Abstract: The atyid prawns belonging to the genus Cardina are widely distributed in the freshwater bodies in and around Madras. Eventhough the first report of an atyid prawn from India was born from Madras in the year 1983, no attempt was made thereafter to study the Atyidae of Madras. The present work is the first systematic report of the Cardina sp.of Madras, including a new species complete account of synonymy, material examined, type material of the new species, ecology, live coloration, fecundity and larval stages based on laboratory culture, is provided key for the identification of the species of Cardina in and around Madras is provided.