From Wikipedia - Reading time: 11 min
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| Wildlife of Bangladesh |
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Bangladesh is a country with thousands of rivers and ponds, and is notable as a fish-loving nation, acquiring the name machh-e bhat-e Bangali (which means, "Bengali by fish and rice").[1][2][3]
Ilish is the national fish of the country, and contributes 13% of country's total fish production. Fish are both caught from the wild and farmed in artificial ponds.
Bengali also has a generic term for three related fish species from the family Polynemidae. A lakkha fish (লাক্ষা মাছ) may be Eleutheronema tetradactylum, Leptomelanosoma indicum or Polydactylus sexfilis.[4] Another example is that of tengra (টেংরা) which is used to denote several species of catfishes from the families Mystus and Batasio.[5][6][a]
Bengali has multiple synonyms for a single species and a single word for multiple species (a generic term) as shown in the list below.[7]
| Bengali name | Name in Bengali characters[8] | Status | English common name |
Scientific name[9][10] | Image | Order |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Artamim, ar or ayir | আইড়, আরটামিম or আড় | native | Long-whiskered catfish | Sperata aor | Siluriformes | |
| Along or elong[11] | এলং | native | Bengal barb | Megarasbora elanga | Cypriniformes | |
| Anju | আনজু | native | Zebrafish | Danio rerio | Cypriniformes | |
| Arowari or ghagla or gong tengra | আরওয়ারি or ঘাগলা or গাং টেংরা | native | Menoda catfish | Hemibagrus menoda | Siluriformes | |
| Bagair | বাগাইর or বাঘাইর | native | Goonch | Bagarius bagarius | Siluriformes | |
| Baan or baanehara | বানমাছ বানেহারা | native | Indian mottled eel | Anguilla bengalensis bengalensis | Anguilliformes | |
| Baan, pakal or bamush | বানমাছ পাঁকাল বামুশ | native | Bengal eel | Ophisternon bengalense | Synbranchiformes | |
| Bailla or bele | বাইলা or বেলে | native | Awaous guamensis | Gobiiformes | ||
| Baim | বাইম | native | Zig-zag eel or tire-track eel | Mastacembelus armatus | Synbranchiformes | |
| Boitka or Ghora muikha or Ghora mach or longu rui | বইটকা, ঘোড়া মুইখা, ঘোড়া মাছ or লংগু রুই | native | Labeo pangusia | Cypriniformes | ||
| Bhetki or koral | ভেটকী or কোরাল | native | Barramundi | Lates calcarifer | Carangiformes | |
| Balichura or belitora | বালিচুরা, বেলিটোরা or বেলিটুরা | native | Balitora minnow | Psilorhynchus balitora | Cypriniformes | |
| Balichura | বালিচুরা | native | Rainbow minnow | Psilorhynchus nudithoracicus | Cypriniformes | |
| Bansh-pata or debari | বাঁশপাতা or দেবারি | native | Sind danio | Devario devario | Cypriniformes | |
| Bansh-pata or bati | বাঁশপাতা or বাটা | native | Broad-mouthed mullet or large-scaled mullet | Paramugil parmatus | Mugiliformes | |
| Barali | বারালি or বোরালি | native | Barred baril | Barilius barila | Cypriniformes | |
| Baril or joiya | বারিল or জইয়া | native | Hamilton's barila | Opsarius bendelisis | Cypriniformes | |
| Basa fish | বাসা or পাংগাস | introduced | Basa fish | Pangasius bocourti | Siluriformes | |
