Mekongina erythrospila Fowler, 1937
Mekongina erythrospila
photo by Warren, T.

Family:  Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps), subfamily: Labeoninae
Max. size:  45 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater, potamodromous
Distribution:  Asia: Mekong basin.
Diagnosis:  Has the upper lip not separated from the snout by a rostral groove; no mental disc; no barbels; no rostral lobe; 10 branched dorsal rays.
Biology:  Found in rapidly flowing water in medium and large-sized rivers (Ref. 12693). Inhabits slower deeper reaches during dry-season (Ref. 37769). Prefers rocky stretches with rapids and a fast-flowing current (Ref. 37770). Feeds on aquatic chlorophytes (Ref. 37769 ), periphyton and phytoplankton (Ref. 12693). Migrates in big schools, comprising several hundred fish, usually together with other cyprinids and loaches such Hypsibarbus spp., Scaphognathops spp., Cirrhinus siamensis and Botia modesta (Ref. 37770). Sold fresh, sometimes dried or salted (Ref. 12693).
IUCN Red List Status: Near Threatened (NT); Date assessed: 23 February 2011 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.