Bitterlings (see ‘Notes’) exhibit an unusual spawning symbiosis in which the interlamellar spaces of the paired inner and outer gills of living unionid mussels are used as a spawning substrate.

During the reproductive period females develop a long ovipositor which is used to deposit eggs through the mussel’s exhalant siphon. Males then move in to males release milt…

A. macropterus appears in the ornamental trade on an irregular basis and should only be considered by more experienced aquarists with sufficiently large facilities.

Given its wide geographical distribution there is a possibility that it represents a group of closely-related species, with genetic studies indicating the existence of several distinct clades.

Native to continental China, the Korean peninsula, and southern Japan. Type locality is given only as ‘Lakes and rivers, northern China’, with the type series possibly originating from the Pai-ho River near Beijing.

It has been widely introduced and is considered invasive elsewhere, including the Mekong river basin (records from Laos and Thailand), Salween river (Myanmar), northern Japan, Taiwan, Turkmeni…

This species was considered to be a phenotype of the similar-looking P. gelius prior to its description.

Following Knight (2013) it is included a group of closely-related species alongside P. gelius and P. canius, the trio being distinguished from other members of the genus Pethia by the following combination of characters: lateral line incomplete with 3-4 por…

This species’ identity was settled and a neotype designated by Knight (2013), with its validity having been discussed since the late 19th century.

P. canius and the closely-related P. gelius were both described by Hamilton (1822) and share the type locality of ‘northeastern Bengal’. Although Hamilton did not provide drawings M’Clelland (1839) included colour illustrations depicting two quite different-looking species.

This unidentified species has only appeared in the aquarium trade on a handful of occasions and it has been widely misidentified as Devario jayarami (Barman, 1984).

It differs from D. jayarami by possessing 9-10 lateral bars which progressively increase in size posteriorly (vs. 12-13 bars which decrease in size posteriorly), 12 anal-fin rays (vs. 15-16) and a blunter head profile with a lack of convexity behind the head (vs. head profile conical with noticeable convexity behind the head).

This unidentified species was first collected in 2007 but very little is known about it.

The vernacular name refers to the colour pattern on the body which resembles that of a giraffe, and it’s known to be collected in Myanmar although its distribution and natural habitat remain a mystery.

Thrives in an aquarium set up to resemble a flowing stream or river with a substrate of variably-sized, water-worn rocks, sand, fine gravel and perhaps some small boulders.

This can be further furnished with driftwood roots or branches, and while the majority of aquatic plants will fail to thrive in such surroundings hardy types such as Microsorum, Bolbitis or Anubias spp. can be grown attached to the décor.

This species is sometimes referred to as ‘Hora danio’ or Salween danio’.

It is distinguished from similar-looking species by a combination of characters as follows: lateral line complete or incomplete with 22-33 pored scales; absence of infraorbital process; 7 branched dorsal-fin rays; usually 10 or 11 branched anal-fin rays; barbels absent or rudimentary; flank markings comprising a series of narrow vertical bars on the anterior portion of each flank, fol…

Appears endemic to tributaries of the Bhavani river system in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu state, southern India including the Pykara, Avalanche and Kaity streams.

Type locality is ‘Ootacamund Lake, Pykara, Avelanche and Kaity streams, Neilgherry Hills, India’, with the former now often shortened to Ooty Lake.