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Hainan sharpbelly (Pseudohemiculter hainanensis) — Cyprinidae

Hainan sharpbelly

Pseudohemiculter hainanensis
Family: Cyprinidae
LC · Least Concern

The Hainan sharpbelly (Pseudohemiculter hainanensis) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 24 cm.

Length
24 cm
Water
Freshwater
Depth
0–? m
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Southern China and Vietnam
Edibility
Rarely eaten

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Description

The Hainan sharpbelly is a slender cyprinid from southern China and Vietnam, including the Yuanjiang, the Pearl River, Hainan Island and the middle Yangtze. The species grows to about 24 cm and has a slender, laterally compressed, silvery body with an upturned mouth and a forked tail. It lives in subtropical rivers. The fish is harmless to humans and is assessed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Hainan sharpbelly?

The Hainan sharpbelly has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern. Slender silver-coloured body with an upturned mouth

Where does the Hainan sharpbelly live?

The Hainan sharpbelly lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom. Southern China and Vietnam

How big does the Hainan sharpbelly get?

The Hainan sharpbelly grows to a maximum of about 24 cm. On average the species is around 12 cm.

Is the Hainan sharpbelly dangerous to humans?

No, the Hainan sharpbelly 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 Hainan sharpbelly edible?

The Hainan sharpbelly is rarely eaten.

More photos

Hainan sharpbelly (Pseudohemiculter hainanensis) — Cyprinidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Jiayuan Lin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Hainan sharpbelly (Pseudohemiculter hainanensis) — Cyprinidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) 昆虫学liuye, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Hainan sharpbelly verified
Scientific name
Pseudohemiculter hainanensis
Family
Cyprinidae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
24.0 verified
Average length (cm)
11.5 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Plain 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
Min depth (m)
0 sourced
Natural range
Southern China and Vietnam verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Insects, small invertebrates and plant material inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Schooling fish of subtropical rivers; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Slender silver-coloured body with an upturned mouth sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely 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 Pseudohemiculter

More from the family Cyprinidae

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