Fishes of Tamilnadu - Fish Names in Tamil - English

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COMMON NAMES	LOCAL NAMES	தமிழ
Indian Spiny Loach	Ayira meen ( It might be announced as a State fish of Tamilnadu, A delicacy in Madurai. A tamil nadu favourite , Rich in minerals and taste differs according to the soil )	அயிரை மீன்
Anchovy / White bait
Indian Anchovy	Nethili
Golden anchovy / Gold spotted grenadier anchovy	Thogai meen
Malabar anchovy	Poruva
Dussumier’s anchovy	Semporuva
Moustached anchovy	Poruva/ Nedum poruva/ Kola
Commerson’s anchovy	Nethali
Devis’ anchovy / Shorthand anchovy	Nethili
Barracuda
Pick-handle barracuda / Banded barracuday	Seela/ Kara ooli / Thiriyan
Great barracuda	Seela/ ooli/ Thiriyan
Barramundi / Sea perch / Seabass
Giant sea perch/ Barramundi/ Sea bass / Sea Pike	Koduva/ Painee meen
Waigen Sea Perch	Chenganni
Crescent tiger Perch	Keeli
Commerson’s glassy perchlet	Selanthan
Jarbua terapon/ Crescent tiger perch	Keechan/ Kovakeechan/ Keeli
Small-scaled terapon	Pootankeeli/ Keechan
Indo Pacific terapon	Menna
Bulleye
Moon-tail bulleye/ Dusky-finned bulleye	Kakkasi
Glasseye/ Blood-coloured bulleye	Kakkasi
Crab
Mud crab	Pachai nandu/ Kazhi nandu
Blue swimming crab	Olakkal nandu/ Pulli nandu
Three-spotted swimming crab	Mukkannu nanadu/ Olakkal nandu
Christ shell crab	Siluvai nandu
Cobia
Black kingfish/ Cobia	Kadavara/ Kadal viral
Dolphinfish
Dolphinfish/ Mahi Mahi	Parla, Avilis, Kal Vanna
Clams/ mussel/ Oyster
Green mussel	Pachai aali/ Chippi/ Kallukka, Kallumakkaya
Brown mussel	Aali/ Chippi/ Kallukka
Yellow clam	Matti, Sippi, Mattikal
Blood clam	Vari matti/ Ratha matti
Black clam	Matti
Edible oyster	Vella aali / Kavaddi
Pearl oyster	Muthuchippi
Carps
Catla/ Thick lips	Katla/Thoppa meen/ Japan kendai/ Koora kendai/ Yamaneri kendai/Karavai
Mrigal	Mrigala/ Gudu kendai
Grass carp	Pullu kendai
Common carp	Carp
Rohu	Rogu/ Kannadi kendai
Carnatic carp	Palli kendai/ Sallkendai/ Sihelle/ Saal kendai/ Shellee/Pauvri-kendai
Climbing perch	Sennal/ Panaiyerikendai
Cichlids
Green chromide/ Pearlspot	Sethakendai/ Palincha/ Karassar / Karimeen
Orange chromide/ Spotted etroplus	Sellakasu/ Paradi/ Challai/ Boorakas
Tilapia	Tilapia/ Jilabi meen/ Jabeli Kendai
Catfish
Giant sea catfish	Keluthi/ Mondai keliru/ Mandal keliru/ Venkeliru
Blacktip sea cat- fish/ Dussumier’s cat fish	Mondai keliru
White catfish Blackfin sea catfish	Vellai-keliru/ Keluthi
Spotted catfish/ Sea catfish/ Sea barbel	Keliru/Keluthi
Soldier catfish	Ponkeluthi
Giant river catfish/ Short-nosed catfish	Pona-keluthi/ Nedunthalai kelutti/ Naddu-keluthi
Shark catfish	Walagh/ Vazhai/ Valaiathi-valai
Stinging catfish	Thaylee/ Thailimeen
Croakers / Drums/ Jewfish
Spotted croaker/ Sin croaker	Varikathalai
Karut croaker	Pullikathalai
Greyfin croaker	Karun kathali
Kathala croaker	Kathalai
Tiger- toothed croaker	Kathalai/ Panna
Blackspotted croaker/ Spotted croaker	Kathalai/ Vellikathalai/ Kooral
Emperor bream/Pigface bream / Threadfin bream
Spangled emperor/ Starry emperor bream	Vilaimeen / Vellaimeen/ Koranguvela
