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Blackbrow bleak (Acanthobrama microlepis) — Cyprinidae

Blackbrow bleak

Acanthobrama microlepis
Family: Cyprinidae
LC · Least Concern
NativeIntroduced

The Blackbrow bleak (Acanthobrama microlepis) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 25 cm.

Length
25 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Kura-Aras river basin (Caucasus)
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The blackbrow bleak is a cyprinid endemic to the Kura-Aras basin in the Caucasus, notably in Azerbaijan and possibly Iran. The species grows to about 25 cm and has a slender, silvery body with fine scales. It lives in rivers and lakes of temperate temperatures and feeds as an omnivore on small animal and plant matter. The fish is a local food fish and is assessed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Blackbrow bleak?

The Blackbrow bleak has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern. Slender silvery small river fish with fine scales

Where does the Blackbrow bleak live?

The Blackbrow bleak lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom. Kura-Aras river basin (Caucasus)

How big does the Blackbrow bleak get?

The Blackbrow bleak grows to a maximum of about 25 cm.

Is the Blackbrow bleak dangerous to humans?

No, the Blackbrow bleak 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 Blackbrow bleak edible?

Yes, the Blackbrow bleak is commonly eaten.

More photos

Blackbrow bleak (Acanthobrama microlepis) — Cyprinidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Nikita Tiunov, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA))
Blackbrow bleak (Acanthobrama microlepis) — Cyprinidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Nikita Tiunov, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA))
Blackbrow bleak (Acanthobrama microlepis) — Cyprinidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Nikita Tiunov, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA))
Blackbrow bleak (Acanthobrama microlepis) — Cyprinidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Neel Prajapati, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Blackbrow bleak verified
Scientific name
Acanthobrama microlepis
Family
Cyprinidae
Other names
Blackbrow bleak verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
25.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal 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
Kura-Aras river basin (Caucasus) verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small animal and plant material inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling inferred
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
River- and lake-dwelling cyprinid; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Slender silvery small river fish with fine scales sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bottom fishing with natural bait (worm, shrimp or fish) on or just above the seabed. 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 Acanthobrama

More from the family Cyprinidae

Fin

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