Home · Cyprinidae · Giant sharkminnow
Giant sharkminnow (Osteochilus schlegelii) — Cyprinidae

Giant sharkminnow

Osteochilus schlegelii
Family: Cyprinidae

The Giant sharkminnow (Osteochilus schlegelii) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 40 cm.

Length
40 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Giant sharkminnow is a cyprinid (Cyprinidae) from fresh water of Sundaland in Southeast Asia. The species grows to about 40 cm and has an elongate, silvery body with fringed lips and an underslung, scraping mouth. As a schooling, bottom-oriented fish it migrates through rivers and floodplains and rasps algae, growth and detritus from the bottom and wood. It is a food fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Giant sharkminnow?

The Giant sharkminnow has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Giant sharkminnow live?

The Giant sharkminnow lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom.

How big does the Giant sharkminnow get?

The Giant sharkminnow grows to a maximum of about 40 cm.

Is the Giant sharkminnow dangerous to humans?

No, the Giant sharkminnow is harmless to humans.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Schlegels franjelipbarbeel sourced
English name
Giant sharkminnow sourced
Scientific name
Osteochilus schlegelii
Family
Cyprinidae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
40.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) sourced
Lips
Thick / fleshy sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
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

Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
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

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →