Other cypriniforms

This species is among a handful of near-identical congeners that are traded as 'Siamese algae-eater' (often abbreviated to 'SAE'), 'Siamese flying fox' and 'Crossocheilus siamensis'. The latter name is not valid, however, and is a synonym of Epalzeorhynchos siamensis which is itself a synonym of Crossocheilus oblongus, a species described from Java. C. oblongus is currently accepted to...

C. oblongus is another name widely misused in the trade but that species has seemingly never been exported and was described as a blueish fish with yellow fins. It's native to streams of Gunung Salak mountain in Bogor Regency, West Java, Indonesia where collecting of ornamental fishes is almost non-existent. Other species of laterally-striped Crossocheilus also exist and may be available from time-to-time but are more easily told apart from the group described above.

C. latius isn't often available in the trade but makes an excellent alternative to more commonly-offered members of the genus should you be lucky enough to find some. Shipments of similar-looking Indian Garra species such as G. mullya or G. gotyla sometimes contain the odd specimen. It exhibits morphological differences when compared with other members of the genus and may be assigned to a separate taxon at some point in the future.

While separating some of the fish that may be found on sale as 'C. siamensis' is a tricky task, C. nigriloba is quite simple to identify. The dark lateral body stripe uniquely breaks up into a series of blotches when the fish are sparring, stressed or sleeping and the lower caudal fin lobe contains dark pigmentation suffused with red. The latter feature has given rise to the trade name of 'penguin flying fox'.

While some laterally-striped members of the genus look very similar to one another the combination of silvery body, dark-edged scales and dark caudal peduncle blotch set C. reticulatus uniquely apart. The names Crossocheilus tchangi, Epalzeorhynchos coatesi and E. stigmaeus are all now considered synonyms of the species but were erected because the fish vary, most often in minor aspects of patt...

This species is currently understood to have a considerable natural range extending eastwards from Myanmar via Thailand, Laos, Cambodia as far as Vietnam and to the south through Peninsular Malaysia and into the Greater Sunda Islands of Borneo and Sumatra. It thus occurs in the Mekong, Mae Klong and Chao Phraya drainages as well as a host of other river basins, lakes and reservoirs including the Tonlé Sap river...

Most members of Epalzeorhynchos were formerly regarded as Labeo spp. and are thus referred to as such in older literature. According to Rainboth (1996) they're characterised by absence of a dorsal spine, possession of 10-13 branched dorsal fin rays, a thin membrane connecting the upper and lower lips and rigid, freely moveable rostral lobes. Epalzeorhynchos itself has undergone some quite recent changes with a handful of species hav...

The ornamental albino variant is widely-available and has become extremely popular in the hobby and there is a commercially-produced anerythristic (lacking red pigment) mutation that has pale yellowish fins and has sometimes been misidentified as E. munense. Also worthy of note is that the specific name is sometimes misspelled 'frenatus'. Most members of Epalzeorhynchos were formerly regarded as Labeo spp. and are thus referred to as such in older literature. According to Rainboth (1996) they're characterised by absence of a dorsal spine...

Confusion with similar-looking fishes from other genera, such as Garra cambodgiensis, laterally-striped Crossocheilus spp. or Gyrinocheilus aymonieri is not uncommon, and are largely attributable to the use of trade names such as 'false flying fox' or 'Siamese flying fox'. When compared with the other species E. kalopterus exhibits several unique characters but perhaps the simplest way to identify it is by the characteristic white-edged, red and black coloured fins and the presence of two pairs of barbels.

Found in various types of habitat but shows a marked preference for shallow, slow-moving and standing waters such as rice paddies and other temporally-inundated environments with dense aquatic vegetation.

Known from the Mekong river basin in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, the Tonlé Sap river and lake system in Cambodia, and smaller, coastal drainages in southeast Thailand. Records from Peninsular Malaysia are likely to refer to other species. Type locality is given simply as 'Cambodia'.

The preciose function of the secondary rostrum remains unknown; some have suggested it may have some hydro-mechanical purpose but it's perhaps more likely related to reproductiion and/or social interactions. Only males develop prominent rostra...

Also known by the vernacular names ''black band garra', 'stone-lapping minnow' or 'false flying fox' and continues to be traded as Garra taeniata, an invalid name synonymous with G. cambodgiensis. It is often confused with those laterally-striped members of the genus Crossocheilus sold as 'Siamese algae eater' or 'Siamese flying fox', but in those species the dark lateral body stripe continues into the caudal-fin whereas in G. cambodgiensis it terminates...

Native to the Mekong river system in Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia, including the Tonlé Sap basin. Type locality is 'Kemarat, Thailand', which corresponds to the Mekoong River in Khemmarat district, Ubon Ratchathani province, northeastern Thailand.

Garra species are usually included in the subfamily Labeoninae/Cyprininae (name varies with author) which by current thinking is further divided into several tribes and subtribes (Stiassny and Getahun, 2007). The putatively monophyletic subtribe Garraina comprises Garra plus numerous other genera including the well-known Crossocheilus and Epalzeorhynchos. Within this division their closest relatives are members of Discogobio, Discocheilus and Placocheilus (the lat...

A putatively undescribed species often imported and sold as G. sp. 'burmanicus'. It first appeared in the trade during 2005 and has since been available on a sporadic basis, usually with a relatively high price tag. As well as its unique colour pattern, a primary diagnostic character is the presence of a proboscis-like rostral process between the eyes.

The type locality is located in a hilly area mostly comprising bamboo forest. At time of collection the water was clear, colourless and flowing at a moderate pace over a substrate of rocks and gravel. It was 1-2 metres wide and maximum depth was only 0.5 metres. Due to the surrounding forest some stretches were shaded and others more open. Sympatric species included...

