Synopsis Cyprinoidei are a suborder of the fresh water fishes of the order Cypriniformes, under superorder Ostariophysi of which 250 genera and 2500 species are known to exist all over its range. Of the families known of this suborder, Cyprinidae is by far the most abundant and dominant in respect of species proliferation and also in successfully occupying niches over-running other groups. The suborder is found in Eurasia (as far east as the Wallace’s Line) North America (as far South as Guatemala) and in Africa where they are plenty. They are absent from South America, Australia and Madagascar. Cyprinidae is divided into five subfamilies: Schizothoracinae, Cultrinae, Hypophthalmichthyinae, Rasborinae and Cyprininae. The last mentioned subfamily with 24 genera is the economically important group comprising the major carps, Mahseers and other fishes of cultivable nature. This paper deals with the genus Puntius Hamilton only.