The Sundarbans (beautiful forest) is the largest mangrove forest of the world and is a component of the greater Ganga-Brahmaputra estuarine system. It occupies the area between latitude 21027’30” to 22030’00” north and longitude 89002’00” to 90000’00” east (Huda and Haque 2003). The following finfish species are available in the Sundarbans (Huda and Haque 2003)-
Class: CHONDRICHTHYES
Order: Carcharhiniformes (Ground sharks)
Family: Carcharhinidae (Requiem sharks)
- Blacktip reef shark, Carcharhinus melanopterus
- Spear tooth shark or Queensland river shark, Glyphis glyphis
- Spade-nose shark, Scoliodon laticaudus
Family: Sphyrnidae (Hammerhead sharks)
- Wing head shark or Hammer head shark, Eusphyrna blochii
Order: Pristiformes (Sawfishes)
Family: Pristidae (Sawfishes)
- Saw shark, Pristis cuspidatus
- Large tooth saw fish, Pristis microdon
Order Rajiformes (Skates)
Family Rhynchobatidae (Wedgefishes)
- White spotted guitar fish, Rhynchobatus djiddensis
Family: Rhinobatidae (Guitarfishes)
- Sharpnose guitarfish, Rhinobatos granulatus
Order: Torpediniformes (Electric rays)
Family: Narcinidae (Numbfishes)
- Brown numbfish or Brown electric ray, Narcine brunnea
- Black spotted numbfish or Black spotted electric ray, Narcine timlei
- Spottail sleeper ray or Spotted electric ray, Narke dipterygia
Order: Myliobatiformes (Stingrays)
Family: Dasyatidae (Trygonidae; Whiptail stingrays)
- Sharp snout stingray, Dasyatis zugei
- Gangetic stingray, Himantura fluviatilis
- White spotted shipray, Himantura gerrardi
- Leopard stingray, Himantura uarnak
- Leopard stingray, Himantura undulata
- Bleeker’s whipray, Himantura uarnacoides
- Dwarf stingray, Himantura walga
- Cowtail stingray, Pastinachus sephen
Family: Gymnuridae (Butterfly rays)
- Longtail butterfly ray, Gymnura poecilura
Class: ACTINOPTERYGII
Order ELOPIFORMES (Tenpounders)
Family: Elopidae (Tenpounders; Ladyfishes)
- Lady fish, Elops machnata
Order: Anguilliformes (Apodes; Eels)
Family: Muraenidae (Heteromyridae; Moray eels)
- White spotted morey, Gymnothorax punctatus
Family: Ophichthidae (Snake eels and Worm eels)
- Rie paddy eel, Pisodonophis boro
Family: Muraenesocidae (Pike congers)
- Indian pike-conger eel, Congresox talabonoides
- Daggertooth pike-conger eel, Muraenesox cinereus
Order: Synbranchiformes (Swamp eels)
Family: Synbranchidae (Swamp eels)
- Gangetic mud eel, Monopterus cuchia
Order: Clupeiformes (Herrings)
Family: Engraulidae (Engraulididae and Stolephoridae; Anchovies)
- Pointed tail anchovy or Gold spotted greanadier anchovy, Coilia dussumieri
- Neglected anchovy, Coilia neglecta
- Tapertail anchovy, Coilia ramcarati
- Gangetic hairfin anchovy, Setipinna phasa
- Scaly hairfin anchovy, Setipinna taty
- Spined anchovy, Stolephorus tri
- Dussumier’s thryssa, Thryssa dussumieri
- Hamilton’s anchovy, Thryssa hamiltonii
Family: Pristigasteridae (Longfin herrings)
- Coromandel ilisha, Ilisha filigera
- Bigeye herring or Bigeye ilisha, Ilisha megaloptera
- Indian ilisha or Indian herring, Ilisha melastoma
- Indian pellona herring, Pellona ditchela
- Smooth-back herring, Reconda russeliana
Family: Chirocentridae (Wolf herrings)
- Dorab wolf herring, Chirocentrus dorab
- Whitefin wolf herring, Chirocentrus nudus
Family: Clupeidae (Herrings; shads, sprats, sardines, pilchards, and menhadens)
