The Tambraparni(ei) Barb is native to moderate flowing streams and rivers of the Tambraparni River basin in southern India.
They are endangered by sand mining and industrial pollution.
A schooling species, adult males have filaments flowing from their dorsal fin like the other Filament
Dawkinsia species.
There are other spellings and misspellings of the common name (eg Tambraparini).
To add to the confusion, the similar-looking Arulius Barb is also called the Tamiraparani Barb;
its taxonomic name is Dawkinsia arulius (previously Puntius/Barbus arulius). The Tambraparniei Barb,
Dawkinsia tambraparniei was originally described as "Puntius arulius tambraparniei from Tamiraparani River".