguvia foveolata (Erethistidae) 2005
Nandus andrewi (Nandidae) 2008
Psilorhynchus amplicephalus (Psilorhynchidae) 2007
Psilorhynchus arunachalensis (Psilorhynchidae) 2007
Psilorhynchus tenura (Psilorhynchidae) 2008
Pterocryptis barakensis (Siluridae) 2006
Exostoma barakensis (Sisoridae) 2007
Glyptothorax chindwinica (Sisoridae) 2007
Glyptothorax granulus (Sisoridae) 2007
Glyptothorax kudremukhensis (Sisoridae) 2007
Glyptothorax ngapang (Sisoridae) 2007
Glyptothorax sykesi (Sisoridae)
Glyptothorax ventrolineatus (Sisoridae) 2006
Pseudecheneis sirenica (Sisoridae) 2007
Pseudecheneis suppaetula (Sisoridae) 2006
Pseudecheneis ukhrulensis (Sisoridae) 2007
Sisor barakensis (Sisoridae) 2005
Sisor torosus (Sisoridae) 2003
Monopterus digressus (Synbranchidae) 2002