A peaceful species suited to a well-chosen community aquarium. There are plenty of potential tankmates including many cyprinids, loaches, cichlids, catfishes and characins, although as always proper research is essential in order to avoid problems.

Different populations vary in appearance somewhat (see image of Salween specimen for example), and L. leptocheilus may turn out to represent a group of closely-related species rather than a single taxon. The population from the Cambodian Mekong has been considered to represent a distinct species, Labiobarbus lineatus, although that name is currently a synonym of L. leptocheilus following Kottelat (2013). It is widely used in the ornamental trade, however.

All Mystacoleucus species possess a procumbent predorsal spine orientated towards the head, though it can be difficult to spot with the naked eye. This can become entangled in an aquarium net so care must be taken when handling the fish. The trait is shared by members of Tor, Spinibarbus and Paraspinibarbus although there exists no strong evidence to suggest that these genera form a monophyletic lineage and it is...

Predominantly a riverine fish favouring clear, well-oxygenated, running water with substrates of sand or gravel and often present in rock and boulder-filled headwater streams. In the Mun River, close to the Pak Mun dam, Thailand, sympatric species included Hampala dispar, Cyclocheilichthys apogon, Osteochilus hasseltii,...

This species is occasionally marketed as 'Burmese Rainbow Barb' in the ornamental trade. others may have been exported in small numbers or as bycatch among shipments of other species. It was referred to as Mystacoleucus marginatus for decades, but that name is a simultaneous subjective synonym of M. obtusirostris following Kottelat (2013).

O. dogarsinghi and O. bernatziki are the only two Southeast Asian congeners to possess a large blotch at the caudal-fin base but in the former the blotch is vertically-orientated and hardly extends onto the fin itself (vs. laterally-elongate and extending onto the basal fin rays) and long (vs. short) barbels, while th...

This fish is sometimes traded as Oreichthys cosuatis, O. sp. 'high fin', O. 'umangii' (a nomen nudum that has only ever been applied to an image of a fish in the book 'Ornamental Aquarium Fish of India'; K. L.Tekriwal and A. A. Rao 1999), Puntius 'arunavii' or 'neon highfin barb'. It can be distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: absence of a dark marking in the anal-fin (vs. presence in other species); ½7½ scales scales between pelvic-fin origin and dorsal midline (vs. ½6½ in O. cosuatis and...

One of the most ubiquitous species in the hobby and several ornamental strains are available including 'long-finned', 'golden', 'albino', and 'super red', for which care is identical to that of the 'standard' fish. Unfortunately the degree of inbreeding amongst farm-bred stock has resulted in a situation whereby many of the fish available today are genetically weak and prone to disease or develop physical deformities.

This species only became available in the aquarium hobby during the early 21st century but has already achieved a measure of popularity since it's attractive, easy to maintain and usually quite cheaply-priced. You may see it on sale under various trade names including 'Vietnamese minnow', 'cardinal minnow', 'royal white cloud', 'dwarf cardinal' and others. We've obtained images of what is said to be a naturally-occurring form with extremely elong...

This fish was first collected in 2009 and limited numbers have been available in the aquarium trade. Though additional exports may be unlikely it's proven easy to breed in captivity and there's a fair chance it will become established in the hobby. It's sold under several names including T. sp. 'lemon' or 'yellow white cloud', and has also been misidentified as the congener T. thacbaensis, a valid species occurring much further north in Vietnam.

Despite being a wholly unsuitable aquarium subject, C. idella is often traded as such, with an albino form having been developed specifically for the ornamental market. Individuals which have outgrown their aquarium or pond should never be released into natural waters, either, since this species has proven capable of causing serious environmental damage under a wide range of climatic conditions.

In the Mekong, it has been observed to migrate upstream from Phnom Penh to Khone Falls between November and February, returning downstream between May and August. The downstream migration ends in the Mekong delta area in Vietnam, where the fish remain until the floods reach their peak in October and November. These lower Mekong migrations mostly comprise juveniles and sub-adults, whereas above Khone Falls...

L. cyclorhynchus was described twice in the space of two years, with Pellegrin erecting Labeo variegatus for it in 1901. Although the invalidity of the variegatus name is quite well-documented you may still see the species named as such in older literature, trade lists and by some websites. It's also worth noting that the attractive patterning seen in young fish does fade with age, the adults being much darker in colour. The genus Labeo currently contains over 100 species but is in dire ...

This species can be told apart from Indian congeners by the following combination of characters: no transverse groove or proboscis on the snout; tip of dorsal fin falcate; long axillary scale present at the base of pelvic fin, reaching base of last pelvic fin ray; 27–29 lateral-line scales, 10–11 regularly arranged predorsal scales; W-shaped black band across middle of caudal fin; presence of scales on the abdomen.

The Naung Pin Thar Chaung is located in a hilly area mostly comprising bamboo forest. In 1998 the water was clear, colourless and flowing at a moderate pace over a substrate of rocks and gravel. It was 1-2 metres wide and maximum depth was only 0.5 metres. Due to the surrounding forest some stretches were shaded and others more open. Sympatric species included Garra spilota, Homalopteroides modestus, Mystus pulcher, and Xenentodon cancila, plus...

Native to continental China, the Korean peninsula, and southern Japan. Type locality is given only as 'Lakes and rivers, northern China', with the type series possibly originating from the Pai-ho River near Beijing. It has been widely introduced and is considered invasive elsewhere, including the Mekong river basin (records from Laos and Thailand), Salween river (Myanmar), northern Japan, Taiwan, Turkmeni...