- Rainbow sardine, Dussumieria acuta
- White sardine, Escualosa thoracata
- Fringe scale sardinella, Sardinella fimbriata
- Goldspot sardinella, Sardinella gibbosa
- Blacktip sardinella, Sardinella melanura
- Gizzard shad, Anodontostoma chacunda
- Indiver river sardine, Gudusia chapra
- Kelee shad, Hilsa kelee
- Hilsa shad, Tenualosa ilisha
- Toli shad, Tenualosa toli
Order: Siluriformes (Nematognathi; Catfishes)
Family: Bagridae (Bagrid catfishes)
- Day’s catfish, Mystus bleekeri
- Long whiskered catfish, Mystus gulio
Family: Schilbeidae (Schilbidae; Schilbeid catfishes)
- Gangetic catfish, Ailia coila
- Silondia, Silonia silondia
Family: Pangasiidae (Shark catfishes)
- Fatty catfish, Pangasius pangasius
Family: Clariidae (Airbreathing catfishes)
- Walking catfish, Clarias batrachus
Family: Ariidae (Tachysuridae; Sea catfishes)
- Threadfin sea catfish, Arius arius
- Blacktip sea catfish, Arius dussumieri
- Gagora catfish, Arius gagora
- Spotted catfish, Arius maculatus
- Engraved catfish, Arius nenga
- Flatmouth sea catfish, Arius platystomus
- Sona sea catfish, Arius sona
- Giant sea catfish, Arius thalassinus
Family: Plotosidae (Eeltail catfishes)
- Canine eel catfish, Plotosus canius
- Striped eel catfish, Plotosus lineatus
Order: Aulopiformes (Lizardfishes)
Family: Synodontidae (Lizardfishes)
- Grater lizardfish, Saurida tumbil
- Bomby-duck, Harpadon nehereus
Order: Gadiformes (Cods)
Family: Bregmacerotidae (Codlets)
- Unicorn codlet, Bregmaceros mcclellandi
Order: Batrachoidiformes (Haplodoci; Toadfishes)
Family: Batrachoididae (Toadfishes)
- Gangetic toad fish, Allenbatrachus grunniens
Order: Mugiliformes (Mullets)
Family: Mugilidae (Mullets)
- Goldspot mullet, Liza parsia
- Tade mullet, Liza planiceps
- Greenback mullet, Liza subviridis
- Striped mullet, Mugil cephalus
- Corsula mullet, Rhinomugil corsula
- Yellow tail mullet, Sicamugil cascasia
- Speigler’s mullet, Valamugil speigleri
Order: Beloniformes (Needlefishes)
Family: Belonidae (Needlefishes)
- Spottail needlefish, Strongylura strongylura
- Hound needlefish, Tylosurus crocodilus
- Freshwater needlefish, Xenentodon cancila
Family: Hemiramphidae (Halfbeaks)
- Congaturi healfbeak, Hyporhamphus limbatus
- George’s halfbeak, Rhynchorhamphus georgii
Order: Gasterosteiformes (Sticklebacks)
Family: Syngnathidae (Pipefishes and seahorses)
- Yellow seahorse, Hippocampus kuda
Family: Fistulariidae (Cornetfishes)
- Red cornetfish, Fistularia petimba
Order: Scorpaeniformes (Mail-cheeked fishes)
Family: Scorpaenidae (Scorpionfishes; Rockfishes)
- Russel’s lionfish, Pterois miles
- Plaintail firefish, Pterois russellii
Family: Platycephalidae (Flatheads)
- Spotted flathead, Cociella punctata
- Rough flathead, Grammoplites scaber
- Indian flathead, Platycephalus indicus
- Thorny flathead, Rogadius pristiger
Order: Perciformes (Perches)
Family: Latidae (Lates)
- Barramundi, Lates calcarifer
Family: Ambassidae (Chandidae; Asiatic glassfishes)
- Elongate glassperch, Chanda nama
- Himalayan glassperch, Pseudambassis baculis
- Indian glassperch, Pseudambassis ranga
Family: Serranidae (Sea basses)
- Vermillion grouper, Cephalopholis miniata
- Orangespotted grouper, Epinephelus coioides
- Blacktip grouper, Epinephelus fasciatus
Family: Apogonidae (Cardinalfishes)
