This genus consists of four species:
Chitala blanci
Chitala chitala
Chitala lopis
Chitala ornata
The four species C. chitala (Hamilton, 1822), C. blanci (d’Aubenton, 1965), C. lopis (Bleeker, 1845) and C. ornata (Gray, 1831) can only be distinguished on the basis of their coloration which, however, also changes with age and size. Chitala chitala may reach 150 cm, so does C. lopis (and 20 kg in weight), C. blanci growths up to 80 cm, C. ornata to 100 cm.