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FISH

Introduction

Being a vital link to the terrestrial food webs, the fish species at the park are found from the seasonal and perennial aquatic habitats which include both natural (rivers, streams, villus) and manmade (tanks) habitats. Twenty-nine (29) species of freshwater fishes, including 2 exotics belonging to nine families were recorded.

fish in wilpattu

Fish at Wilpattu

The Wilpattu National Park hosts a variety of rich biodiversity.

Explore to find out more about the top 5 species of fish at the park.

Fish at Wilpattu

The Wilpattu National Park hosts a variety of rich biodiversity.

Explore to find out more about the top 5 species of fish at the park.

Hora-Dandiya-(Horadandia-atukorali)

Hora Dandiya

(Horadandia atukorali)

The Hora Dandiya is an endemic freshwater fish species. With a body length of about 2 cm, it is the smallest freshwater fish in Sri Lanka. It has an elongated body with olive green dorsally while being silver in ventrally. It exists both in the wet and dry zones in the low country of the western and southern sections of the island.

In Wilpattu this species is restricted to perennial villus. As the villus are not connected to other water bodies the population within Wilpattu National Park is isolated and unique. Further, the only fully protected population of this species occurs within the Wilpattu National Park. The main threat to the species is climate change that may dry up villus during the dry season.

Sri-Lanka-Filamented-Barb-Dawkinsia-singhala

Sri Lanka Filamented Barb

(Dawkinsia singhala)

The Sri Lanka Filamented Barb is an endemic freshwater fish species. The maximum size is about 9 cm. Adults have a prominent black blotch above the anal fin. Juveniles are differently coloured with three black bands on the body and two red spots on the distal ends of the caudal fin lobes. This, fades and disappear as the fish matures and only the black blotch above the anal fin remains. Mature males have elongated dorsal fin rays. This species occurs both in the wet and dry zones of the country. The distribution in the Wilpattu National Park and surrounding areas include Kala Oya, Moderagam Aru and other man-made tanks. Natural predators include aquatic birds and otters. It is also caught in fishing operations in the surrounding areas of the Park.

Sri Lanka Orange-Fin Labeo

(Labeo Lankae)

This is an Endemic fish species. The maximum recorded length is up to 35 cm. The majority grows up to about 15 cm. This species is olive-green above with silver to golden coloured in sides. The fins are orange in colour including the tail. A prominent black blotch is present on the caudal peduncle. This species occurs in the Knuckles range as well as in the low lands including the tanks in dry-zone.Also, In the Northwest, it is found in the Malwathu Oya near Wilpattu National Park.

shark-catfish-wallago-attu

Shark Catfish

(Wallago attu)

It is an indigenous species and is distributed from Pakistan to Indonesia and North to Vietnam. It is a large predatory catfish that is known to reach a length of about 2 m, but is an average of about 60 cm. The colour is olive-green above with light golden hue dorsally. The ventral part of the body is silver- grey.

The Shark Catfish is distributed throughout the lowlands in Sri Lanka. This species is a top-level predator in the freshwater environment. It prefers slow flowing rivers with muddy bottom and grassy banks with aquatic vegetation, and feeds on smaller fish, mollusks and crustaceans. It is also a game fish and is found in tanks in the Wilpattu National Park and in Kala Oya. It is an important freshwater food fish. However, it is becoming increasingly rare due to habitat destruction, overharvesting and the usage of explosives to fish in deep rock pools in rivers and tanks.

Giant / Great Snakehead (Channa marulius)

Giant / Great Snakehead

(Channa marulius)

The Giant snakehead is an indigenous large carnivorous fish that grows to about 80 cm. It is distributed from Pakistan to China and South to Thailand. In Sri Lanka it is distributed throughout the low country and to an elevation of 500 m. The large adults are brown to black dorsally and grey-yellow ventrally. Juveniles possess a yellow spot with a black border on the tail. This spot fades as the fish grows. This species is aggressive and highly territorial. The species prefers deep pools in rivers and streams usually with underwater vegetation and is used as a food fish. The species is declining, and large individuals are becoming rare due to habitat destruction, overharvesting and pollution. In Wilpattu it is found in tanks and adjacent rivers.

Facts

Most fish life can be observed at the rivers and tanks, and less at the villu Habitats..
The Giant Snakehead Fish can grow up to 80cm and can live for up to 8 years in the wild.
Young Sri Lankan Filamented Barbs are differently coloured than the adult fish.
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giant-snakehead
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