| Bata or bangna | বাটা or বাংনা | native | Reba | Labeo ariza | Cypriniformes | |
| Bata | বাটা | native | Bata | Labeo bata | Cypriniformes | |
| Batasi | বাতাসি | native | Indian batasi | Pachypterus atherinoides | Siluriformes | |
| Bechi | বেচি | native | Whitespot or blue panchax | Aplocheilus panchax | Cyprinodontiformes | |
| Bailla or bele or dorakata bele | বাইলা or বেলে or ডোরাকাটা বেলে | native | Scribbled goby | Awaous grammepomus | Gobiiformes | |
| Bhadi puti | ভাদি পুঁটি | native | Pool barb | Puntius sophore | Cypriniformes | |
| Bhangan | ভাঙন or ভাঙ্গন | native | Boga labeo | Labeo boga | Cypriniformes | |
| Bhol | ভোল | native | Trout barb | Raiamas bola | Cypriniformes | |
| Bhola bhetki | ভোলা ভেটকি | native | Soldier croaker | Nibea soldado | Acanthuriformes | |
| Kuli or bhut bele | কুলি or ভূত বেলে | native | Dusky sleeper | Eleotris fusca | Gobiiformes | |
| Bilchuri | বিলচুরি | native | Mottled loach | Acanthocobitis botia | Cypriniformes | |
| Boaal[12] | বোয়াল | native | Wallago | Wallago attu | Siluriformes | |
| Borguni | বোরগুনি | native | Jarbua terapon | Terapon jarbua | Centrarchiformes | |
| Bou or rani | বৌমাছ or রানি | native | Bengal loach | Botia dario | Cypriniformes | |
| Bou mach | বৌমাছ or রানি | questionable | Zebra loach | Botia striata | Cypriniformes | |
| Murari | মুরারি | native | Carplet | Cabdio morar | Cypriniformes | |
| Magor or shing | মাগুর or শিঙি মাছ | native | Torrent catfish | Amblyceps mangois | Siluriformes | |
| Gong tengra | গং টেংরা | native | Gagata gagata | Siluriformes | ||
| Magur or shing | মাগুর or শিঙি মাছ | native | Gagata youssoufi | Siluriformes | ||
| Chandan ilish | চন্দনা or চন্দন ইলিশ | native | Toli shad | Tenualosa toli | Clupeiformes | |
| Chapila or khoyra | চাপিলা or খয়রা | native | Ganges River gizzard shad | Gonialosa manmina | Clupeiformes | |
| Chapila | চাপিলা | native | Indian river shad | Gudusia chapra | Clupeiformes | |
| Chebli | চেবলি | native | Giant danio | Devario aequipinnatus | Cypriniformes | |
| Chaka | চাকা | native | Squarehead catfish | Chaca chaca | Siluriformes | |
| Chela | চেলা | questionable | Silver razorbelly minnow | Salmostoma acinaces | Cypriniformes | |
| Chep chela or laubucha | চেপ চেলা or লাউবুচা | native | Indian glass barb | Laubuka laubuca | Cypriniformes | |
| Chewa | চেওয়া | native | Pseudapocryptes elongatus | Gobiiformes | ||
| Chitol[12] | চিতল or চেতল | native | Clown knifefish | Chitala chitala | Osteoglossiformes | |
| Pholi or foli | ফলি | native | Bronze featherback | Notopterus notopterus | Osteoglossiformes | |
| Chuno or chuna khoilsha | চুনো or চুনা খইলশা | native | Honey gourami | Trichogaster chuna | Anabantiformes | |
| Chuno bele | চুনো বেলে | native | Gobiopterus chuno | Gobiiformes | ||
| Common carp | কমন কার্প | introduced | Common carp | Cyprinus carpio carpio | Cypriniformes | |
| Dahuk | ডাহুক | native | Boddart's goggle-eyed goby | Boleophthalmus boddarti | Gobiiformes | |
| Dahuk or hatuni darak | ডাহুক or হাঁটুনি দারাক | native | Walking goby | Scartelaos histophorus | Gobiiformes | |