A. macropterus appears in the ornamental trade on an irregular basis and should only be considered by more experienced aquarists with sufficiently large facilities. Given its wide geographical distribution there is a possibility that it represents a group of closely-related species, with genetic studies indicating the existence of several distinct clades.

The genus Acrossocheilus is restricted to southern China, northern Vietnam and northern Laos. It can be distinguished from related genera by the following combination of characters: rostral fold present; lips fleshy and continuous around corners of mouth; lower lip with a median interruption; mouth inferior; horny sheath on lower jaw; two pairs of barbels; last simple ray of dorsal fin osseous with a serrated or smooth posterior margin.

May also be seen on sale under the trade names 'Bala shark' or 'tricolor shark minnow' and perhaps among the most commonly-encountered ornamental fish species. It is unfortunate that the vast majority of those traded are juveniles and tend to come supplied with little to no information provided regarding their potential size and requirements, a fairly ironic situation given the apparently precarious status of wild populations.

Prior to its description this species was typically identified as the congener B. canarensis in the ornamental trade. It can be distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: uni...

This species is traded under several names including 'royal danio', 'blue-spotted hill trout', and 'blue-dotted mirror fish'. It can be distinguished from congeners by possessing a single row of bluish-green spots along the length of the body, white margins on the dorsal and anal fins, 37-38+1 lateral line scales, and fleshy rudi...

Type locality is given as 'Cedawáti [Vedawati] stream, headwaters of Krishna River near Heriuru, Mysore, India', with the species currently considered to occur throughout India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and probably Bhutan. It's also been recorded in Pakistan, Myanmar, Thailand and Sri Lanka although some or all of these reports may refer to other species.

Type locality is 'Canara, southern India', which corresponds to a coastal region of approximately 300 km in length covering several districts of Karnataka and Kerala states, southwestern India. Rivers in this area drain the Western Gha...

This species is traded very occasionally, sometimes under the alternative vernacular names of 'river baril, 'river carp-baril', or 'striated hill trout'. It can be told apart from congeners by the following combination of characters: 1 pair of minute rostra...

Probably restricted to southern parts of Karnataka state and northern Kerala state in southwestern India. Following its revalidation in 2015 (see 'Notes') it is known with certainty only from the Payaswini and Vallapattanam river systems in Kerala although it is thought to occur elsewhere.

Like many fishes that naturally inhabit running waters it's intolerant to the accumulation of organic wastes and requires spotless water at all times in order to thrive. It also does best if there is a high proportion of dissolved oxygen and moderate degree of water movement so external filters, powerheads, airstones, etc., should be employed as necessary.

Barilius spp. are near-exclusive surface-feeders preying mostly on flying insects in nature with some small fishes and benthic invertebrates probably taken as well but in the aquarium they're largely unfussy and will accept most foods.

There are currently three species which look almost identical and are most easily separated by collection details since their ranges do not overlap in nature; C. chagunio is endemic to the Ganges and Brahmaputra drainages and C. nicholsi to the Ayeyarwady/Irrawaddy.

Endemic to the Ganges and Brahmaputra river basins and thus occurs in northern India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Type locality is 'the Yamuna River, and northern rivers of Behar and Bengal'. The distribution of the genus as a whole is interesting because these fish occupy the area that geographically separates Indian and Southeast Asia barbs and it has been theorised that they may represent an evolutionary 'link' species...

In the aquarium trade this species may also be seen on sale as 'skinhead barb'. As with others in the genus little has been written regarding its captive care but it makes a peaceful and unusual addition to larger aquaria. The best way of obtaining it may be to keep an eye on shipments of wild fishes from Indochina and the Greater Sunda Islands as it's rarely imported in large numbers and most often arrives as bycatch.

It can be distinguished from congeners by possessing one or two pairs of barbels, a black blotch at the base of the caudal-fin, and rows of dark spots along the lateral scale rows. Members of Cyclocheilichthys are characterised by possessing a serrated dorsal fin spine, 9 branched pelvic fin rays, a conical snout, small, subterminal...

In the exceptionally diverse Danau Sentarum lake system of the upper Kapuas River basin, West Kalimantan, sympatric species include Scleropages formosus, Barbonymus gonionotus, B. schwanenfeldii, Crossocheilus nigriloba, Cyclocheilichthys apogon, C. repasson, Epalzeorhynchos kalopterus, Labiobarbus ocellatus , Leptobarbus hoevenii, Luciosoma spilopleura plus various representatives of Barbodes, Rasbora and Osteochilus.

As with others in the genus little has been written regarding captive care of this species, but it makes a peaceful and unusual addition to larger aquaria. The best way of obtaining it may be to keep an eye on shipments of wild fishes from Indochina. It can be distinguished from congeners by possessing 20 circumpeduncular scales and lacking barbels entirely.

An ideal resident of the larger, well-furnished community set-up though it might upset slow-moving or timid companions simply by its size. There are plenty of suitable tankmates including many cyprinids, loaches, cichlids, catfish and characins, but as always when selecting a compatible community of fish proper research is essential. A community based around one of its native countries or river basins...

D. ashmeadi is the type species and exhibits differences in dental morphology compared with other members of the genus. It can also be told apart from D. halei by the red/pink (vs. orange) colouration in the dorsal and anal fins and serrated (vs. smooth) dorsal spine. D. schroederi is also similar-looking but as it matures the prominent dark dorsal blotch fades to a thin dark distal band whereas in D. ashmeadi it is retained throughout life.