- Nine-banded cardinal fish, Apogon novemfasciatus
- Seven-banded cardinal fish, Apogon septemstriatus
Family: Sillaginidae (Sillagos; whitings, smelt-whitings)
- Gangetic sillago, Sillaginopsis panijus
- Silver sillago, Sillago sihama
Family: Lactariidae (False trevallies)
- False trevally, Lactarius lactarius
Family: Rachycentridae (Cobias)
- Cobia, Rachycentron canadus
Family: Carangidae (Jacks and pompanos)
- Indian thread fish, Alectis indica
- Shrimp scad, Alepes djedaba
- Blackfin scad, Alepes melanoptera
- Cleftbelly trevally, Atropus atropos (male)
- Malabar trevally, Carangoides malabaricus
- Torpedo scad, Megalaspis cordyla
- Black pomfret, Parastromateus niger
- Talang queenfish, Scomberoides commersonnianus
- Oxeye scad, Selar boobs
- Big eye scad, Selar crumenophthalmus
Family: Menidae (Moonfishes)
- Moonfish, Mene maculata
Family: Leiognathidae (Ponyfishes, slimys, or slipmouths)
- Toothed ponyfish, Gazza minuta
- Orangefin ponyfish, Leiognathus bindus
- Common ponyfish, Leiognathus equulus
- Striped ponyfish, Leiognathus fasciatus
- Punnose ponyfish, Secutor insidiator
- Deep pugnose ponyfish, Secutor ruconius
Family: Lutjanidae (Snappers)
- John’s snapper, Lutjanus johnii
- Malabar blood snapper, Lutjanus malabaricus
- Blood snapper, Lutjanus sanguineus
- Pinjalo snapper, Pinjalo pinjalo
Family: Lobotidae (Tripletails)
- Tripletail, Lobotes surinamensis
- Four-barred tigerfish, Coius quadrifasciatus
Family: Gerreidae (Mojarras)
- Whipfin silverbiddy, Gerres filamentosus
- Longfin silverbiddy, Pentaprion longimanus
Family: Haemulidae (Pomadasyidae; Grunts)
- Silver grunt, Pomadasys argyreus
- Saddle grunt, Pomadasys maculatus
Family: Sparidae (Porgies)
- Longspine seabream, Argyrops spinifer
Family: Lethrinidae (Emperors or emperor breams)
- Ornate emperor, Lethrinus ornatus
Family: Nemipteridae (Threadfin breams)
- Japanese threadfin bream, Nemipterus japonicus
- Doublewhip threadfin bream, Nemipterus nematophorus
Family: Polynemidae (Threadfins)
- Four finger threadfin, Eleutheronema tetradactylum
- Indian threadfin, Polynemus indicus
- Paradise threadfin, Polynemus paradiseus
- Golden sixthread tassel fish, Polynemus sexfilis
- Blackspot threadfin, Polynemus sextarius
Family: Sciaenidae (Drums; croakers)
- Reeve’s croaker, Chrysochir aureus
- Goatee croaker, Dendrophysa russelli
- Silver croaker, Johnius argentatus
- Black croaker or Bearded croaker, Johnius dussumieri
- Spindle croaker, Johnius elongatus
- Gangetic bola, Johnius gangeticus
- Sharptooth hammer croaker, Johnius vogleri
- Cuja bola, Macrospinosa cuja
- Tigertooth croaker, Otolithes rubber
- Pama croaker, Otolithoides pama
- Panna croaker, Panna microdon
- Donkey croaker, Pennahia anea
- Spotted croaker, Protonibea diacanthus
- Blotched tiger-toothed croaker, Pterolithus maculatus
Family: Mullidae (Goatfishes)
- Sulphur goatfish, Upeneus sulphureus
Family: Toxotidae (Archerfishes)
- Spotted archerfish, Toxotes chatareus
Family: Drepaneidae (Sicklefishes)
- Spotted sicklefish, Drepane punctata
- Banded sicklefish, Drepane longimanus
Family: Terapontidae (Teraponidae, Theraponidae; grunters or tigerperches)
- Terapon perch, Terapon jarbua
- Banded terapon perch, Terapon theraps
Family: Uranoscopidae (Stargazers)
- Stargazer, Ichthoscopus inermis
- Stargazer, Uranoscopus guttatus
