# Ilish (*Tenualosa ilisha*)

Canonical page: https://creaturedata.com/animals/ilish  
Data as of: 2026-11-14

The ilish (Tenualosa ilisha), also called Hilsa or Hilsa shad, is a bony fish in the family Dorosomatidae. It belongs to the genus Tenualosa, the suborder Clupeoidei and the order Clupeiformes, within the class Teleostei. The species was named by Hamilton in 1822, written as Tenualosa ilisha (Hamilton, 1822). On the IUCN Red List, the ilish is assessed globally as Least Concern, which is not a threatened category.

## Quick facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | Not recorded |
| Length | up to 55 cm |
| Lifespan | Not recorded |
| Main food | arthropods |
| Habitat | coastal, freshwater, riverine |
| Young per litter or clutch | Not recorded |
| Reproduction | Eggs |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |
| Countries on record | Not recorded |

## Classification

- kingdom: Animalia
- phylum: Chordata
- class: Teleostei
- order: Clupeiformes
- family: Dorosomatidae
- genus: Tenualosa
- species: *Tenualosa ilisha* (Hamilton, 1822)

Synonyms: *Clupanodon ilisha*, *Clupea ilisha*, *Clupea palasah*, *Hilsa ilisha*, *Macrura ilisha*, *Tenualosa illisha*, *Tenualosa illsha*

## Common questions

### What kind of animal is the ilish?

The ilish is a bony fish. It belongs to the family Dorosomatidae in the order Clupeiformes.

### What is the scientific name of the ilish?

The scientific name of the ilish is Tenualosa ilisha. It is placed in the genus Tenualosa.

### What other names does the ilish have?

The ilish is also called Hilsa and Hilsa shad in English.

### Who named the ilish and when?

The ilish was named by Hamilton in 1822; the authority is written as (Hamilton, 1822).

### Is the ilish endangered?

No. The ilish is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List in a global assessment, which is not a threatened category.

### What family does the ilish belong to?

The ilish belongs to the family Dorosomatidae, within the suborder Clupeoidei and the class Teleostei.

## Sources

- [Catalogue of Life eXtended Release](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/316691), CC BY 4.0, 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life (2026). Catalogue of Life eXtended Release, version 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgzlf
- [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org), per file (CC0 / public domain / CC BY green, CC BY-SA amber, anything else not displayed), 2026-11-11. Wikimedia Commons contributors. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org (each file credited to its author under its own licence).
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org), CC0 1.0, 2026-11-11. Wikidata contributors. Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org (data retrieved via the Wikidata Query Service).
- [Wikipedia (English)](https://en.wikipedia.org), CC BY-SA 4.0, 2026-11-11. Wikipedia contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org (text under CC BY-SA 4.0; each block names its article and revision).

Cite as: Ilish (Tenualosa ilisha). Retrieved from https://creaturedata.com/animals/ilish