Green chromide
Green chromide
The green chromide (Etroplus suratensis) is a species of
cichlid fish from freshwater and brackish water in southern India and Sri
Lanka. Other common names include pearlspot cichlid, banded pearlspot, and
striped chromide.
In Kerala in India it is known locally as the karimeen.
This fish is native to Sri Lanka and coastal regions of
India. Many populations are likely introductions. It is also introduced in
Singapore, where it occurs in estuaries.
The adult is oval in shape with a short snout. It is gray-green
in colour with dark barring and a dark spot at the base of the pectoral fin. It
commonly reaches 20 centimetres (7.9 in) in length, and the maximum length is
twice that.
This species lives in brackish water habitat types, such as
river deltas. It eats mainly aquatic plants, but it consumes the occasional
mollusc, diatoms, and other animal matter. This species engages in attentive
parental care in which several adults care for each brood.
In 2010 this species was named the official state fish of Kerala.
The following year was declared "The Year of the Karimeen". Karimeen
pollichadhu, a fried dish, is a delicacy served in restaurants. It is familiar
to tourists, but because it is very expensive it is not easily accessible to
the common man. Production of the species for food is expected to increase in
the near future.
They are closely related to the Paretroplus fishes from
Madagascar
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