Ornate emperor	Vilaimeen
Japanese threadfin bream / Pink Perch	Changarah/ Kandal meen/ Navara/ Rani /Shankara (not Red snapper)
Delagoa threadfin bream	Changarah/ Kandal
Two spot Monacle bream	Pompton
Goldlined seabream , Tarwhine, silver seabream (Rhabdosargus sarba) Also referred as white snapper	Vella mattawa, Vela meen, korukkai
Silver Bream is common name for the following species - Rhabdosargus sarba (goldlined seabream), Bidyanus bidyanus (silver perch), Bidyanus welchi (Welch's grunter), Blicca bjoerkna (white bream), Acanthopagrus australis (surf bream), Acanthopagrus berda (goldsilk seabream), Acanthopagrus butcheri (southern black bream), Pseudocaranx dentex (white trevally, Nemadactylus macropterus (tarakihi)
Eel
Indian conger eel	Vlangu
Indian pike conger	Kotah/ Kulivi pambu/ Vlangu
Shortfin eel/ Freshwater eel	Vellanagoo/ Serum pambu/ Vlangu
Flathead
Indian Flatheadh	Nilanthatti
Flying fish
Two-winged flying fish	Paravai kola/ Para kola/ Kola
Spot-fin flying fish	Paravai kola/ Para kola/ Kola
Freshwater fishes
Pabda	Chotah wahla, Silai Valai
Hilsa / Indian Shad	Pulasa, Ullam, Ilish, உள்ள மீன் / Ulla Meen
Basa / Pangas/ Vietnamese catfish	Keluthi meen, aeri vanjaram, Aie, Coola, Pangas, Broiler meen, Banka jella(andhra)
Knifefish / Chital/ Feather back/ Razor fish	Sotai Vallai, Ambattan vallai
Reba Carp	Poorali, Aringal, Aranjan podi, Coala kendai
Red Pomfret/ River pomfret/ Red Belly	Yeri vawaal, Aeri vaval, Roopchand,
Bata / Bata labeo	Kindameen, Kolarinja Kendai	கென்‍டை மீன்
Catla, Rohu, Carps, barb, Pearlspot, Tilapia, catfish, Hilsa, Snakeheads, halfbeaks are some freshwater fishes
Flat fishes
Long tongue sole	Kotaralu/ Nakkumeen/ Manangu
Malabar tongue sole	Nakkumeen/ Manangu
Indian spiny turbot/ Indian halibut	Erumai nakku, Potha
Oval Floundert	Nakku meen
Fullbeak ( Garfish ) / Halfbeak
Garfish	Pachai Mural, Kola
Hound needlefish/ Forktail garfish	Kozhya mural/ Pahmum kola/ Mural
Flat needle fish/ Barred long-tom	Mural
Barred half-beak	Usi kola/ Murali
Grouper/ Reef Cod
Giant grouper	Kalavai
Thorny cheek grouper/ Six-barred reef cod	Kalava
Malabar grouper/ Malabar reef cod	Kalava
Banded-cheek reef cod	Kollu kalava
Greasy reef cod	Thala kalava
Goat fish
Indian goat fish	Sen navarai/ Kal navarai
Gold band goat fish	Navarai
Yellow goat fish/ Sulphur goat fish/ Sunrise goat fish	Sen navarai/ Kal navarai
Yellowstriped goatfish	Navarai
Grunters and Sweetlips
Silver grunt	Korukkai, Seraiah
Saddle grunt	Korukkai, Seraiah
Lined silver grunt	Kaakka meen
Sometimes grnters are referred as White snappers locally
Silver banded sweetlips	Mathanam
Lobster
Green spiny lobster/ Rock lobster	Thala eral/ Singi eral
Mud spiny lobster/ Rock lobster	Thala eral/ Singi eral
Flathead locust lobster/ Mud lobster	Matta singi eral/ Kal eral/ Madakku eral
Whip lobster/ Deepsea lobster	Singi eral
Filefish
Leatherjacket	Klathi
Lizard fish
Greater lizard fish	Thumbili
Indian lizard fish	Thumbili
Moonfish
Moon fish	Amattikatti/ Ambattan para/ Kannadi karak
Moony fish/ Silver bat fish	Parrandan/ Moolen
Mackerel
