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.

උඩ හඳයා [Uda Handhaya]/Day's Killifish (Aplocheilus dayi)

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Rather common endemic fish occurs in shallow, shaded forest streams with a silt substrate. Also not uncommon in saline parts of mangrove swamps (Pethiyagoda R., 1991). Its diet consists of small insects, insect larvae and fish fry.  As per Pethiyagoda Day's Killifish is more or less confined to the Kelani basin and adjacent coastal areas(Pethiyagoda R., 1991). According to the Sujan Madhuranga it is reported from Aththanagalu and Kelani basins (Maduranga H. G. S. , 2003). Later on Prasanga Wickramatilake reported it from Udugama stream, a tributary of Gin river(Wickramatilake P., 2003) and H.B.Jayaneththi & H.G.S.Maduranga from upper tributaries of Kalu river in Kukulugala proposed forest reserve (Jayaneththi H.B. & Maduranga H.G.S, 2004).  Sampath de Alvis Gunathilake  noted that it is common in both Kelani and Kalu drainage (Gunathilake S. ,2007). So according to all publish data it is common from Aththanagalu basin to Gin river basin in wet zone up to lower hills.

* Male fish photographed above from unnamed stream, an upper tributary of Kalu river has unusual vertical black bar instead of usual few small spots (Usually three spots situated triangularly)

Maduranga H. G. S. (2003) සිරිලක ආවේනික මිරිදිය මසුන් (Sirilaka awenika miridiya masun). National zoological department. 
Pethiyagoda, R., (1991) Freshwater fishes of Sri Lanka. Wildlife Heritage Trust, Colombo. xiv+362 pp.
Jayaneththi H.B. & Maduranga H.G.S. (2004), A preliminary study on the diversity of Ichthyofauna of Kukulugala proposed forest reserve, Rathnapura district. Sri Lanka Naturalist 6 (1&2)
Wickramatilake P., 2003 Freshwater fishes of the Udugama stream, Galle district, Southern Sri Lanka
Gunathilake S. (2007) ශ්‍රි ලංකාවේ මිරිදිය මසුන් (Sri Lankawe miridiya masun) (text in Sinhala), Biodiversity secretariat - Ministry of Environment.

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.

හුංගා\කහ හුංගා\ලේ හුංගා [Hunga/Le Hunga/Kaha Hunga]/Stinging Catfish (Heteropneustes fossilis)

Stinging Catfish is a common fish of swamps, ponds, and tanks of low country of both wet and dry zone. Sometime it can be found even in brackish water. Copper red color of young fishes (pic above and referred as Rathu Hunga[Red Hunga]) changes to the dark brown with two yellow lateral bands of the adults. Uniform yellow color forms are also occurs (Refers as Kaha[Yellow] Hunga in vernacular language) and assumes as adults in sexual maturity. When handling it can inflict painful wounds by its pectoral spines. Stinging Catfish is an omnivorous fish.

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. 

කාවයියා/පොල් කාවයියා [Kawaiya/Pol Kawaiya]/Climbing Perch(Anabas testudineus)

Climbing Perch is a common fish inhabiting tanks, ponds, swamps, streams and some time even in lakes which have connected to the sea. It is distributed in both wet and dry lowlands. Climbing Perch is one of the most hardy fish which can survive in extremely unfavorable water conditions and it has been recorded that they can travel certain distance overland from one water body to another. However tree climbing habit attributed to this fish by some authors is not reliably observed. As per Deraniyagala it visits newly sown paddy fields at night to feed on the grain (Deraniyagala P.E.P., 1952). It feeds on macrophytic vegetation, fish fry and shrimps (Pethiyagoda, R., 1991).

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. 

කඳු අහිරාවා/පොල් අහිරාවා/ගෝමර අහිරාවා/Banded Mountain Loach (Schistura notostigma)

Banded Mountain Loach is an endemic fish found in clear fast flowing shady streams in wet zone up to hills.

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.

අහිරාවා/වයිරන් අහිරාවා[Ahiraawa/Viran ahiraawa]Common Spiny Loach/Lesser Loach(Lepidocephalichthys thermalis)

Type specimen of Lesser Loach was taken from the hot springs at the Kinniya. Hence the name thermalis. However it is common in most part of the lowlands up to about 600m altitude. It can be found in sandy slow flowing streams and usually the last survive in the fast drying mud puddles in dry zone streams during the dry season. It is a vegetarian though it is believed that it also feeds on mosquito larva (Deraniyagala P.E.P, 1952). 

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.

වයිරන් අහිරාවා/ඉරි අහිරාවා/පොල් අහිරාවා [Wairan Ahirawa/Iri Ahirawa/Pol Ahirawa]/Tiger Loach (Acanthocobitis urophthalmus)

An uncommon fish restricted to the shallow slow flowing shaded streams with pebbles in South-western lowlands up to about 300m elevation.  

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.