Family : Pristigasteridae (Pristigasterids)
Order : Clupeiformes  (herrings)
Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Fishbase Name : Indian ilisha
Fish Name : Ilisha melastoma
Max size : 17.0 cm SL (male/unsexed; Ref. 188)
Environment : pelagic-neritic; amphidromous ; depth range 0 - 50 m
Climate : tropical; 29°N - 8°S
Global Importance : fisheries: minor commercial
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)Distribution : Indo-Pacific: Indian Ocean (Malabar coast to Calcutta), Java Sea (off Java), Arafura Sea (Ref. 9819), South China Sea (Singapore, Gulf of Thailand), East China Sea (north to Taiwan Island).
Diagnosis : Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 35-48. Belly with usually 17 to 21 + 8 or 9, total 25 to 30 scutes. Eye large, lower jaw projecting. Dorsal fin origin a little before midpoint of body; anal fin origin under hind part of dorsal fin base. Vertical striae on scales traversing whole scale or overlapping across center of scale. Swim bladder with two tubes passing back in the muscles on either side of haemal spines.
Biology : Occurs in coastal waters but enters estuaries and presumably able to tolerate lowered salinities. Feeds on plankton (probably small crustaceans, etc.)
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : harmless
Coordinator :
Main Ref : Whitehead, P.J.P.. 1985. (Ref. 188)

India country information
Common Names : കണ്ണന് മത്തി, കണ്ണന് മത്തി , జాంగర్లో , డిట్చోఏ , മത്തി , Indian herring, Kannan mathi, Indian ilisha, Phansha
Status : native
Salinity : brackish, marine
Uses : no uses