Leptobarbus hoevenii

Siambarben (the two animals in the foreground, in the background including Wetmors Barbe ( Hypsibarbus wetmorei ) )

The Siamese barb ( Leptobarbus hoevenii ), Eng. Sultan Fish, Hoven 's carp, Cigar Shark, Barb River, Mad Barb or Barb Pinktail, chines. 何氏 细 须 魮(引进) in Thai ปลา อ้ายบ้า is a barb species from Southeast Asia.

Description

The species has the following formula fins: Dorsal 9-9, Anal 8 juveniles still have typical black stripes. The fish has an elongated body and large scales. The Siamese barb is 50 inches long, on average, in exceptional cases up to one meter.

Distribution and habitat

The Siamese barb is native to Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Sumatra and Borneo. She considers herself primarily in streams and rivers on periodically on floodplains.

Way of life

The Siamese barb preferred water temperatures of 23 to 26 ° C and is omnivorous. They feed in the flooded rainforest insects, zooplankton, vegetable parenchymal tissue and among others, into the water fallen seeds of chaulmoogra tree ( Hydnocarpus ssp. ), Which exerts a narcotic effect and may cause an unusual movement behavior in the Siamese barb. For this reason it is sometimes referred to as Mad Barb and is unpopular as a food fish because of toxic residues in Laos. Leptobarbus hoevenii holds primarily in groups or small flocks in the central water or near the ground. Although some scientists this species not described as migratory fish, was repeatedly observed that Siambarben of food walks in the flooded rainforests and back to participate. In the Mekong Siambarben move in the months of January-February upriver and downriver from June to July. During this time, they are easily caught.

System

The Siamese barb formed with four other, less permanent Southeast Asian carp fish species, the genus Leptobarbus:

• Leptobarbus hosii ( Regan, 1906)
• Leptobarbus melanopterus Weber & de Beaufort, 1916
• Leptobarbus melanotaenia Boulenger, 1894
• Leptobarbus rubripinna ( Fowler, 1937)

The genus Leptobarbus is assigned to the carp family (Cyprinidae ), where it forms a separate monotypic subfamily, Leptobarbinae.

Use

The Siamese barb is a common food fish, especially in Chinese cuisine. False meals made Siambarbenfleisch can cause nausea. The market price of this type is relatively high in Cambodia and Vietnam. They are fattened on fish farms, while their reproduction can be induced by hormone treatment.

Notes and References

• Carp fish