Carinotetraodon travancoricus was originally described as Tetraodon (Monotretus) travancoricus from Pamba river, Kerala, India (Hora and Nair 1941).

Carinotetraodon travancoricus is considered to be Vulnerable resulting from habitat modifications caused by deforestation and conversion of lands in agricultural areas, increasing urbanization, and overharvesting for the pet trade. It is believed that 30-40% of the population will have declined over a ten year period (five years in the past and five years in the future).

Carinotetraodon travancoricus is endemic to the Western Ghats of India (Dahanukar et al. 2004) and is found in the coastal areas of Kerala and southern Karnataka. In Kerala the species is known from Pamba river (Hora and Nair 1941), Chalakudy river (Ajithkumar et al. 1999, Biju et al. 1999, Raghavan et al. 2008, Beevi and Ramachandran 2009), Periyar river (Biju et al. 1999, Beevi and Ramachandran 2009), Kechery river (Biju et al. 1999), Bharathapuzha river (Bijukumar and Sushama 2001), Muvattupuzha River (Beevi and Ramachandran 2009), Pudukkad (Inasu 1993), Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (Easa and Shaji 1997) and Vembanad lake (Devi et al. 1996). In Karnataka it is known from Mavincar (Devi et al. 2000) and Aghanashini river (Bhat 2004). The inferred extent of occurrence for this species is around 35,000 to 36,000 km². It has been recorded from 13 rivers in Kerala.

The species is common in Chalakudy, Periyar and Muvattupuzha River (Beevi and Ramachandran 2009), while it is rare in Bharathapuzha river (Bijukumar and Sushama 2001) and Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (Easa and Shaji 1997). The species has declined by 30-40% over the past five years (B.M. Kurup pers. comm. 2010).

Carinotetraodon travancoricus is found in freshwater rivers and it attains a total length of 2.5 cm (Menon 1999). This species moves in shoals and is easy to catch.

The habitat of this fish is severely modified by damming, indiscriminate de-forestation and subsequent conversion of forest area into agricultural plantations (Raghaven et al. 2008). This species is also a famous aquarium fish, and capturing the species for aquarium trade is a threat. Thomas et al. (2002), Dahanukar et al. (2004) and Raghavan et al. (2008) have considered this species as Endangered, however, no rationale is provided. In Chalakudy river the habitat of this fish is severely threatened by damming, indiscriminate de-forestation and subsequent conversion of forest area into agricultural plantations (Raghavan et al. 2008). No such information is available on other areas where the fish is found. However, these threats could be common throughout its distribution.

Carinotetraodon travancoricus is of no interest to fisheries (Talwar and Jhingran 1991). However, it is a famous aquarium fish popularly known as Indian Dwarf Puffer. Even though no precise information is available on its aquarium trade, overfishing is a threat to the species.

No specific conservation action plans are in place directed towards Carinotetraodon travancoricus. Site/area and resource/habitat protection could help in conserving this endemic species. More research is needed on the population status, ecology and threats to this species. The species is known from at least one protected area under Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (Easa and Shaji 1997).