Ilish (Tenualosa ilisha) The ilish is an economically and culturally important species related to the herring. (more) ilish fish Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/animal/ilish Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Also known as: Tenualosa ilisha Written by Written by Manjishtha Bhattacharyya Manjishtha Bhattacharyya is an editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica. She holds a PhD in zoology from Vidyasagar University, West Bengal, and has more than seven years of experience in science communication... Manjishtha Bhattacharyya , Meg Matthias Meg Matthias is Senior Video Production Manager at Encyclopædia Britannica. Meg Matthias •All Fact-checked by Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Oct. 3, 2025 •Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot ilish, (Tenualosa ilisha), species of saltwater herring of the Clupeidae family and a prized fish in South Asia. Native to the North Indian Ocean and most populous in the Bay of Bengal, ilish is the national fish of Bangladesh and the state fish of West Bengal, India. The distribution of ilish, which is also called the Indian shad or hilsa shad, ranges from the Persian Gulf to the Bay of Bengal. It lives in marine,...

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