Fun Mrigal Facts For Kids

The mrigal, Cirrhinus mrigala or Cirrhinus cirrhosus, belongs to the Cyprinidae family. Some consider the Cirrhinus cirrhosus and Cirrhinus mrigala as distinct. It has been recorded that this fish is known to be endemic to Indo Gangetic riverine systems and is commonly found in the South Asia range. These carp species are known to be bottom-dwelling and tend to inhabit rivers and streams and sometimes ponds. The spawning of this Mrigal species takes place over sandy and clay substrates. The breeding season of these carp species is around the southwest during the monsoon period. Females are known to lay about a million eggs. Sexual maturity is reached at about two years of age.

This carp species are known to have a gray-colored body with silver sides and their pelvis, chest and anal fin have an orange-colored tinge. These fishes do not have scales on their head and snout and their snout is known to be blunt. The body is known to be covered by cycloid scales. The caudal fin is known to be forked. There are around 18-19, nine, and eight soft rays in the pectoral, pelvic and anal fins respectively.

The mrigal fish is known to feed on plankton and can sometimes also feed on algae and invertebrates too. This fish is quite common as food and is thus, important commercially and it also is quite common or important in aquaculture. the largest producers of this fish are India and Bangladesh. It is also a component of the system of polyculture and is considered among the three Indian major carps along with Catla fish and Rui. These species of fish are known to have been long in Polyculture. It is quite interesting to learn about the mrigala fish and if you are like these facts, read about Bonito Fish and Rainbow Trout too.

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What type of animal is a mrigal?

The mrigal or Cirrhinus cirrhosus is a fish carp species.

What class of animal does a mrigal belong to?

It belongs to the class of Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes).  

How many mrigals are there in the world?

There is no exact number of these fishes that have been recorded or estimated.

Where does a mrigal live?

It has been recorded that this fish is known to be endemic to Indo Gangetic riverine systems and is commonly found in South Asia.

What is a mrigal's habitat?

These fishes are known to live on or near the bottom. These fishes tend to live in rivers and streams and sometimes ponds and are known to tolerate high salinity habitats or types of environment. The spawning of these fishes takes place in or around marginal areas of water bodies and the preferred depth range includes 20-39 in (508-990.6 mm) which tends to be over clay or sandy substrates.

Who do mrigals live with?

Not much information is available about who these fishes live with.

How long does a mrigal live?

It has been reported that this fish can live up to 12 years.

How do they reproduce?

Not a lot of information is available about the reproduction or breeding of these species but it is known that this fish reaches sexual maturity at around two years of age. It is believed that this fish's breeding takes place around the southwest during the monsoon period. Females are known to lay about a million eggs. Hatchlings live on the surface of the waters. The fry tends to move to deeper parts of water and the mature ones are known to be bottom dwellers or bottom level Mrigal fish. Artificial breeding is quite common among this species.

What is their conservation status?

The conservation status of this species as Vulnerable.

What do mrigals look like?

The body of this species of mrigal fish is known to be streamlined and bilaterally symmetrical. The body surface of the mrigal is gray and sometimes tends to have yellow discoloration with silver sides on the body. The ventrolateral part is blackish gray in color. The pelvis, chest, and anal fin have an orangish tinge. These fishes do not have scales on their head and snout and their snout is known to be blunt. The body is known to be covered by cycloid scales. The mouth of this fish species is known to be wide and the upper and lower lips are not continuous. This species of fish is known to have pharyngeal teeth. This mrigal fish is also known to have pectoral fins that are shorter than the head. The dorsal fin is known to be grayish. The anal fin is known to not extend to the caudal fin. These caudal fins are forked deeply and homocercal. There are around 18-19, nine, and eight soft rays in the pectoral, pelvic and anal fins respectively.

How cute are they?

This species of fish is not considered cute.

How do they communicate?

Not much information is available about the communication of this species but just like other fishes, this species is also known to use tactile and chemical cues to communicate and perceive the environment.

How big is a mrigal?

These fishes are known to be smaller than codfish and some species of salmon fish but are considered slightly larger than pink salmon. This species can grow up to 39 in (1000 mm).

How fast can a mrigal swim?

The exact speed of the mrigal fish or mrigal carp is unknown but these fishes are known to be fast swimmers.

How much does a mrigal weigh?

The weight of these fishes ranges from 2.2-4.4 lb (1-2 kg).

What are the male and female names of the species?

There are no specific names for the males and females of the species.

What would you call a baby mrigal?

There is no particular name for a baby mrigal or mrigal carp. Young fish are referred to as fry.

What do they eat?

This mrigal or mrigal carp fish is known to be a plankton feeder, as it is benthopelagic and potamodromous. The mrigal diet or food primarily includes detritus-like debris in the bottom part or layer of the water. These fishes are known to feed on algae and invertebrates too.

Are they dangerous?

The mrigal fish or mrigal carp is not considered dangerous.

Would they make a good pet?

Not much information is available about this fish as a pet but this mrigal fish is commonly domesticated and is reared as a food fish.

Did you know...

This species of fish is known by many names like morakhi or moree in Pakistan and white carp in some places.

Although these species of fish are known to be freshwater fish, these mrigal fish or mrigal carp have the capability to tolerate high salinity.

This species of fish, that is, Cirrhinus cirrhosus is known to be an important one in terms of catching mrigal fish or aquacultured freshwater fish species in South Asian fisheries and the largest producers of this fish are India and Bangladesh. Other carp produced in Bangladesh include the common carp.

As this fish is important in aquaculture, there have been many mrigal fish welfare improvements done and some are still in process.

This species of fish, that is Cirrhinus cirrhosus is considered a component of the system of polyculture and is considered among the three Indian major carps along with Catla fish and rohu (Labeo rohita) and have been long in the polyculture with other species.

Some dishes or delicacies prepared using the mrigal fish or mrigal carp include fish fry and can also be eaten by cooking certain Asian curries.

Mrigal carp or mrigal fish nutrition includes a high level of protein and omega-3 fatty acid which makes it beneficial or good for health.

This fish is not a highly predatory one but is known to prey on invertebrates.

What survival mechanism does the mrigal have?

Not much information is available about this fish's survival mechanism.

What's unique about the mrigal?

This species of fish is known to grow fast.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other fishes by reading our chum salmon facts or spotted sunfish facts.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring on one of our free printable Mrigal fish coloring pages.