| Dari | ডারি | native | Schistura scaturigina | Cypriniformes | ||
| Darkina | দারকিনা | native | Flying barb | Esomus danricus | Cypriniformes | |
| Darkina | দারকিনা | native | Slender rasbora | Rasbora daniconius | Cypriniformes | |
| Darkina | দারকিনা | native | Gangetic scissortail rasbora | Rasbora rasbora | Cypriniformes | |
| Deshi koi | দেশি কই | native | Climbing perch | Anabas testudineus | Anabantiformes | |
| Dhal magor | ঢাল মাগুর | native | Glyptothorax telchitta | Siluriformes | ||
| Ek thouta | এক থৌতা | questionable | Wrestling halfbeak | Dermogenys pusilla | Beloniformes | |
| Gechua | গেছুয়া | native | Channa gachua | Anabantiformes | ||
| Gechua | গেছুয়া | native | Walking snakehead | Channa orientalis | Anabantiformes | |
| Gagla | গাগলা | native | Gagora catfish | Arius gagora | Siluriformes | |
| Gong magor | গং মাগুর | native | Gray eel-catfish | Plotosus canius | Siluriformes | |
| Gong tengra | গাঙ টেংরা | native | Gagata cenia | Siluriformes | ||
| Gong tengra | গাঙ টেংরা | native | Gogangra viridescens | Siluriformes | ||
| Gong tengra | গাঙ টেংরা | native | Nangra nangra | Siluriformes | ||
| Kabashi tengra | গুলসা, গুলসা-টেংরা or কাবাশি টেংরা | native | Gangetic mystus | Mystus cavasius | Siluriformes | |
| Ghor poi-ya | ঘর পোয়া | native | Sucker head | Garra gotyla | Cypriniformes | |
| Ghonia | ঘনিয়া | native | Boggut labeo | Labeo boggut | Cypriniformes | |
| Ghor poa | ঘর পোয়া | introduced | Garra annandalei | Cypriniformes | ||
| Ghora chela | ঘোড়া চেলা | native | Securicula gora | Cypriniformes | ||
| Ghora mach | ঘোড়া মাছ | native | Labeo dyocheilus | Cypriniformes | ||
| Gilipunti | গিলি পুঁটি | native | Golden barb | Pethia gelius | Cypriniformes | |
| Gobi | বেলে | native | Mudskipper | Apocryptes bato | Gobiiformes | |
| Goti poa | গোটি পোয়া | native | Largescale archerfish | Toxotes chatareus | Carangiformes | |
| Gojar | গজার | native | Great snakehead | Channa marulius | Anabantiformes | |
| Grass carp | গ্রাস কার্প | introduced | Grass carp | Ctenopharyngodon idella | Cypriniformes | |
| Gura tengra | গুরা টেঙ্গরা | native | Chandramara chandramara | Siluriformes | ||
| Gutum or onnondeler puiya | গুতুম or অনন্ডলের পুঁইয়া | native | Annandale loach | Lepidocephalichthys annandalei | Cypriniformes | |
| Gutum or Moricha puiya | গুতুম or মরিচা পুঁইয়া | native | Guntea loach | Lepidocephalichthys guntea | Cypriniformes | |
| Gurjāli | গুরজালি or গুরজাউলি | native | Indian salmon | Eleutheronema tetradactylum | Carangiformes | |
| Rupali kachni | রূপালী কাচনি | native | Freshwater hatchetfish | Chela cachius | Cypriniformes | |
| Ilish | ইলিশ | native | Great ilish or hilsa | Tenualosa ilisha | Clupeiformes | |
| Jaya | জয়া | native | Jaya | Cabdio jaya | Cypriniformes | |
| Kechhki | কাচকি | native | Ganges river sprat | Corica soborna | Clupeiformes | |
| Kechhki | কাচকি | native | Yellowtail mullet | Minimugil cascasia | ![]() |
Mugiliformes |
| Kajuli | কাজুলি | native | Gangetic ailia | Ailia coila | Siluriformes | |
