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Pierre's barb (Hypsibarbus pierrei) — Cyprinidae

Pierre's barb

Hypsibarbus pierrei
Family: Cyprinidae
NativeIntroduced

The Pierre's barb (Hypsibarbus pierrei) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 37 cm.

Length
36.9 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Cambodia, China, Laos, Malaysia, Viet Nam, Thailand

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Description

Pierre's barb is a cyprinid (Cyprinidae) from large rivers of the Mekong and Chao Phraya basins in Southeast Asia. The species grows to about 37 cm and has a deep, bright-silvery body with large scales and two pairs of barbels. As a schooling fish it migrates through open river water and eats plant material, algae, small invertebrates and detritus. It is a food fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Pierre's barb?

The Pierre's barb has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Pierre's barb live?

The Pierre's barb lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom. Asia: Cambodia, China, Laos, Malaysia, Viet Nam, Thailand

How big does the Pierre's barb get?

The Pierre's barb grows to a maximum of about 37 cm.

Is the Pierre's barb dangerous to humans?

No, the Pierre's 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

Pierre's barb (Hypsibarbus pierrei) — Cyprinidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) jenny20030123, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Pierre's barb (Hypsibarbus pierrei) — Cyprinidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) erickrab, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Pierre's barb (Hypsibarbus pierrei) — Cyprinidae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — Yung-Lun Lin (CC BY 4.0)
Pierre's barb (Hypsibarbus pierrei) — Cyprinidae — 5
Yung-Lun Lin (CC BY 4.0) via GBIF — iNaturalist
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All data

Identification

English name
Pierre's barb sourced
Scientific name
Hypsibarbus pierrei
Family
Cyprinidae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
36.9 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Barbels
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Natural range
Asia: Cambodia, China, Laos, Malaysia, Viet Nam, Thailand 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
Bottom fishing with natural bait (worm, shrimp or fish) on or just above the seabed. 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

More from the family Cyprinidae

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