Hilsa shad

Tenualosa ilisha

Sixty Centimeters Dorosomatid Fish

Tropical
Regional distribution
Indian Ocean
South Asia
Southeast Asia
West Asia
Fusiform
Compressed cross-section
Large
Tropical fish

The ilish (Tenualosa ilisha) (Bengali: ইলিশ, romanized: iliś), also known as the ilishi, hilsa, pulasa, hilsa herring or hilsa shad, is a species of fish related to the herring, in the family Clupeidae. It is a very popular and sought-after food in the Bengal region and area, and is the national fish of Bangladesh and state fish of the Indian state of West Bengal. As of 2023, 97% of the world's total ilish supply originates in Bangladesh.

Class: Teleosts
Order: Herrings
Family: Dorosomatidae
Genus: Tenualosa
Maximum length: 60 cm
Body shape: fusiform
Distribution: Indian Ocean: Persian Gulf eastward to Myanmar, including western and eastern coasts of India. Reported from the Gulf of Tonkin, Viet Nam (Ref. 9706 ). Reported in Tigris River basin and probably other rivers of southern Iran (Ref. 39702 ).
Conservation status: LCLeast Concern

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