Tenualosa ilisha (Hamilton, 1822)

Freyhof, Jörg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 69-70

Tenualosa ilisha

Common name. Hilsa.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from Nematalosa nasus in lower reaches of rivers in Persian Gulf basin by: ● last dorsal ray shorter than first branched dorsal ray / ● upper jaw with median notch. Size up to 600 mm SL, usually about 360 mm SL, and up to 2.5 kg.

Distribution . From Persian Gulf along coasts of Indian subcontinent east to Irrawaddy and Salween ( Myanmar). In West Asia,enters Karun and Shatt al Arab/Arvand to spawn upstream in Euphrates and Tigris. In Tigris, migrates as far north as Qal’at Salih, and in Euphrates, as far north as Yaou. Local freshwater populations in many large rivers in South Asia.

Habitat. At sea in coastal waters, migrates to lower and middle reaches of large rivers to spawn. A resident population is suspected in Kuwait Bay, which does not appear to migrate upstream and spawns in sea or in freshwater fan of Shatt al Arab/Arvand.

Biology. Anadromous, usually migrating 50–100 km upstream. Long-distance migratory populations in Pakistan (Indus), Bangladesh / India (Ganges), and Myanmar ( Irrawaddy). In Ganges reported to migrate 1300 km upstream, but freshwater resident populations also occur in upper Ganges. Migrates upstream to spawn at 2 years and 250 mm (males) and 3 years and about 330 mm (females). Lives up to 7 years, usually 4–5 years. First spawner appears at Shatt al Arab/Arvand in February and March at high tide and spends 1–2 months feeding. Continues to migrate upstream to spawn from April–July. Does not feed during migration. Reported to travel up to 70 km in a day. Males usually ascend rivers earlier than females. Two spawning peaks reported, one in March–May and one in July–August, but data are conflicting. In South Asia, main spawning season during southwest monsoon, with a shorter season from January to February or March. Spawns on submerged vegetation in fast currents. Larvae emerge in 1 day (23°C). Larvae and juveniles enter backwaters and tributaries of rivers. Spent fish return to sea between August and November and migrate south to overwinter. Feeds on a wide variety of small phytoplankton and zooplankton.

Conservation status. VU; most important Indo-Pacific shad for commercial and artisanal fisheries, particularly in Gulf of Bengal. Also, one of the most important commercial species in Kuwait. Despite its wide distribution, Hilsa has declined sharply throughout its range, including Bangladesh, where world’s largest population occurs. Overfishing, pollution, and dam construction have led to massive population declines. Often highly contaminated with pollutants. Northernmost distribution in Iraq today is Hawr al Hammar due to dam construction.

Further reading. Whitehead 1985 (biology, distribution); Coad 2010a (biology in Persian Gulf basin).

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Tenualosa ilisha

Distribution