Cherry Barb (male)

TAXONOMY:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)

Order: Cypriniformes (Carps)

Family: Cyprinidae (Minnows or Carps)

 

Genus/species: Puntius titteya

 

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: An elongated fish with a compressed body, fawn-colored on top with a slight greenish sheen. Sides and belly have silver highlights with a horizontal stripe extending from the tip of the snout through the eye to the base of the caudal fin, with an iridescent, metallic line above it.

Males are redder than females and attain a deeper red color at breeding time. Females are usually yellow and they are much lighter in color, usually just with some yellow and a light orange/black horizontal band. The female is also a lot plumper than the male. Cherry refers to the fish’s red color. Length to 5 cm (2 inches).

 

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Native to Sri Lanka with introduced populations established in Mexico

and Colombia. Found in heavily shaded streams and rivulets, preferring shallow, slow-moving water with silt substrate and leaf cover.

 

DIET IN THE WILD: Omnivorous, detritus, green algae, diatoms, dipterans and animal matter.

 

REPRODUCTION: Most small cyprinids Puntius spp. are egg-scattering free spawners exhibiting no parental care.

 

CONSERVATION IUCN: Least concern

 

BO09 Southeast Asia Community

 

References

 

Encyclopedia of Life eol.org/pages/212437/details

 

fishbase www.fishbase.org/summary/Puntius-titteya.html

 

Ron's flickr www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/3729700826/in/set-72157...

 

Ron's Wordpress shortlink wp.me/p1DZ4b-17f

 

7-30-09, 10-25-14, 1-16-15

Done