Hypsibarbus salweenensis RAINBOTH, 1996

Etymology

Hypsibarbus: from the Ancient Greek ὕψι (húpsi), and the generic name Barbus, presumably in allusion to the deep body shape in members of this genus.

salweenensis: named for the Salween River, to which this species is endemic.

Classification

Order: Cypriniformes Family: Cyprinidae

Distribution

Endemic to the Salween river system in Yunnan province, southern China, eastern Myanmar, and northwestern Thailand.

Type locality is ‘Salween River midway between Mae Sam Laep and Paleh, Mae Hong Son province, Thailand.’

Habitat

Has been collected from submontane headwater streams, larger tributaries and main river channels. Apparently it is abundant on a seasonal basis in the lower Salween, suggesting a migratory lifestyle.

Maximum Standard Length

At least 300 mm.

NotesTop ↑

H. salweenensis is distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: barbels long, with maxillary pair 29% and rostral pair 23% HL; eye moderately-sized, with an orbit fitting around 1.9 times in the interorbital space in 200 mm specimens; 10-14, modally 12, rakers on first gill arch; 14-16 circumpeduncular scale rows; 30+ lateral line scales.

Hypsibarbus species are valued food fishes throughout their range although most species are thought to be in decline due to human activity, particularly damming of rivers and agriculture.

The genus is diagnosed as follows: two pairs of barbels; strongly serrated dorsal-fin spine; 8 branched pelvic-fin rays; skin of lower lip discontinuous with lower jaw, separated by a shallow groove; anal-fin base approximately 60% HL; scales with black margins resulting in reticulated appearance; fins often with extended falcate tips; anal and pelvic fins often brightly-coloured.

References

1. Rainboth, W. J., 1996 - University of California Publications in Zoology v. 129: i-xiii + 1-199
   The taxonomy, systematics, and zoogeography of Hypsibarbus, a new genus of large barbs (Pisces, Cyprinidae) from the rivers of southeastern Asia.
2. Kottelat, M., 2013 - Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Supplement 27: 1-663
   The fishes of the inland waters of southeast Asia: a catalogue and core bibiography of the fishes known to occur in freshwaters, mangroves and estuaries.
3. Rainboth, W. J., 1996 - FAO, Rome: 1-265
   FAO species identification field guide for fishery purposes.