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Opsarius pulchellus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Opsarius pulchellus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Subfamily: Danioninae
Genus: Opsarius
Species:
O. pulchellus
Binomial name
Opsarius pulchellus
(H. M. Smith, 1931)
Synonyms
  • Barilius pulchellus Smith, 1931
  • Opsarus pulchellus (Smith, 1931)
  • Barilius buddhae Fowler, 1934
  • Barilius bhuddhae Fowler, 1934
  • Barilius pellegrini Fang, 1938
  • Daniops macropterus Mai, 1978

Opsarius pulchellus, is a species of fish in the family Cyprinidae, with the largest individual recorded being 11 cm long.[2]

"Pulchellus" is a Latin diminutive meaning "beautiful".

Range

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O. pulchellus inhabits Indochina (Mekong River) and a small part of China (along the Mekong). They are mainly found in fast flowing rivers or clear hill streams.[3]

Diet

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O. pulchellus feeds mainly on the surface of the water, feeding on dead insects that land on the surface.

Threats

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O. pulchellus are rarely found in markets, but are exploited by subsistence fisheries and occasionally for the aquarium trade. Habitat degradation through sedimentation increase (e.g. by large-scale damming) may become problematic in the future, especially along the Mekong and Chao Phraya.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Vidthayanon C. (2012). Opsarius pulchellus. 2015 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded in April 2015.
  2. ^ Rainboth, W.J., 1996. Fishes of the Cambodian Mekong. FAO species identification field guide for fishery purposes. FAO, Rome, 265 p.
  3. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Opsarius pulchellus". FishBase. February 2015 version.
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