Appears to have a disjunct range with records from Pahang state in central Peninsular Malaysia, plus the Mae Klong and Chao Phraya river systems in Thailand, but it has not been recorded in Peninsular Thailand. Type locality is 'Pahang River, Kuala Tembeling, eastern slope of Sangka Dua Pass, Malaysia, elevation about 2000 feet'.

It's also been collected in more open areas but wherever it is found the substrate is composed of boulders, smaller stones, sand and/or gravel along with decomposing plant material. From images we've seen typical habitats are composed of short sections of rocky rapids interspersed by deeper pools with exposed bedrock. Rainboth describes how he collected a large group of...

Typically inhabits slow-moving, shallow, shady rainforest streams and swamps with dense submerged and marginal vegetation. The conditions are often rather turbid and the substrate composed of mud or fallen leaves, twigs and branches. Such environments characteristically contain soft, weakly acidic water and are often dimly-lit due to the rainforest canopy above. The fish are found sheltering among overhanging tree roots and aquatic vegetation.

E. octozona can be told apart from congeners by the following combination of characters: bar 1 present; presence of a large and distinct black mark anterior to anus, visible in lateral and ventral views; simple dorsal-fin rays black, sometimes extending onto first branched ray; other rays hyaline or with diffused chromatophores on last dorsal-fin ray, adjacent to upper extremity of bar 6; 25-31 serrae on last simple dorsal-fin ray; uppermost ray of pectoral-fin with faint black margin; width of bar 5 equal to 1-1½ lat...

This species does not appear to be in the aquarium hobby at time of writing though it may have been in the past, when exports of wild Epalzeorhynchos spp. still took place. Most members of the genus were formerly regarded as Labeo spp. and are thus referred to as such in older literature. According to Rainboth (1996) they're characterised by absence of a dorsal spine, possession of 10-13 branched dorsal fin rays, a thin membrane...

There currently exist a dozen described Esomus spp. alhough few are seen in the aquarium trade and none are especially popular. Most are commonplace in their native countries and also quite plainly-patterned so generally overlooked by collectors. Their most common use in some areas is actually as a feeder fish in the aquaculture of larger species. They're characterised by greatly-enlarged pectoral fins and two pairs of barbels, of which the maxillary pair are extremely long and usually reach the pectoral fins.

This species is widely-distributed in the Mekong river system in Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam, Salween and Ayeyarwaddy rivers in southern China, Myanmar, and Thailand, plus various smaller basins in Vietnam and China. It has also been recorded from the islands of Hainan and Hong Kong. Type locality is given as 'China: sent from Hong Kong'.

Fish referred to as G. rufa are marketed worldwide as 'doctor fish', with the questionable ability to remove dead and scaly skin and ease complaints such as psoriasis. These fish are quite commonly available in the aquarium trade as well, although in both cases it is unclear whether they represent G. rufa or another, related species.

The genus currently contains seven species of which H. macrolepidota and, to a lesser extent, H. dispar are the only ones seen with any regularity in the aquarium trade. As well as having the widest distribution H. macrolepidota is also the largest member of the group. All representatives can appear superficially similar at first glance, the exception being H. lopezi which is endemic to a single island in The Philippines and displays a unique lateral band-like marking on the flanks.

This species is poorly-known in the aquarium hobby and may have never been maintained outside its native countries. It can be distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: 26-27 lateral line scales; two roundish, dark blotches on each flank, one beneath dorsal-fin origin and above the lateral line, the other on the caudal peduncle and passing thro...

This species is migratory on a seasonal basis; during the dry season it can be found in larger river channels, whereas during drier months it moves into smaller tributaries and flooded forests. Apparently displays a preference for rocky habitats and is not known to adapt to reservoirs or other artificial impoundments.

It is very similar to H. wetmorei but can be told apart by possessing yellow (vs. orange to red in H. wetmorei) pectoral, pelvic, and anal fins. It thus appears likely that yellow-finned fish marketed as H. wetmorei or 'lemon fin barb' in the ornamental trade are actually H. vernayi, with both species available on a regular basis.

H. wetmorei is distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: upper body reddish brown; robust body, not compressed; usually 4½ scale rows between lateral line and dorsal-fin origin; 8-12 rakers on first gill arch; 7-9 predorsal scales; 14 circumpeduncular scale rows; usually two scale rows separating vent and anal-fin; <29 lateral line scales; 9-14 serrations on the spinous dorsal-fin ray; distance between distal serrae on posterior margin of last unbranched dorsal-fin ray much greater than the width of their bases.

Despite its unsuitability for the majority of home aquaria, this species is available in the aquarium trade on an irregular basis, and has also been marketed as 'violet-gilled shark', 'red-gilled violet shark' and 'blushing violet shark'. It appears likely that L. boga as currently recognised represents a complex of closely-related species.

It can be distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: 61-68 scales in the lateral series; a small, well-defined, sometimes ocellated black spot on the shoulder and another in the centre of the caudal peduncle; body without longitudinal stripes formed by spots on scales; caudal fin uniformly dusky or colourless, lobes without stripes or black margins.

It can be distinguished from other members of the genus by the following characters: dark longitudinal stripe on body, extending from eye to caudal peduncle; scattered tubercles present on lower jaw; 14½-16½ branched anal-fin rays; pelvic-fin long, reaching beyond anus.

The majority of Lobocheilos species are endemic to the Greater Sunda Islands of Borneo, Sumatra, and Java, and are uncommon in the aquarium trade, but the widespread Indochinese taxa L. melanotaenia and L. rhabdoura are available on a sporadic basis. L. melanotaenia can be distinguished from L. rhabdoura by the following comb...

