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Balitora minnow (Psilorhynchus balitora) — Psilorhynchidae

Balitora minnow

Psilorhynchus balitora

The Balitora minnow (Psilorhynchus balitora) is a freshwater fish of the family Psilorhynchidae that grows up to 8 cm.

Length
8.1 cm
Water
Freshwater
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Bangladesh, Myanmar, India, Nepal

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Description

The balitora minnow is a small cyprinid relative (Psilorhynchidae) from clear, fast-flowing mountain rivers of the Indian subcontinent and Himalayan foothills. The species grows to about 8 cm and has a flattened, streamlined, light-brown body with a flat belly and horizontal pectoral fins with which it presses against the bottom in the strong current. As a bottom-dweller it rasps aufwuchs, algae and small invertebrates from the stones. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Balitora minnow?

The Balitora minnow has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Balitora minnow live?

The Balitora minnow lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Asia: Bangladesh, Myanmar, India, Nepal

How big does the Balitora minnow get?

The Balitora minnow grows to a maximum of about 8 cm.

Is the Balitora minnow dangerous to humans?

No, the Balitora minnow is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

More photos

Balitora minnow (Psilorhynchus balitora) — Psilorhynchidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Sajid Al Rafi, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Balitora minnow (Psilorhynchus balitora) — Psilorhynchidae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — Andrew Rao (CC BY 3.0)
Balitora minnow (Psilorhynchus balitora) — Psilorhynchidae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — Francis Day and R. Mintern (Public domain)
Balitora minnow (Psilorhynchus balitora) — Psilorhynchidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Nilanjan Mukherjee, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Balitora minnow sourced
Scientific name
Psilorhynchus balitora
Family
Psilorhynchidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
8.1 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Natural range
Asia: Bangladesh, Myanmar, India, Nepal sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Psilorhynchus

More from the family Psilorhynchidae

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