ලෙහෙල්ලා/හොරපොලයා [Lealla/Horapolaya]/Mahseer (Tor khudree)

Mahseer is the largest native fresh water fish of the family Cyprinidae (Carps) grows to 20 -50 cm and occurs in second peneplain up to about 1000m a.s.l.(Gunathilake S., 2007). It prefers fast flowing rocky streams. But also occurs in rivers and tanks. The spawning occurs in smaller streams after the rain. Name Horapolaya (හොරපොලයා) is used by native people for the juvenile Mahseers found in streams and Lealla (ලෙහෙල්ලා) for the larger specimens inhabiting  rivers. It feeds on Algea, leaves and flowers fall into the water, insects, shrimps, mollusca etc.

ලේ තිත්තයා/දොල තිත්තයා/වයිරන් තිත්තයා/කොන්ඩයා[/Le Tiththaya/Dhola Tiththaya/Vayiran Tiththaya/Kondaya]Cherry Barb (Puntius titteya)

Cherry barb is an endemic fish inhabiting shaded shallow, slow flowing streams with silt substrate and leaf debris in the wet lowlands from Kelani to Nilwala basins up to about 300m a.s.l.  It is not uncommon but becoming rare in most former habitats due to deforestation, pollution of streams and over fishing to export by the ornamental fish traders. It is an omnivorous fish and feeds on detritus, green algae, diatoms, diptera and animal matter (Pethiyagoda, R., 1991). Various color forms are reported depending on the locality.

බන්ඩි තිත්තයා/පොඩි පෙතියා/ඉපිලිකඩයා [Bandi Thiththaya/Podi Pethiya/Ipilikadaya]/Silver Barb (Puntius vittatus )

Common fish inhabiting ponds, streams, paddy fields and tanks in the low country - both wet and dry zone -  up to an elevation of about 300m. It is very hardy fish and is found even in ponds reduced to liquid mud during the drought (Deraniyagala P.E.P., 1952) It is also recorded from some brackish water bodies (Pethiyagoda R., 1991). Silver Barb feeds mainly on filamentous algae and blue-greens, and rarely on certain animal matters. 

ගල් පාඬියා[Gal Paandiya]/ගල් පාඩුරුවා[Gal Paanduruwa]/Stone Sucker (Garra ceylonensis)

An endemic fish found in fast flowing streams throughout the island, particularly in the wet zone. Adult Stone Suckers are bottom dwelling fish and stay clinging to rocks using its suckers while juveniles are found in all levels of the water column till their suckers are fully developed. It is often found in rock pools of streams rather than water streams with sandy substrates. It is said that Stone Suckers ascend small rocky streams to breed. 

Broad line Strip Rasbora/දන්ඩියා/කුඩමස්සා [Dandiya/Kudamassa] (Rasbora dandiya)

Very common freshwater fish found in streams, rivers, paddy fields and tanks throughout the lowlands up to about 700m altitude.

බුලත් හපයා/මනමාලයා[Bulath Hapaya/Manamalaya]/Black Ruby Barb(Pethiya nigrofasciatus)

An endemic fish restricted to slow flowing clear, shady forest streams with gravel or sand substrate from wet lowlands up to about 300m elevation from Maha Oya to Walawe basin. 

ඉපිලිකඩයා/[Ipilikadaya]Redside Barb (Puntius bimaculatus)

A hardy small fish with island wide distribution though abundant in wet zone. It can be found in rivers and streams of lowlands as well as hills (both in wet and dry zone), tanks, swamps, etc. According to the Pethiyagoda R. it is one of the few fishes found in montane streams above 1500 m elevation (Pethiyagoda R. ,1991) It feeds mainly on green algae and detritus. Redside Barb is a prolific breeder and spawn among weeds in shallow water with the onset of rains.

කිරි දණ්ඩියා/කුඩමස්සා[Kiri Dandiya/Kudamassa]/Narrow line Rasbora (Rasbora microcephalus)

Common fish species distributed in lowland streams, rivers and paddy fields.  It can be easily distinguish from other Rasbora species by having narrow metallic blue dark lateral strip, which is somewhat hazy anteriorly and diffuse on the caudal fin base. Upper margin of dark lateral strip is distinct and lower margin hazy with slightly darkened scale pockets. Also the post-dorsal length, when carried forward falls anterior to the posterior border of the eye.

රත් කයිලයා/දම්කොල සාලයා [Rath Kaiyala/Damkola Saalaya]/Giant Danio (Devario malabaricus)

Very common fish widely distributed throughout the lowlands of both wet and dry zones up to the higher hills. It is common in flowing water though occurs also in tanks, reservoirs and paddy fields.  Giant Danio is a mid-water fish and it forms medium size shoals.