L. bleekeri is most-easily distinguished from the congener L. setigerum, with which it is frequently confused, by absence (vs. presence) of a series of black spots on the lateral line scales.

There is a fish of unknown geographical origin which matches the majority of diagnostic features for L. setigerum with the exception that the dark lateral stripe is absent in the anterior portion of the body and is not composed of interconnected spots. It is relatively common in the aquarium trade and included here as L. cf. setigerum until a confirmed identity is established.

This species occasionally appears in the ornamental trade, usually as 'striped hill trout' or 'banded hill trout'. It can be distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: lateral line complete with 40-42 scales; barbels absent; 10-13 anal-fin rays; body with 9-11 dark blue vertical bars; last dorsal-fin ray extending to caudal-fin base.

Type locality is ' Kapa, northwestern peninsular Thailand', which may refer to modern-day Kapoe district, Ranong province, and additional records exist from other localities in Ranong as well as Phang-nga and Pattani provinces. Although the precise extent of its distribution is unclear it appears to occur in river systems on both sides of the Tennaserim Hills in pen...

This species may have appeared in the aquarium trade though probably not under the correct name. It can be told apart from similar-looking congeners by the following combination of characters: presence of a black round spot at the caudal base; dorsal-fin rays black with connecting membranes transparent; posterior dorsal-fin origin located midway between upper angle of gill aperture and caudal-fin base, or slightly closer to the latter.

Described from 'Etok stream near Chanderkhong, southern watershed of the Naga Hills, Manipur, Assam', located within the Chindwin River basin in northern India. The Chindwin is the major tributary of the Ayeyarwady/Irrawaddy River and most of it flows within Myanmar although two of its own tributaries, the Manipur and Yu rivers, originate in the Indian states of Manipur and Nagaland.

This species has previously been considered synonymous with both O. ornatus and O. pulchellus but is currently considered to be distinct following (Tejavej, 2012). It can be distinguished from congeners by a combination of characters including: small caudal spot presen...

Inhabits well-oxygenated, low-to-medium gradient, slow to moderate-flowing rivers and streams with substrates of gravel, cobbles, larger boulders and exposed bedrock. At the habitat in our image pH was 7.5, temperature 26°C and cond...

Type locality is 'Mé-Nam River, Thailand', with 'Mé-Nam' having been considered an older name for the Chao Phraya river in central and western Thailand prior to this species' redescription by Tejavej (2012). In fact 'menam' is the Thai word for 'river' and thus could refer to any drainage, and B. ornatus is restricted to...

This species is traded for aquaria under various names including 'butterfly barb', 'mackerel barb', 'green-barred danio', and 'royal opsarius'. It can be told apart from other memb...

An assortment of undescribed Oreichthys spp. from India, Myanmar and Thailand are currently traded as O. cosuatis. It can be distinguished from other described members of the genus by lacking a black blotch on the caudal peduncle, plus the following combination of characters: 2-3 perforated scales in lateral line; ½6½ between pelvic-fin origin and dorsal midline; presence of dark stripe in centre of anal-fin, forming a triangular blotch in adult individuals; dorsal-fin with whitish tip and broad, black, subdistal margin in the upper portion of the fin; 11-13 rows...

This fish is one of several sometimes imported and sold as Oreichthys cosuatis or O. parvus which has led to considerable confusion. It appears to be an undescribed species and can be most easily identified by the absence of a dark marking in the dorsal-fin of adult males (vs. presence in O. cosuatis and O. parvus) and possession of a large, well-defined black blotch on the caudal peduncle ( vs. absent in O. cosuatis, smaller and less well-defined in O. parvus).

This species is very scarce in the trade indeed and you're most likely to see it on sale as a contaminant among import of other Indian species. There are currently 34 described species of Osteochilus although none can be considered popular in the aquarium hobby. According to Rainboth's 'Fishes of the Cambodian Mekong' members of the genus are characterised by lack of aspine, presence of 11-18rays, large rostral and maxillary barbels, papillae on both upper and lower lips,...

We've been unable to obtain a diagnosis for this species to date but it can at least be distinguished from those congeners traded as 'Crossocheilus siamensis' (an invalid name synonymous with C. oblongus, which is itself of questionable identity), 'Siamese algae eater', or 'SAE' by the fact that the dark lateral stripe does not extend into the caudal-fin. Members of Crossocheilus are characterised by...

Given its wide natural range it seems logical that this species is or has been available in the aquarium trade, although its correct name may never have been applied. It is told apart from congeners by the following combination of characters: two pairs of barbels; a continuous midlateral stripe from the tip of the snout to the base of the caudal-fin, with a conspicuous small blotch at the posterior extremity, faintly marked on the caudal-fin; a faint mark between the anus and the anal-fin origin in juveniles; a narrow mouth.

This species can be most easily distinguished from other members of the genus by its colour pattern which consists of a blackish midlateral stripe extending from the tip of the gill opening to the middle of the caudal-fin base, which is separated from the dark brown dorsum by a pale yellowish brown stripe. This differs from the pattern seen in other Crossocheilus species with a black midlateral stripe in which the the dorsum is olive brown and much paler than the midlateral stripe, there is no yellow stripe between the dorsum and the black stripe, and the black stripe extends to the tip of the snout.

E. caudiocellatus can be told apart from congeners by lacking a dark lateral stripe and possessing a prominent dark marking on the caudal peduncle. In recent years a number of phylogenetic studies involving Esomus and its near relatives have been conducted and conflicting results published. For example a 2003 study by Fang et al. concluded that the genus is the sister group, i.e., most closely-related to...

Following Rainboth (1996) distinguishing characters for G. fuliginosa include: presence of rostral and maxillary barbels; a well-developed, trilobed rostrum; possession of 10 gill rakers on the lower portion of the first gill arch; no mid-lateral body stripe; 32-34 lateral line scales; body dark with random lighter scales in places. Kottelat (2001) states that the species can be told apart from other Garra occurring in Laos by a combination of: snout with a secondary rostrum, proboscis about twice as wide...

This species is also known by the vernacular 'jungle perch' or 'sidebar barb' and should not be considered an aquarium subject in all but the most extreme circumstances since it can grow to over 2 feet in length, weigh in excess of 5 kg and is a powerful, pelagic predator. It's also a popular sport fish with a reputation for striking hard.

H. malcolmi is distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: 12-17 (usually 14-15) rakers on first gill arch; usually 16 circumpeduncular scale rows; less than 30 lateral line scales; some branched lateral line canals, but branching not extensive, median portion of dorsal-fin dark.

The monotypic genus Incisilabeo is separated from the closely-related taxon Bangana by presence of a unique and conspicuous transverse notch across the top of the head, comparable in position to the ethmoid furrow in Bangana species. This notch approaches the eye, and the top of the head bulges forward, with the nostrils located partially beneath this projection and immediately anterior to the eyes. Tubercles cover the upper portion of the rostral fold, lower part of the notch, and upper surface of the forehead projection...

L. chrysophekadion is also known as 'black sharkminnow'. It continues to be available in the ornamental trade despite its patent unsuitability for the home aquarium, and an albino form has been selectively bred for the purpose. It can be distinguished from other members of the genus by the following combination...

Apparently native to Peninsular Malaysia plus the Greater Sunda Islands of Borneo, Sumatra, and Java. Reports of this species from the Mekong, Chao Phraya, and other rivers in Indochina refer to the congener L. rubripinna (see 'Notes'). Type locality is 'Indonesia: Borneo: Kalimantan Selatan: Banjarmasin'.

This species was referred to as its congener Leptobarbus hoevenii for a number of decades and continues to be misidentified as such in the aquarium hobby, with both species traded under the same name. It is a popular sport fish in its native countries and is wholly unsuitable for private aquaria. Unfortunately it is...

It is thought to have been extirpated from the Chao Phraya and Mae Klong rivers, Lake Songkhla, and the entire island of Java due to a variety of anthropogenic factors, and the Mekong populations have also been drastically reduced. In particular, it is sensitive to pollution and gillnetting, and is heavily overfished.

Endemic to the middle and lower Mekong River system in Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Its known range extends from Chiang Rai province, Thailand in the north to Kratie province, Cambodia in the south, and it occurs in several important tributary systems including the Sesan, Srepok, and Tonlé Sap. Type locality is 'Mekong River at Kemarat, Thailand'.

Recorded from Fujian, Guangdong, and Guangxi provinces in southwestern China, plus the islands of Hainan and Hong Kong. Type locality is 'Lian-Xian and Yang-Shan, Guangdong, China', corresponding to the Bei River drainage.

A. iridescens and its closest relative A. longipinnis can be distinguished from all other barred species of Acrossocheilus by the following characters: wider (vs. narrower) black vertical bars on the flank in adults, each five to eight (vs. no more than four) scales in width; a horse-shoe shaped (vs. arched) mouth gape; rostral barbel located posteriorly (vs. anteriorly) to a horizontal line through the anteriormost margin of the lower jaw; two postlabial grooves extending anteromedially beyond (vs. away from) a horizontal line through the roots of the rostral barbels.

Apparently endemic to the upper Yangtze River basin, China. Type locality is 'mountain-stream fiowing into the Ichang gorge of the Yangtsze River'.

Members of the genus are characterised by possessing a particular number of dark vertical bar on each flank, and A. parallens belongs to a group of species with five or six such bars, each of which is two scales in width. Congeners sharing this pattern include A. fasciatus, A. hemispinus (in juveniles only), A. jishouensis, A. kreyenbergii, A. paradoxus, A. spinifer, A. wenchowensis, and A. wuyiensis.

Native to the Mekong River drainage in Laos (where Vientiane province represents the upper limit of its range), Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, and the Tapi, Chao Phraya, and Mae Klong systems in Thailand. Type locality is '22 kilometers upstream from Phnom Penh, Tonle Sap River, Kandal Province, Cambodia'.

Known with certainty from the Irrawaddy River system in Manipur state, India, and Myanmar, and the Salween watershed in eastern Myanmar and northwestern Thailand. Records from the Red River basin in Vietnam appear questionable. Type locality is 'Burma: Myitkyina District: Mali Hka basin: Phungin Hka;'.

The adult size and power of this impressive predator preclude it from consideration as an aquarium species, but young individuals are nevertheless available in the ornamental trade on an irregular basis therefore it is included here. It is an entirely unsuitable choice for the home aquarium and the majority of zoos and public aquaria would probably struggle to maintain it in adequate conditions.

Known from the upper Brahmaputra River basin in Arunachal Pradesh state, northern India, with records from the lower Divang Valley and Lohit District.

G. bispinosa can be distinguished from all other congeners in Southeast Asia and China by the following combination of characters: a conspicuous, quadrate, anteriorly-directed proboscis orientated ventrally against the snout and anteriorly adorned with a single, large, uniscupid, acanthoid tubercle on the distal tip of each lobe; snout with a deep groove across its tip to form a transverse lobe; 34-35 lateral...

Substrates are generally composed of gravel, rocks, boulders or bedrock carpeted with a rich biofilm formed by algae and other micro-organisms. At a habitat in the Mendawai river basin in central Kalimantan, H. borneensis was collected from a foothill stream running swiftly over a rock and gravel substrate with clear water of pH 6.4.

G. hughi is occasionally available in the ornamental trade and may be labelled 'chocolate algae eater'. The original diagnosis of this species by Silas states that it can be identified by the following combination of characters: elongate body form; broad head...

This species can be distinguished from congeners inhabiting the Red River basin in Yunnan province, China, by the following combination of characters: no barbels; 46-52 lateral line scales; 16 circumpeduncular scales; pharyngeal teeth in 3 rows, 2.4.5-5.4.2; snout rounded, no secondary rostrum, no longitudinal...

G. kalpangi is distinguished from other Garra species from the Himalayan foothills by the following combination of characters: two pairs of barbels; a weakly developed proboscis represented by a squarish area anterior to the nostrils; 16 circ...

This species is characterised by possession of a transverse groove on the snout, directly in front of the eyes, and a bifurcate proboscis with a conical keratinised tubercle at each anterior tip.

This species is endemic to and widespread within peninsular India, where it has been recorded from the states of Gujrat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. It is thus found in numerous river systems of which some of the most important include the Tapti, Narmada, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Cauvery.

This species is diagnosed by the following combination of characters: body moderate sized; head squarish; no proboscis or transverse groove on snout; mental disc length 96.9% its own width; pre...

G. notata is one of a number of congeners to lack both a transverse groove and a proboscis on the snout. It also possesses 33-34 lateral line scales and a series of dark spots at the base of the dorsal-fin rays, and lacks scales on the lower portion of the body and abdomen. The genus Garra is a particularly enigmatic grouping with new taxa...

G. qiaojiensis can be differentiated from closely-related congeners by the configuration of its proboscis, which is quadrate (1.6-1.8 times wider than long), reflected downwards against the snout and heavily tuberculated anteriorly, and the relative size of its mental disc which measures 48.7-55.9 % HL.

G. rakhinica can be distinguished from other members of the genus by the following combination of characters: rostral furrow shallow and snout tip smoothly rounded; rostral lobe present, proboscis absent; scaled predorsal region, chest, and abdomen; two pairs of barbels; 28 lateral line scales; 16 circumpeduncular scale rows; colour pattern almost uniform greyish on body and caudal-fin; a dark spot immediately posterior to the upper extremity of the...

Prior to its description, G. rotundinasus was considered to represent the congener G. gravleyi, but the latter is now accepted to occur only in the Salween and Manipur river basins. These two are separated from all other Garra species in China and Southeast Asia by possession of a weakly-devel...

G. salweenica can be distinguished from other congeners inhabiting the Salween watershed by the following combinatuion of characters: body brownish; presence of a trilobed proboscis on the snout; snout blunt; a series of black spots at the base of the central dorsal-fin rays; presence of longitudinal stripes on the posterior portion of the body; a dark marking at the tip of the upper (and lower in some specimens) caudal-fin lobe; body depth 22.4-25.3 % SL.

The type series was collected from a stream-like tributary of the Chalakkudy River at an altitude of 483 m AMSL. In March 1996 the habitat measured around 15 m across and comprised shallow (~ 20 cm deep) water flowing slowly through moist deciduous forest over a substrate of pebbles and boulders.

This species can be distinguished from congeners in Southeast Asia and China by the following combination of characters: plain brown body and fins, sometimes with 6-8 narrow, faintly distinct, longitudinal stripes; snout triangular in dorsal view, with small tubercules and without transverse groove...

Following Roberts (1997) G. ariza can be diagnosed by the following combination of characters: body with variably intense thin stripes dustributed mostly above the lateral line; larger individuals sometimes with a broad midlateral stripe; 32-35 lateral scales; 7-8/1/5-6 transverse scale rows; 8-9 branched dorsal-fin rays 8-9; 22-24+ 11-12=34(4), 35 (3) vertebrae; live colour pattern variable, overall dull dirty white to greyish, silvery or yellow.

Recorded from the middle to lower Mekong river basin in southern China (Yiunnan province), Laos, Thailand, and Cambodia, plus the Chao Phraya watershed in central Thailand. Type locality is 'Thailand: Lam Ton Lang, a tributary of Menam Sak [Mae Nam Pa Sak; Ban Lam Thong Lang, village northwest of Pakjong'.

G. lobatus can be distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: possession of 32-33 + 2-3 lateral line scales; 5½ scale rows between lateral line and base of dorsal-fin; body relatively slender, depth fits 3.7-4.0 times in SL; snout often projecting strongly; body plain silver in colour.

G. ornatapinnis can be distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: head small; snout relatively short and blunt; caudal peduncle very deep; pectoral, pelvic, and anal fins usually reddish-orange or rose-tinted; pelvic and anal fins often with white tips; barbels completely absent.

G. siamensis can be distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: possession of 5½ lateral line scales; body relatively deep, depth fits 3.2-3.4 times in SL; head large and broad, width fits 5.5-6.7 times in SL; snout not or only weakly projecting; body plain silver in colour with no dark marking on caudal peduncle.

This species can be distinguished from other members of the genus by the following combination of characters: absence of dark spots on body in adults; body elongate with slightly convex dorsal profile; head longer than body is deep; snout much longer than postorbital head length; lips well developed, lateral lobes of lower lip broad and thick with folds, median process small; barbel thickness shorter or equal to eye diameter; dorsal spine strong, ⅔ of HL; dorsal-fin origin closer to tip of snout than caudal-fin base base; 15+ gill rakers; 6½ branched anal-fin rays; posterior simple dorsal-fin rays ossified and spinous.

