GREEN CHROMIDE (Etroplus Suratensis) 1.5" (2.5-4cm) 2405

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. In Goa the fish is known as Kalundar In Sri Lanka this fish is known as Koraliya

This fish is native to Sri Lanka and coastal regions of India. Many species have been introduced in various parts of the world, including Singapore, where it occurs in estuaries.

The adult is oval in shape with a short snout. It is gray-green in color 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 mollusk, diatoms, and other animal matter. This species engages in attentive parental care in which several adults care for each brood.

In Sri Lanka local name for this fish is Koraliya (කොරළියා). In 2010 this species was named the official state fish of Kerala. The following year was declared "The Year of the Karimeen". Karimeen Pollichatthu, 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 poor folks. Production of the species for food is expected to increase in the near future.

They are closely related to the Paretroplus fishes from Madagascar. Etroplus suratensis and E. maculatus form the main species and the former is dominant among Pearl spots in reservoirs of India. They mainly feed on detritus and occupy the same niche as that of Oreochromis mossambicus. These fishes are very popular food fishes but their biomass is very low in reservoirs compared to other cichlids.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_chromide