Folifer brevifilis

Folifer: not fully explained by the author. Possibly derived from the Latin foli-, meaning 'leaf', and -ifer, meaning 'to bear, in reference to the pronounced mentum on the lower lip in this genus.

brevifilis: from the Latin brevis, meaning 'short, little', and filum, meaning 'thread, filamet', in reference to the very short barbels.

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'.

Primarily inhabits flowing middle and lower sections of major rivers and is absent from still and standing waters. It may undertake seasonal migrations in order to spawn.

Requires an aquarium with base dimensions of at least 240 ∗ 60 cm96 ∗ 24 in or equivalent.

The aquarium should ideally be designed to resemble a flowing stream or river with a substrate of variably-sized rocks, sand, fine gravel, and some larger water-worn boulders.

This can be further furnished with driftwood roots and branches if you wish but be sure to leave plenty of open swimming space.

While the majority of aquatic plants will fail to thrive in such surroundings hardy genera such as Microsorum, Bolbitis, or Anubias spp. can be grown attached to the décor.

Like many fishes that naturally inhabit running waters it is 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.

As stable water conditions are obligatory for its well-being this fish should never be added to biologically-immature aquaria and weekly water changes of 30-50% aquarium volume should be considered mandatory.

A tighly-fitting cover is also essential since it is likely to be a powerful jumper.

Wild fish apparently feed on molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates, algae and organic detritus.

Not recommended for the general community aquarium given its adult size but can be maintained alongside comparably-sized cyprinids, catfishes and other species which enjoy similar conditions.

Unreported, although nuptial females are likely to be thicker-bodied than males.

Unreported.

F. brevifilis is an unsuitable subject for the majority of home aquaria, and is extremely rare in the ornamental trade.

The status of F. hainanensis, the only other species in the genus, is currently questionable, but Folifer can be distinguished from related genera by possessing a pointed snout, inferior mouth, a lower lip with a large median lobe (mentum) reaching the corner of the mouth, last simple dorsal ray ossified with serrations on the posterior edge, 42-45 +2-3 lateral line scales.