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Kikuchi's minnow (Aphyocypris kikuchii) — Cyprinidae

Kikuchi's minnow

Aphyocypris kikuchii
Family: Cyprinidae

The Kikuchi's minnow (Aphyocypris kikuchii) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 8 cm.

Length
8 cm
Water
Freshwater
Depth
0.0–5.0 m
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Taiwan/Ch Taipei

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Description

Kikuchi's minnow is a small cyprinid (Danionidae) from slow-flowing fresh water of Taiwan. The species grows to about 5 cm and has a slender, laterally compressed, yellow-silvery body with a fine dark longitudinal stripe. As a schooling fish it swims near the surface of clear streams, ditches and rice paddies and snaps at small zooplankton and insects. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Kikuchi's minnow?

The Kikuchi's minnow has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Kikuchi's minnow live?

The Kikuchi's minnow lives in fresh water and is mostly found around open water. Asia: Taiwan/Ch Taipei

How big does the Kikuchi's minnow get?

The Kikuchi's minnow grows to a maximum of about 8 cm. On average the species is around 6 cm.

Is the Kikuchi's minnow dangerous to humans?

No, the Kikuchi's 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

Kikuchi's minnow (Aphyocypris kikuchii) — Cyprinidae — 2
yuanlin160 (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — iNaturalist
Kikuchi's minnow (Aphyocypris kikuchii) — Cyprinidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) yuanlin160, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Kikuchi's minnow (Aphyocypris kikuchii) — Cyprinidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) kurodahaze, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Kikuchi's minnow (Aphyocypris kikuchii) — Cyprinidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) kawabangka, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Kikuchi's minnow sourced
Scientific name
Aphyocypris kikuchii
Family
Cyprinidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
8.0 verified
Average length (cm)
6.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
5.0 verified
Natural range
Asia: Taiwan/Ch Taipei sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Invertebrates, algae and detritus inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal 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 Aphyocypris

More from the family Cyprinidae

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