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Korat barb (Opsarius koratensis) — Cyprinidae

Korat barb

Opsarius koratensis
Family: Cyprinidae

The Korat barb (Opsarius koratensis) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 16 cm.

Length
16 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Cambodia, Laos, Thailand

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Description

The Korat barb is a cyprinid (Cyprinidae) from clear streams and rivers of the Mekong basin in Southeast Asia. The species grows to about 15 cm and has a slender, silvery body, in spawning males often with blue or red tints. As a social fish it swims in groups in the water column and snaps at insects, small crustaceans and plant matter. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Korat barb?

The Korat barb has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Korat barb live?

The Korat barb lives in fresh water and is mostly found around open water. Asia: Cambodia, Laos, Thailand

How big does the Korat barb get?

The Korat barb grows to a maximum of about 16 cm.

Is the Korat barb dangerous to humans?

No, the Korat barb 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

Korat barb (Opsarius koratensis) — Cyprinidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Woraphot Bunkhwamdi, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Korat barb (Opsarius koratensis) — Cyprinidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Andrew Holst, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Korat barb (Opsarius koratensis) — Cyprinidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) muangpaisuetrong, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Korat barb (Opsarius koratensis) — Cyprinidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Tse Chung Yi, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Korat barb sourced
Scientific name
Opsarius koratensis
Family
Cyprinidae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
16.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Natural range
Asia: Cambodia, Laos, Thailand sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Invertebrates, algae and detritus inferred
Social behaviour
Small groups 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
Can be caught with natural bait or lures, matched to the size and habitat of the species. 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 Opsarius

More from the family Cyprinidae

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