A predominantly riverine fish preferring clear, well-oxygenated, running waters with substrates of sand, gravel, rock or mud, where adults tend to form schools just above the substrate in slower-moving sections.

Widepread in eastern Asia between the Yangtze and Amur river basins, including China (mainland and islands of Taiwan and Hainan), Korea, Mongolia, Russia, and Japan. It probably been introduced to Vietnam and Laos, or records from these countries represent another species.

Endemic to the Korean peninsula where it occurs throughout North Korea and South Korea. Type locality is 'Keumsan River, near Pusan, South Korea.'

Known from the middle and lower Mekong basins in Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, plus the Dong Nai drainage in central Vietnam. Type locality is 'Rapids of Dang-nai, Bien Hoa Province, Thailand', which corresponds to what is now the city of Biên Hòa in Đồng Nai province, southern Vietnam.

Endemic to the Salween river system in Yunnan province, southern China, eastern Myanmar, and northwestern Thailand. Type locality is 'Salween River midway between Mae Sam Laep and Paleh, Mae Hong Son province, Thailand.'

This species can be identified by colour pattern comprising a brownish dorsal surface, yellowish flanks and abdomen, and a black to bluish lateral stripe extending from the eye to the caudal-fin base.

This species can be distinguished by the following characters: juveniles with brown body and dark marking at base of caudal-fin; 37-42 + 3-4 lateral line scales; 11½ branched dorsal-fin rays; 7½ scale rows between lateral line and dorsal-fin origin; 20-25 predorsal scales; dorsal-fin relatively small with anterior branched rays shorter than head in juveniles, slightly longer than head in adults.

Known from the Pahang River system in southern Peninsular Malaysia, and the Greater Sunda Islands of Sumatra and Borneo. On the latter records exist from the Kapuas, Barito, and Mahakam watersheds in Kalimantan, the Indonesian portion of the island Type locality is 'Pangabuang, Lampong Province, Sumatra, Indonesia'.

L. siamensis can be distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: 39-42 scales in the lateral series; shoulder spot usually absent, but sometimes well-defined; body with longitudinal stripes formed by a spot on each scale; dorsal fin with dusky median stripe and no red coloration; caudal fin dusky, sometimes with reddish coloration, but no well-defined stripes; 20-23 circumpeduncular scales...

The five species which currently comprise Luciosoma can be distinguished by elements of colour pattern. Popta described the colour pattern of L. pellegrinii as follows: body colour olive dorsally, with dark-edged scales, yellow ventrally; a lateral series of dark spots on the flank forming a midlateral band which extends onto the opercle but not the head; 4-8 blackish-brown, distinctly-separate spots on the lateral line; fins yellow; dorsal and anal fins with a blackish-brown band; anterior half of some pectoral-fin rays blackish-brown...

This species is poorly known in general and is not present in the ornamental trade, although its name is widely misapplied to other Luciosoma species. Its congeners are mostly marketed as 'apollo shark', 'shark minnow', or similar, and often labelled with incorrect scientific names. Identification of the fish pictured here is based on Bleeker (1855, 1860) and Roberts (1989), plus drawings by Bleeker, thus...

This species can be distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: 18–20 (vs. 10-18) branched anal-fin rays; 49–55 (vs. 35-48) lateral-line scale rows; 33–36 (vs. 15-20) predorsal sca...

Although it is included in the genus Metzia this grouping remains somewhat unresolved in terms of taxonomy and it may contain more than a single genetic lineage. For example, members share a number of characters with the genera Ischikauia Jordan and Snyder 1900, Hemiculterella Warpachowski 1887, and several species of Anabarilius Cockerell 1923, including a bipartite gas bladder, a non-spinous dorsal-fin ray, and a sharp ventral keel between the pelvic-fin insertion and anus.

Populations from the upper Pearl River (Nanpan Jiang basin) differ in several morphological characters from those inhabiting Guangdong, Guangxi, and Guizhou Provinces, and Hainan Island. Those from Vietnam also seem to be different (Gan et al., 2009), the implication being that there may be several species currently included under the name M. lineata.

This species can be distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: body depth fits 2.5-2.7 times in SL; 28-31 +2-3 lateral line scales; 14-16 circumpeduncular scale rows; 5-5½ scale rows between the lateral line and dorsal-fin origin; a triangular distal blotch on the dorsal-fin; a few body scales with crescent-shaped black edges; a thin dark margin on the dorsal-fin, posterior to the distal blotch; a dark posterior margin on the caudal-fin; normally a single pair of rudimentary barbels present.

Known from the middle Mekong basin in Laos and Thailand, including the Mun tributary drainage on the Khorat Plateau in northeastern Thailand, plus the Chao Phraya and Mae Klong watersheds in central and western Thailand, respectively. In the Mekong system it may also occur further upriver in Yunnan province, China, while the Khone Falls in Laos appear to represent its downstream limit.

Known from the middle Mekong basin in Laos and Thailand, and may be endemic to the Khorat Plateau. Records exist from the Mun and Songkhram watersheds in northeastern Thailand, and a number of Mekong tributaries in laos, including the Nam Mang and Nam Kou drainages. Type locality is 'Nam Mang downstream of Ban Thabok, between 18°22'25"N, 103°13'30"E, and about 1 kilometer upstream, Vientiane Province, Laos'.

This species can be distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: body relatively slender, depth fitting 3.4-3.8 times in SL; 32-33 + 2 lateral line scales; 14 circumpeduncular scale rows; presence of a single pair of barbels; black distal margin on dorsal-fin; numerous body scales with dark, crescent-shaped markings.