Indian mackerel	Ailai/ Augalai/ Kanangeluthi/ Kumla
Short bodied mackerel	Ailai/ Kanangeluthi/ Kumla
Faughn’s mackerel	Ailai / Augalai
Bigeye mackerel	Mullyan
Mullet
Grey mullet / Flathead mullet	Madavai/ Kasmeen
Red mullet	Civappu madavai (Mullus surmuletus) found in Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea mainly. [ (Mullus barbatus)species if goatfish is referred as Red mullet locally called Nagarai ]
Bluespot mullet	Manalai/ Sarya/Madavai/ Madavakendai
Gold-spot mullet	Madavai/ Avelameen
Milk fish (White Mullet)	Pal meen/ Pal kendai
Mojarras / Silver biddy
Bigeye mojarra	Udagam/Velludan/ Oodan/ Poonanthartha
Whipfin silver biddy/ Whipfin mojarra	Udagam/Velludan/ Oodan/ Poonanthartha
Pomfret
White pomfret/ Silver pomfret	Vellai vaval
Black pomfret	Karuppu vawaal
Chinese silver pomfret	chinese vaval
Freshwater pomfret	Yeri vawaal, Roopchand
Prawns/ Shrimp
Giant tiger prawn	Karuvandu eral
Indian white shrimp	Vellai eral/ Naaran
Green tiger prawn/ Flower shrimp	Vari eral
Banana shrimp	Vella eral
Flower-tail shrimp/ Pink shrimp	Chemmakkara eral/ Poovalan
King prawn/ Jinga prawn	Kazhanthan/ Kal eral/ Chaya valucha eral
Brown shrimp/ Speckled shrimp	Valucha eral
Kiddi shrimp/ Marine shrimp	Karikadi/ Vandu eral
Deepsea mud shrimp	Rani karikadi/ Kall eral
Jawala/ Paste shrimp	Chenna kunni
Giant river prawn/ Scampi	Aathu eral/ Scampi
Parrot fish and Rabbit fish
Parrot fish	Killimeen, Kizhi meen, Pachai Elimeen
White spotted Rabbit fish / Spinefoot	Ora meen
Streaked Spinefoot	Ora meen
Queenfish / Leatherskin
Leatherskin	Katta, Theera
Talang Queenfish / Gaint queenfish	Tol Parai
Rays
Shovel nose ray/ Guitar fish/ White spotted nose ray	Palunga/ Padangan/ Katchu-uluvai/ Paal uluvai
Bleeker’s whipray/ White tail sting ray	Saman thirukkai/ Savukku thirukkai
Ribbon fish
Savalani hairtail	Chavalai/ Savalai/ Valai
Largehead hairtail	Chavalai/ Savalai/ Valai
Surgeon Fish and Unicorn Fish
Surgeon fish	Orandai
Unicorn fish	Thol kilathi
Snakeheads/ Murrels
Giant snakehead	Aviri/ Puveral/ Iru viral
Spotted snakehead	Korava / Viral meen
Striped snakehead	Vraal/ Karuppu veral
Asiatic snakehead/ Bengal snakehead	Parakoravai/ Maniam-korovai/ Pothi meen
Seer fish
Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel	Vanchiram, Nettaiyan seela
Streaked Spanish mackerel	Naimeen, Mavuladi, Nona seela
Indo-pacific king mackerel	Naimeen, Vanjiram, Kattayancheela, Cheela
Wahoo	Kola Vanjaram/ Savaran
Sardines and Shads
Indian oil sardine	Peichalai/ Kavalai/ Neethu kavalai
Gold stripe sardinella	Chalai/ Nonalai/ Kavalai
White sardinella	Choodai/ Thatta kavalai / Velli Kasu
Fringescale sardine/ Lesser sardine	Choodai/ Nedum kavalai
Deepbody sardinella	Usi kavalai
Rainbow sardine	Motha kendai/ Poondivirinjan/ Thondan
Hilsa shad/ Indian shad	Ullam/ Sevva
Elongate ilisha/ Slender ilisha	Poovali
Bloch’s gizzard shad	Muddukandai/ Koimeen
Squirrel Fish
Red Squirrel fish	Chemmen
Black tipped Squirrel fish	Puna kanni
Snapper / Fusilier / Jobfish
Malabar red snapper	Seppili/ Noolani
Mangrove red snapper	Seppili/ Vekkattai/ Thokkal/ Pullikarayan/ Noolani
