Balantiocheilos melanopterus

(Bleeker, 1850)

Vernacular names
English : Silver shark
French : Barbus requin

Classification
Class : Teleostei
Order : Cypriniformes
Family : Cyprinidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
Adults can grow to about 35 cm in length. Fairly thick lips, deep body when adult with back hump. Large flank scales. Coloration silvery to dark grey. All find are cream to yellow with conspicuous broad black edge. Caudal fin deeply forked.

Range and habitat
The species is found in South East Asia, in the Mekong and Chao Phraya basins, and south in Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo. Lives in medium and large rivers, lakes, around midwater depths.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : VULNERABLE
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species has a large range but has been wiped out from most big rivers because of overfishing and pollution. Extinct in most of its range now.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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