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Onespot barb (Puntius terio) — Cyprinidae

Onespot barb

Puntius terio
Family: Cyprinidae

The Onespot barb (Puntius terio) 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
Asia: Bangladesh, Myanmar, India, Pakistan
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The Onespot barb is a small cyprinid (Cyprinidae) from fresh water of South Asia, in the Ganges and Brahmaputra basins. The species grows to about 10 cm and has a stocky, silvery body. A dark spot stands out at the tail base. As a schooling fish it lives in clear streams, rivers and pools and eats small invertebrates, insects, algae and detritus. The fish is harmless to humans and is popular in the aquarium trade.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Onespot barb?

The Onespot barb has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Onespot barb live?

The Onespot barb lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom. Asia: Bangladesh, Myanmar, India, Pakistan

How big does the Onespot barb get?

The Onespot barb grows to a maximum of about 10 cm.

Is the Onespot barb dangerous to humans?

No, the Onespot 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.

Is the Onespot barb edible?

Yes, the Onespot barb is commonly eaten.

More photos

Onespot barb (Puntius terio) — Cyprinidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Sandipan Das, some rights reserved (CC BY))
Onespot barb (Puntius terio) — Cyprinidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Sandipan Das, some rights reserved (CC BY))
Onespot barb (Puntius terio) — Cyprinidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Soumya Patra, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Onespot barb (Puntius terio) — Cyprinidae — 5
Wikimedia Commons — Francis Day (Public domain)
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All data

Identification

English name
Onespot barb sourced
Scientific name
Puntius terio
Family
Cyprinidae
Other names
Onespot barb; One-spot barb; One spotted barb verified

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Natural range
Asia: Bangladesh, Myanmar, India, Pakistan 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

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
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 Puntius

More from the family Cyprinidae

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