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Fishes of Tamilnadu - Fish Names in Tamil - English

மீன் வகைகள் மற்றும் மீன் தமிழ் பெயர்கள்


What are the fishes of Tamilnadu ? Are you Confused? What is the name of the fish in Tamil ? What is the English name of the fish ? Whats the state fish of Tamilnadu? Here goes the list...Refer the table below for Fish name in Tamil. What is it called? What is the Tamil name?

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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

Fish names with pictures. Confused over fish names???


14 comments:

  1. Wonderful Work, gonna be useful for my project

    ReplyDelete
  2. Super work , its very useful 👌

    ReplyDelete
  3. Kumara parai?what's its translation?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Indian scad / Russell’s scad / Naked breast trevally or in tamil - Paarai/ Kilichai

      Delete
  4. Which fish is called aeri vanjaram?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pangusis / Basa fish/ Pangas/ vietnamese catfish/ malaysian vaala also known as broiler meen and keluthi meen, kola keluthi. Its a freshwater fish mostly farm cultured.

      Delete
  5. Can you update with all fish image

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. https://soulsdelight.blogspot.com/2009/09/no-more-confusion-over-fish-names.html?m=1

      Visit the above page for picture of fish

      Delete
  6. What is Tamil name for White snapper

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Vella mattawa, vela meen, korukkai, chitchillee.

      Also reffered as Tarwhine , Natal stumpnose,( Rhabdosargus sarba) goldloned seabream, silver sea bream, yellow fin bream

      Delete
  7. What is Silver bream called ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. You are referring to goldline seabream which is also called tarwhine and silver bream. In tamil its called vella mattawa, vela meen. Also refer to the section of Emperor bream. Many breams are referred as silver bream.

      Blicca bjoerkna, also called silver bream or white bream is a European freshwater fish of carp family - Cyprinidae. Not found in india

      Delete
    2. Black seabream/ river bream/ picnic bream/ goldsilk bream is also called silver bream , in tamil it called coorree, currapu mattawa, karupu mattawa
      Telugu: Calamara, in malayalam : Aree

      Delete