| Kajuli | কাজুলি | native | Jamuna ailia | Ailiichthys punctata | Siluriformes | |
| Kakila | কাকিলা | native | Freshwater garfish | Xenentodon cancila | Beloniformes | |
| Kalibaus | কালিবাউস or কালবোশ | native | Orange-fin labeo | Labeo calbasu | Cypriniformes | |
| Kachon punti | কাচোন পুঁটি | native | Rosy barb | Pethia conchonius | Cypriniformes | |
| Kani pabda | কানি পাবদা | native | Butter catfish | Ompok bimaculatus | Siluriformes | |
| Kani tengra | কানি টেংরা | native | Glyptothorax cavia | Siluriformes | ||
| Kani tengra | কানি টেংরা | native | Painted catfish | Pseudolaguvia ribeiroi | Siluriformes | |
| Kani tengra | কানি টেংরা | native | Pseudolaguvia shawi | Siluriformes | ||
| Karati hangar | করাতি হাঙর | native | Knifetooth sawfish | Anoxypristis cuspidata | Rhinopristiformes | |
| Panpata sorbuti or kathal pata | পানপাতা সরবতি or কাঁঠাল পাতা | native | Pan sole | Brachirus pan | Carangiformes | |
| Katla[12] | কাতলা | native | Indian carp or Indian katla | Catla catla | Cypriniformes | |
| Keti | কেটি | native | Osteobrama cotio | Cypriniformes | ||
| Kholshe, khoulsha or goroy | খলশে, খৌলশা or গরই | native | Banded gourami | Trichogaster fasciata | Anabantiformes | |
| Khaksa | খাকসা | native | Barna baril | Opsarius barna | Cypriniformes | |
| Kharu | খারু | native | Rice-paddy eel | Pisodonophis boro | Anguilliformes | |
| Khorsula or khur khula | খোরসুলা or খর খুলা | native | Corsula | Rhinomugil corsula | Mugiliformes | |
| Koi | কৈ | native | Climbing gourami | Anabas cobojius | Anabantiformes | |
| Koi koral | কৈ কোরাল | native | Atlantic tripletail | Lobotes surinamensis |
|
Acanthuriformes |
| Koirka | কৈরকা | native | Nemacheilus corica | Cypriniformes | ||
| Koitor | কোইটুর | native | Coitor croaker | Johnius coitor | Acanthuriformes | |
| Koksa | কোকসা or ককসা | native | Barilius shacra | Cypriniformes | ||
| Kosuati or kosa puti | কোসুয়াটি or কোসা পুঁটি | native | Oreichthys cosuatis | Cypriniformes | ||
| Kuchia | কুঁচে, কুচিয়া or কুইচ্চা | native | Swamp eel | Monopterus cuchia | Synbranchiformes | |
| Kuli | কুলি | native | Duckbill sleeper | Butis butis | Gobiiformes | |
| Kumirer khil | কুমিরের খিল | native | Deocata pipefish | Microphis deocata | Syngnathiformes | |
| Kursha or Katol kushi | কুরসা or কাতল কুশি | native | Kalabans | Sinilabeo dero | Cypriniformes | |
| Kuta kanti | কুটি কানটি | native | Conta catfish | Erethistes pusillus | Siluriformes | |
| Lal kholisha | লাল খোলিশা or খলশে | native | Dwarf gourami | Trichogaster lalius | Anabantiformes | |
| Lotey | লোটে, ল্যাটা, লেটা or লইট্যা | native | Bombay duck | Harpadon nehereus | Aulopiformes | |
| Lomba chanda or Nama chanda | লম্বা চাঁদা or নামা চান্দা | native | Elongate glassy perchlet | Chanda nama | Incertae sedis | |
| Modhu pabda or pabda | মধু পাবদা or পাবদা | native | Pabdah catfish | Ompok pabda | Siluriformes | |
| Magur | মাগুর | introduced | Walking catfish | Clarias batrachus | Siluriformes | |
| Pahari kala bata | পাহাড়ি কালা বাটা | native | Gangetic latia | Tariqilabeo latius | Cypriniformes | |
| Mola punti | মলা পুঁটি | native | Glass barb | Pethia guganio | Cypriniformes | |
