Dwarf scissortail rasbora

Zwergscherenschwanzrasbora ( Rasbosoma spilocerca )

The Zwergscherenschwanzrasbora ( Rasbosoma spilocerca ) is a small freshwater fish that occurs in mainland Southeast Asia in the basin of the Mekong River.

Characteristics and systematics

The Zwergscherenschwanzrasbora has an elongated, laterally flattened body and is similar in appearance to the significantly increasing Glasbärbling ( Rasbora trilineata ), which is also called Scherenbärbling and occurs in the same region. Zwergscherenschwanzrasboras only reach a maximum length of 2.6 cm.

The species was assigned by Walter John Rain Both & Maurice Kottelat in the first description of the collective genus Rasbora. In the year 2009 a Liao, Kullander & fishing for the species in the monotypic genus Rasbosoma. From Rasbora is Rasbosoma distinguished by the inwardly curved tip of the outer Suspensoriumarms.

Way of life

Zwergscherenschwanzrasboras live close to the surface in shallow waters, marshes with fresh water and flooded fields. They seek cover between fine-leaved aquatic plants and submerged grasses and feed on zooplankton and small insects.