Ilisha (genus)


Ilisha is a genus of ray-finned fishes in the family Pristigasteridae. The genus contains 16 species. It is similar to Pellona but lacks a toothed hypo-maxilla. The genus has a worldwide distribution in tropical and subtropical coastal waters and estuaries. Some species also enter rivers, and I. amazonica and I. novacula are largely–if not entirely–restricted to tropical rivers.

Fisheries

Two Ilisha species are individually reported in the FAO catch statistics: Ilisha elongata off coasts of China and Korea and Ilisha africana off West African coasts. Other species may be reported as simply clupeoids.

Species

There are currently 16 recognized species in this genus:Ilisha africana Ilisha amazonica Ilisha compressa J. E. Randall, 1994Ilisha elongata Ilisha filigera Ilisha fuerthii Ilisha kampeni Ilisha lunula Kailola, 1986 Ilisha macrogaster Bleeker, 1866 Ilisha megaloptera Ilisha melastoma Ilisha novacula Ilisha obfuscata Wongratana, 1983 Ilisha pristigastroides Ilisha sirishai Seshagiri Rao, 1975 Ilisha striatula Wongratana, 1983