Description

Vertebrae: 8. This species is characterized by the following: compressed body, incomplete ventral keel, extending from anus toward the ventral fin base; complete lateral line, extending to caudal fin base; terminal mouth, extending slightly beyond vertical of anterior margin of orbit; origin of dorsal fin closer to caudal fin base than tip of snout; rather large eyes; wide interorbital area; moderately large scales; greyish on dorsal side, pale white laterally; scale pocket darker than the background; body sometimes scattered with few grayish brown spots in lateral; all fins translucent and slightly yellowish; body length up to 12 cm, usually seen as 4-8 cm (Ref. 84731).

Common Names

No common names available.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Cypriniformes

Family: Xenocyprididae

Genus: Aphyocypris

Species: Aphyocypris moltrechti (Regan, 1908)

Climate Zone

Location

Biology

A medium sized fish that prefers shallow waters of sluggish streams or ponds with inflow water. It usually hides between dense aquatic vegetation to avoid predation. Feeds mainly on small aquatic invertebrates, any sizable floating organic fragments and surface-drifting terrestrial insects. A common food fish. Threatened by degradation of habitat (construction of hydroelectric power caused drastic diel fluctuation of water level (release and refilling of water) thus preventing growth of aquatic vegetation). It can now be found only in several streams near its type locality and is diminishing progressively, unless measures are undertaken to rescue remaining populations and to restore their habitats (Ref. 84731)

Habitat

benthopelagic