Author: (Bloch, 1795)
FBname: Mrigal carp
Remark: The species <i>Cirrhinus mrigala</i> (Hamilton, 1822) is considered as valid in Eschmeyer (CofF ver. May 2011: Ref. 86870) following Menon (1999: Ref. 41236).  Please send references, or more studies are needed.
Comments: Adults inhabit fast flowing streams and rivers (Ref. 41236).  Can tolerate high levels of salinity.  Juveniles are omnivorous to about 5 cm TL, adults are almost entirely herbivorous.  Feed on plankton, but also grazes on algae.  Spawning occurs in marginal areas of the water body with a depth of 50-100 cm over a sand or clay substrate.  A 6 kg female can lay a million eggs (of 1 mm diameter) (Ref. 6028).  Widely cultured in India but fails to breed naturally in ponds, thus induced breeding is done.  Fishery harvests 40 cm fish weighing 1000 g and of about 3 years.  A very active fish that thrives in ponds but spawns in swift rivers.  Fingerlings are in great demand for stocking ponds between July and November (Ref. 4832).