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Greater bonylip barb (Osteochilus melanopleurus) — Cyprinidae

Greater bonylip barb

Osteochilus melanopleurus
Family: Cyprinidae

The Greater bonylip barb (Osteochilus melanopleurus) is a fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 60 cm.

Length
60 cm
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The greater bonylip barb is a cyprinid (Cyprinidae) from fresh water of the Mekong basin and Sundaland in Southeast Asia. The species grows to about 60 cm and has an elongate, silver-grey body with an inferior mouth bearing thick, folded lips with which it scrapes growth from surfaces. As a schooling, bottom-oriented fish it lives in rivers and flooded forests and eats algae, plant material and detritus. It is an important food fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Greater bonylip barb?

The Greater bonylip barb is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Greater bonylip barb live?

The Greater bonylip barb is mostly found around mixed bottom.

How big does the Greater bonylip barb get?

The Greater bonylip barb grows to a maximum of about 60 cm.

Is the Greater bonylip barb dangerous to humans?

No, the Greater bonylip barb is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Grote bottersnuit-barbeel sourced
English name
Greater bonylip barb sourced
Scientific name
Osteochilus melanopleurus
Family
Cyprinidae

Appearance

Max length (cm)
60 sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) sourced
Lips
Thick / fleshy sourced

Habitat & distribution

Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Osteochilus

More from the family Cyprinidae

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