| Mola | মলা | native | Indian carplet | Amblypharyngodon microlepis | Cypriniformes | |
| Mōŭralā | মৌরলা | native | Mola carplet | Amblypharyngodon mola | Cypriniformes | |
| Mrigel[12] | মৃগেল or মিরগেল | native | Mrigal carp | Cirrhinus cirrhosus | Cypriniformes | |
| Muri bacha | মুরি বাচা | native | Eutropiichthys murius | Siluriformes | ||
| Muribacha | মুরিবাচা | native | Garua bachcha | Clupisoma garua | Siluriformes | |
| Nandil | নানডিল | native | Labeo nandina | Cypriniformes | ||
| Napte koi | নাপতে কই | native | Badis | Badis badis | Anabantiformes | |
| Neftani or naftani | নেফটেনি or নাফতানি | native | Frail gourami | Ctenops nobilis | Anabantiformes | |
| Nilotica | নিলোটিকা | introduced | Nile tilapia | Oreochromis niloticus | Cichliformes | |
| Nodoy, meni or royna | নদয়, মেনি মাছ, ভেদা মাছ or রয়না মাছ | native | Gangetic leaffish | Nandus nandus | Anabantiformes | |
| Nuna bailla | নুনা বেলে or নুনা বাইলা | native | Golden banded goby | Brachygobius nunus | Gobiiformes | |
| Nuna-tengra | নুনা টেংরা | native | Long whiskers catfish | Mystus gulio | Siluriformes | |
| Gofalo nipati | গোঁফালো নিপাতী | native | Moustached danio | Danio dangila | Cypriniformes | |
| Pakal | পাঁকাল | native | Eel | Anguilliformes sp. | Anguilliformes | |
| Panga | পাঙ্গা | native | Java loach | Pangio oblonga | Cypriniformes | |
| Pangas | পাঙ্গাস or পাঙাশ | native | Yellowtail catfish | Pangasius pangasius | Siluriformes | |
| Pankal baim or guchi baim | পনকাল বাইম, পাঁকাল বাম or গুচি বাইম | native | Barred spiny eel | Macrognathus pancalus | Synbranchiformes | |
| Parshe or chaptamatha khorol | পারশে or চ্যাপ্টামাথা খরোল | native | Flathead grey mullet | Mugil cephalus | Mugiliformes | |
| Pathar chata or tila koksa | পাথর চাটা or তিলা কোকসা | native | Opsarius tileo | Cypriniformes | ||
| Phasa | ফাশা or ফ্যাঁসা | questionable | Gangetic hairfin anchovy | Setipinna phasa | Clupeiformes | |
| Phopa chanda | ফোপা চান্দা or ফোঁপা চাঁদা | native | Himalayan glassy perchlet | Parambassis baculis | Incertae sedis | |
| Phutani punti | ফুটনি পুঁটি | native | Spottedsail barb | Pethia phutunio | Cypriniformes | |
| Poa | পোয়া | native | Pama croaker | Otolithoides pama | Acanthuriformes | |
| Chanda or pomfret | চাঁদা or পমফ্রেট | native | Pomfret | Brama brama | Scombriformes | |
| Potka | পটকা | native | Green pufferfish | Dichotomyctere fluviatilis | Tetraodontiformes | |
| Shada fota dahuk | সাদা ফোঁটা ডাহুক | native | Giant mudskipper | Periophthalmodon schlosseri | Gobiiformes | |
| Puiya | পুয়া | native | Burmese loach | Lepidocephalichthys berdmorei | Cypriniformes | |
| Puti | পুঁটি | native | Swamp barb | Puntius chola | Cypriniformes | |
| Punti or tit punti | পুঁটি or তিত পুঁটি | native | Ticto barb | Pethia ticto | Cypriniformes | |
| Putitor mohashoul or shonali mohashoul | মহাশোল | native | Golden mahseer | Tor putitora | Cypriniformes | |
| Rajputi or Thai sorputi | রাজ পুঁটি or থাই সরপুটি | introduced | Java barb | Barbonymus gonionotus | Cypriniformes | |
| Ranga chanda | রাঙ্গা চান্দা or রাঙা চাঁদা | native | Indian glassy fish | Parambassis ranga | Incertae sedis | |
| Rata boura | রাটা বউরা | native | Purple spaghetti-eel | Moringua raitaborua | Anguilliformes | |
| Rita | রিটা or রিঠা | native | Rita | Rita rita | Siluriformes | |
| Bacha or bachua bacha | বাচা or বাচুয়া বাচা | native | Bacha | Eutropiichthys vacha | Siluriformes | |
| Rui or rohu[12] | রুই | native | Indian rui or rohu | Labeo rohita | Cypriniformes | |
| Sapla pata | শাপলা পাটা | native | Pale-edged stingray | Telatrygon zugei | Myliobatiformes | |
| Savon khorka | শভন খোরকা or স্যভন খোরকা | native | Schistura savona | Cypriniformes | ||
| Shada ghonia | সাদা ঘনিয়া | native | Kuria labeo | Labeo gonius | Cypriniformes | |
| Shankhachii or dagi shankhachil | শানকাচি or দাগি শঙ্খচিল | native | Banded eagle ray | Aetomylaeus nichofii | Myliobatiformes | |
| Shillong | শিলঙ্গ | native | Silond catfish | Silonia silondia | Siluriformes | |
| Shingi or jhill shingi | শিঙি, শিঙ্গঘি or ঝিল শিংঘি | native | Stinging catfish | Heteropneustes fossilis | Siluriformes | |
| Shol | শৌল or শোল | native | Snakehead murrel | Channa striata | Anabantiformes | |
| Sarpunti | সরপুঁটি | native | Olive barb | Systomus sarana | Cypriniformes | |
| Silver carp | সিলভার কার্প | introduced | Silver carp | Hypophthalmichthys molitrix | Cypriniformes | |
| Surma | সুরমা | native | king mackerel | Scomberomorus cavalla | Scombriformes | |
| Kuicha or lomba pakhnar shap bain | কুইচা or লম্বা পাখনার সাপ বাইন | native | Longfin snake-eel | Pisodonophis cancrivorus | Anguilliformes | |
| Tengra or bajuri tengra | টেংরা or বাজুরী টেংরা | native | Mystus tengara | Siluriformes | ||
| Sunkush | শুনকুশ | questionable | Dwarf whipray | Himantura walga | Myliobatiformes | |
| Taki | টাকি | native | Spotted snakehead | Channa punctata | Anabantiformes | |
| Telapia | তেলাপিয়া | introduced | Blackchin tilapia | Sarotherodon melanotheron | Cichliformes | |
| Tara baim | তারা বাইম | native | Lesser spiny eel | Macrognathus aculeatus | Synbranchiformes | |
| Tengra | টেংরা | native | Striped dwarf catfish | Mystus vittatus | Siluriformes | |
| Tengra or tista tengra or tista batasi | টেংরা, তিস্তা টেংরা or তিস্তা বাতাসি | native | Tista batasio | Batasio batasio | Siluriformes | |
| Tepa or pati potka | ট্যাঁপা or পাতি পটকা | native | Ocellated pufferfish | Tetraodon cutcutia | Tetraodontiformes | |
| Teri punti | টেরা পুঁনটি or টেরি পুঁটি | native | Onespot barb | Puntius terio | Cypriniformes | |
| Tiashol or tila shol | টিয়াশোল or তিলা শোল | native | Barca snakehead | Channa barca | Anabantiformes | |
| Telapia | তেলাপিয়া | introduced | Mozambique tilapia | Oreochromis mossambicus | Cichliformes | |
| Topshe | তপসে or তপস্বী | native | Paradise threadfin | Polynemus paradiseus | Carangiformes | |
| Titari | তিতারী | native | River stone carp | Psilorhynchus sucatio | Cypriniformes | |
| Tor mahseer or mohashoul | মহাশির or মহাশোল | native | Tor mahseer | Tor tor | Cypriniformes | |
| Uti or urti | উটি or উর্তি | native | Chaguni | Chagunius chagunio | Cypriniformes |