Family: Eleotridae (Eleotrididae; sleepers)
- Duckbill sleeper goby, Butis butis
- Black spot sleeper goby, Butis melanostigma
- Dusky sleeper goby, Eleotris fusca
Family: Gobiidae (Gobies)
- Bumblebee goby, Brachygobius nunus
- Tank goby, Glossogobius giurus
- Goby, Pogonogobius planiformes
- Goby, Stigmatogobius sadanundio
- Goby, Apocryptes bato
- Mudskipper, Boleopthalmus boddarti
- Goby, Parapocryptes batoides
- Goby, Pseudapocryptes lanceolatus
- Goby, Scartelaos histophorus
- Mudskipper, Periophthalmodon schiosseri
- Mudskipper, Periophthalmus koelreuterii
- Rubicundus eelgoby, Odontamblyopus rubicundus
- Burmese eelgoby, Taenioides buchanani
- Burrowing goby, Trypauchan vagina
Family: Kurtidae (Nurseryfishes)
- Indian humphead, Kurtus indicus
Family: Ephippidae (Spadefishes)
- Spade fish, Ephippus orbis
Family: Scatophagidae (Scats)
- Spotted scat, Scatophagus argus
Family: Siganidae (Rabbitfishes)
- Streaked rabbitfish, Siganus javus
Family: Sphyraenidae (Barracudas)
- Great barracuda, Sphyraena barracuda
- Pickhandle barracuda, Sphyraena jello
- Forster’s barracuda, Sphyraena forsteri
Family: Trichiuridae (Cutlassfishes)
- Smallhead ribbon fish, Eupleurogrammus muticus
- Savalani ribbonfish, Lepturacanthus salava
- Large head ribbonfish, Trichiurus lepturus
Family: Scombridae (Mackerels and tunas)
- Kawakawa or Estern little tuna, Euthynnus affinis
- Short mackerel, Rastrelliger brachysoma
- Indian mackerel, Rastrelliger kanagurta
- Striped mackerel, Sarda orientalis
- Narrowbarred Spanish mackerel, Scomberomorus commersoni
- Spotted seerfish or Indopacific king mackerel, Scomberomorus guttatus
- Streaked seer fish, Scomberomorus lineolatus
Family: Stromateidae (Butterfishes)
- Silver pomfret, Pampus argenteus
- Chinese pomfret, Pampus chinensis
Family: Channidae (Snakeheads)
- Asiatic snakehead, Channa orientalis
- Spotted snakehead, Channa punctata
- Striped snakehead, Channa striata
Order: Pleuronectiformes (Heterosomata; flatfishes)
Family: Psettodidae (Spiny turbots)
- Indian halibut, Psettodes erumei
Family: Paralichthyidae (Sand flounders)
- Largetooth sand flounder, Pseudorhombus arsius
- Deep sand flounder, Pseudorhombus elevatus
- Malayan sand flounder, Pseudorhombus malayanus
Family: Soleidae (Soles)
- Oriental sole, Euryglossa orientalis
- Pan sole, Euryglossa pan
- Zebra sole, Zebrias altipinnis
Family: Cynoglossidae (Tonguefishes)
- Doublelined tonguesole, Cynoglossus bilineatus
- Bengal tonguesole, Cynoglossus cynoglossus
- Long tonguesole, Cynoglossus lingua
- Speckled tonguesole, Cynoglossus punticeps
- Tonguesole, Cynoglossus versicolor
- Double line tonguesole, Parapalagusia bilineata
- Threeband tonguesole, Symphurus trifasciatus
Order: Tetraodontiformes (Plectognathi; Plectognaths)
Family: Triacanthidae (Triplespines)
- Longspined tripodfish, Pseudotriacanthus striglifer
Family: Balistidae (Triggerfishes)
- Starry triggerfish, Abalistes stellaris
Family: Tetraodontidae (Puffers)
- Star puffer, Arothron stellatus
- Green puffer, Chelonodon fluviatilis
- Gangetic puffer, Chelonodon patoca
- Moontail puffer, Gastrophysus lunaris
- Lattice puffer, Takifugu oblongus
- Ocellated puffer, Tetraodon cutcutia
- Malabar puffer, Tetraodon travacoricus
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