Fishes of Chennai explores city’s native freshwater fish, explores its cultural connection
A new field guide titled 'Fishes of Chennai' documents over 100 native freshwater and brackish fish species found in the city. The book aims to help locals identify fish while highlighting the cultural significance of these species in Tamil literature and the impact of pollution on local habitats.
Why it matters
It provides a vital scientific and cultural record of urban biodiversity, helping to raise awareness about environmental conservation in rapidly developing cities.
A field guide put together by two native freshwater fish enthusiasts and released on the occasion of the Madras Day on Saturday, has documented fish found in Chennai’s waterbodies and has explored the city’s long cultural connection with fish, including their presence and importance in ancient Tamil literature.
The comprehensive visual and practical field guide Fishes of Chennai by Aravind Manoj and Beta Mahatvaraj aims to make identification of fish species easier, as it groups species on the body type and habitat preference. It has profiled over 100 species and has featured about 150 photographs.
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