Acheilognathus tonkinensis

(Vaillant, 1892)

Vernacular names
English : Tonkin bitterling
French : Bouvière du Tonkin

Classification
Class : Teleostei
Order : Cypriniformes
Family : Acheilognathidae (sometimes still Cyprinidae)
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
The species can grow to 9.2 cm in length. Laterally compressed body with high profile. Females are greyish. Males silvery-grey with bright pinkish-red areas on head and tail peduncle. Prominent white margin on anal fin.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in east Asia and is found in southern China and north Vietnam. It is probably a species complex and needs taxonomic revision. Only found in freshwater rivers with slow water flow.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : DATA DEFICIENT
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species (species complex probably) has a fairly large range but has been negatively impacted by pollution and hydroelectric schemes.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

Back to “Carps, barbs and relatives” page