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Reba carp (Cirrhinus reba) — Cyprinidae

Reba carp

Cirrhinus reba
Family: Cyprinidae
LC · Least Concern

The Reba carp (Cirrhinus reba) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 30 cm.

Length
30 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
South Asia
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The reba carp is a cyprinid from South Asia, in Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar. The species grows to about 30 cm and has a streamlined, silvery body with an inferior mouth and a small pair of barbels. It lives in large streams, rivers, canals, ponds and inundated fields and feeds as an omnivore on plankton and detritus, supplemented with mud, plant matter, crustaceans and insect larvae. It is a valued food fish and is assessed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Reba carp?

The Reba carp has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern. Inferior mouth with a small pair of barbels; bottom-foraging omnivore

Where does the Reba carp live?

The Reba carp lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom. South Asia

How big does the Reba carp get?

The Reba carp grows to a maximum of about 30 cm.

Is the Reba carp dangerous to humans?

No, the Reba carp 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 Reba carp edible?

Yes, the Reba carp is commonly eaten.

More photos

Reba carp (Cirrhinus reba) — Cyprinidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Aniruddha Singhamahapatra, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Reba carp (Cirrhinus reba) — Cyprinidae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — Achilles (Public domain)
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All data

Identification

English name
Reba carp verified
Scientific name
Cirrhinus reba
Family
Cyprinidae
Other names
Striped carp verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
30.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
Yes sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Natural range
South Asia verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Plankton, detritus, plant parts and insect larvae inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Bottom-foraging river fish; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Inferior mouth with a small pair of barbels; bottom-foraging omnivore sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
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 sourced
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 Cirrhinus

More from the family Cyprinidae

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