Opsarius pulchellus

Opsarius pulchellus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Genus: Opsarius
Binomial name
Opsarius pulchellus
(Smith, 1931)

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

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

Range

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.[2]

Diet

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

Threats

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

  1. 1 2 Vidthayanon C. (2012). Opsarius pulchellus. 2015 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded in April 2015.
  2. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2015). "Opsarius pulchellus" in FishBase. 2 2015 version.


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