It is freshwater food fish found in rivers, lakes and ponds in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Pakistan and Myanmar. It is a medium-size carp which has a maximum record of 90.0 cm length. It livers in active current of large rivers particularly upper reaches. Herbivorous and mostly feed on algae, diatoms, aufwichs from rocks and submerged object and constitute important component of freshwater ecosystem. The population of this fish has declined considerably and has been listed under the IUCN list of threatened fish of India and Bangladesh. It matures in one year. Sexes are distinct during breeding season and fish spawn during monsoon in large tanks and rivers. Captive breeding of this fish has been done on experimental scale.