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Bengal danio (Devario devario) — Cyprinidae

Bengal danio

Devario devario
Family: Cyprinidae
LC · Least Concern

The Bengal danio (Devario devario) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 10 cm.

Length
10 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
South Asia
Edibility
Not eaten

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Description

The Bengal danio is a colourful minnow from fresh water of South Asia, in India, Bangladesh and Nepal. The species grows to about 10 cm and has a deep, laterally compressed, silvery body with blue and yellow longitudinal stripes on the rear half. It schools actively near the water surface of clear rivers and streams and feeds on insects, small zooplankton and algae. The fish is harmless to humans and is popular in the aquarium hobby. The IUCN assesses the species as Least Concern (LC).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Bengal danio?

The Bengal danio has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a horizontal stripes pattern. Blue and yellow longitudinal stripes; actively schooling little surface fish

Where does the Bengal danio live?

The Bengal danio lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom. South Asia

How big does the Bengal danio get?

The Bengal danio grows to a maximum of about 10 cm.

Is the Bengal danio dangerous to humans?

No, the Bengal danio 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.

Is the Bengal danio edible?

The Bengal danio is not usually eaten.

More photos

Bengal danio (Devario devario) — Cyprinidae — 2
Md Rakibul Islam (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — iNaturalist
Bengal danio (Devario devario) — Cyprinidae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — Robert Mintern (Public domain)
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All data

Identification

English name
Bengal danio verified
Scientific name
Devario devario
Family
Cyprinidae
Other names
Devario danio; Giant danio; Sind danio verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
10.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Pattern
Horizontal stripes sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Superior (upward) sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Natural range
South Asia verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Insects, zooplankton and algae inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Actively schooling river danio; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Blue and yellow longitudinal stripes; actively schooling little surface fish sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Not a target species for angling; at most an incidental catch or usable as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
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 Devario

More from the family Cyprinidae

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