Bigeye snapper	Seppili/ Noolani
John’s snapper	Karuvalai/ Parithi velameen
Humpback red snapper	Seppili
Bluelined snapper / Blubberlip snapper	Cuttu-pirium/ Karuvalai
Sharptooth jobfish	Lomia
Redbelly yellowtail fusilier	Vaipara, Kal Kilichi
Ruby Snapper, Snapper, Jobfish, Queen Snapper, Red Snapper, Ruby-colored Snapper Fish, Deepwater Red Snapper, Deepwater Snappers, Squirrelfish Snapper are various spieces similar to snappers. Red snapper are referred as Sankara meen locally sometimes but Sankara meen is Japanese threadfin bream
Silverbellies/ Ponyfish
Common ponyfish	Karai/ Karapodi /Kalikaral/ Kaaral/ Soorokoonam-kare
Orangefin ponyfish	Karal/ Theevetti karal
Splendid ponyfish	Karal/ Kulli-karai
Dussumier’s ponyfish	Veri-karai/ Karal
Tooth pony / white fish	Sudumbu karal/ Kuthippu karal
Sail fish/ Marlin/ Swordfish
Indo-Pacific sail fish	Mayilmeen/ Thalapaththu
Black marlin	Kopparaikulla/ Kopparan
Blue marlin	Kopparaikuzha
Swordfish	Kadu koppara/ kola
Trevally/ Jack and Scad
Bigeye trevally/ Dusky trevally	Usi parai/ Parai / Ratha Paarai (Blood red flesh)
Malabar trevally / Malabar jack/ Malabar kingfish	Thol Parai, Thenga parai
Giant trevally/ Yellowfin trevally	Vaththava parai/ Manchal killu parai
Blue trevally	Tenga paraai
Cleftbelly trevally	Kunni-parah
Blackbanded trevally/ Black banded Kingfish	Keerai parai / Mosala parai
Black Tailed trevally	Karunkanni parai
Diamond Trevally/ Indian threadfin	Kannadi Parai
False trevally/ White fish	Kuthippu, Sudumbu, Parava
Allied Kingfish / Greater Amberjack	Mamiya Parai, Ponnarameen
Rainbow runner / Hawaiian Salmon/ Spanish Jack/ Rainbow yellowtail	Poongulazhi, Kadal Poomeen, Kulkul
Shrimp scad	Kilisai/ Komaraparai
Yellowtail scad	Parai
Indian scad/ Russell’s scad/ Naked breast trevally	Paarai/ Kilichai
Torpedo scad/ Hardtail scad/ Horse mackerel	Kilisai/ Parai/ Semaparai/ Komaraparai/ Pulli parai/ Thenga parai/ Vengadai parai
Small spotted Dart	Thol Parai
Snubnose Pompano	Thol Parai / Kutili
Sunfish
Gaint sunfish	Moonjuru meen/ Mullu peythai
Shark
Black tip shark/ Grey shark	Kundan-sorrah
Black tip reef shark/ Black shark	Katta-sorrah/ Perunthalai-sorrah/ Karamudi-sorrah
Smooth hammer- head shark	Komban-sorrah
Tiger shark	Puli sorrah/ Valluvan sorrah
Spadenose shark	Pillai sorrah
Milk shark/ Grey dog shark	Pal sorah
Squid, Cuttlefish , Octopus
Indian squid	Oosi-kanavai
Cuttlefish	Kadaman / Muttai/ Ottu-kanavai/ Vari-kanavai
Octopus	Pei kanava, Koonthal kanavai
Tuna
Bullet tuna	Elichoorai
Oriental bonito	Seela choorai
Big-eye tuna	Kila valai/ Choorai/ Soorai
Skipjack tuna	Choorai
Yellowfin tuna	Kila valai/ Choorai/ Kerai
Longtail tuna	Kara surai/ Kila valai
Frigate tuna	Elichoorai
Kawakawa	Choorai
Threadfin
Indian threadfin	Kala
Four-finger threadfin/ Indian salmon	Kaala, Kala
Trigger fish
Red-tooth trigger fish	Clathy/ Karuppu clathy
Starry trigger fish	Clathy
Whitings / Sillago
Ladyfish/ Silver whiting	Kelangan
Wolf herring
Dorab wolf-herring	Mullu valai/ Valai
Whitefin wolf herring	Karu valai/ Mullu valai